In hot summer months, the rate of kidney stones patients tends to increase sharply.
According to Dr. Aditya Nayak - Nephrology Consultant at Zen General Hospital (Mumbai, India) - when the temperature rises, the body sweats a lot leading to dehydration. This makes urine denser and makes minerals (such as calcium, oxalate, uric acid) easily crystallize in the kidneys, forming stones.
A 2025 study indicates that even high-intensity exercise in the summer increases the risk of kidney stones if electrolyte replacement is not focused on. Loss of both water and essential minerals through sweat causes the kidneys to overload to filter away waste in an environment with too little fluid.
Men and adults in middle age are often at higher risk of disease in hot weather, especially those who have to work outdoors such as construction workers or delivery workers. Researchers explain that these groups are more exposed to heat due to outdoor work or daily activities. This increases sweating and dehydration.
People who have a habit of eating salty food or have a history of kidney stones need to be especially vigilant during prolonged heat waves.
Kidney stones can progress silently, Dr. Nayak warns of signs to note such as sudden pain in the lower back, frequent urination, blood in the urine or nausea.
To protect the kidneys in the summer, Dr. Nayak recommends some solutions such as:
Prioritize hydration: This is the most important protection measure. Healthy people should drink 2-3 liters of water per day. Especially people with a history of kidney stones need to drink 3.5 - 4 liters to ensure that the amount of urine produced reaches at least 2.5 liters per day, helping to thin minerals.
Regarding eating habits, you need to limit eating salty foods (salt is a factor pushing calcium into the urine, directly causing stones); prioritize fruits such as lemons and oranges because they contain citrate (a substance that helps prevent mineral crystals from sticking together); supplement natural electrolytes such as coconut water (rich in potassium and magnesium, supporting to reduce crystal formation),...
If you experience severe back pain accompanied by persistent fever or vomiting, it is a signal that needs to be assessed immediately by a urologist. Depending on the size of the stones, doctors may prescribe medication, exfoliation, or laparoscopic surgery to prevent dangerous complications for kidney function later.
