Why is Kidney Stone Pain More Common In Summer?

According to the research, around 12% of the population suffers from urinary stones in India. Among them, 50% are suffering from kidney injury or failure. In the northern part of India, approximately 15% of people get affected by urinary stones. The chances of developing kidney stones in men are 11 per cent, whereas the chances in women are 9 per cent.

Being joyful and having fun activities throughout the summer sneaks a serious matter of kidney stones. The risk of having kidney stones increases as the temperature rises. Several people end up in the emergency room due to kidney stone pain developing in summer. The pain is termed renal colic.

What is a kidney stone?

The kidney stone is a solid object formed inside the kidney. It is irregular in shape and made of crystal-forming acid salts and minerals. It can even travel to the ureter and cause pain and discomfort in the groin and lower back. The ureter is the tube which helps in connecting the bladder and kidney.

Urine contains several types of waste in it. If there are excessive amounts of waste in a small liquid, crystals start to form. After the formation, crystals start to attract other elements to join together. Kidney stone pain in summer creates more problems for people. Thus, they form in a larger solid until they get passed out in the body’s urine. These chemicals are usually eliminated from the urine by the kidney. The chemicals involved in forming urate, xanthine, calcium, phosphate, oxalate and cystine.

The main cause of the kidney stone formation

The main possible causes of the formation of kidney stones are drinking less water, obesity, eating food containing too much sugar or salt, exercising (too little or too much sometimes), weight loss surgery, and more. In some cases, it is caused by some infections or family history. The chances of developing kidney stones in a person are increased if they consume too much fructose. Fructose is usually found in high fructose corn syrup and table sugar.

Major kind of kidney stones

Calcium

Calcium is a type of kidney stone found most commonly in people. It is formed when calcium chemicals are combined with some other type of minerals such as oxalate or phosphate in the urination. The other conditions in which it is formed are high or overdose of vitamin D, insufficient fluid intake, and other metabolic disorders.

Uric Acid

It is another type of kidney stone that forms if a person doesn’t consume enough fluids. They are usually found in individuals suffering from obesity, intake of a high protein diet or suffer from arthritis.

Struvite

It is a kind of kidney stone which is linked to upper urinary tract infections. If left untreated, its size can grow and become very large. This kidney stone pain in summer, and people feel uncomfortable. It can also damage the kidney, cause chronic infection, or even cause death.

Cystine

It is a rare type of kidney stone formed by the inherited disorder of an amino acid known as cystine. The cystine stones are formed when an excess of cystine is present in the urine. Most of the patients having this stone are young or heading towards adulthood.

Why do people feel more kidney stone pain in summer than in other seasons?

The summer season brings dry and hot temperatures. The warm weather increases the chance of developing kidney stones in people. Individuals between 20 and 40 years old have more chance of developing summer stones.

The major reason behind the formation of kidney stones in summer is dehydration in the body. Increased temp in summers results in the production of more sweat. People become a bit careless and remain unhydrated for long periods. Without proper hydration, the fluids inside the human body start becoming more concentrated with dietary minerals. Thus, it can get fixated on the stones inside the kidney. Therefore, people feel more kidney stone pain in summer than in other seasons.

How can kidney stones be prevented?

With proper nutrition and hydration, people can prevent the development of kidney stones within themselves. By drinking some extra fluids, the substances responsible for causing stones in the urine get diluted. Some drinks also help prevent the stone formation or stop them from developing more such as orange juice and lemonade. These juices contain citrate and do not let the stone grow more.

You and your loved ones can get rid of a kidney stone are as follows:

> Intake more amount of water.
> Decrease the salt level in your diet.
> Maintain a normal weight (do not get overweight or underweight).
> Consume more fresh vegetables and fruits.

The water requirements of people depend upon their bodies, system, and activity level. Kidney stone pain in summer increases; thus, it is necessary to take proper care and be hydrated enough to reduce the pain.

The bottom line

The kidney stone pain in summer can be more frustrating and irritating than at other times. It can get worse if not treated properly at the correct time. If you have issues associated with kidney stones, you must visit the best doctor nearby as early as possible. Sometimes people need to undergo surgery as they cannot recover well from the treatments or medications. Remember to drink plenty of water and follow a proper diet. Visit the PSRI kidney hospital in Delhi for consultation.