How Heat Causes a 40% Rise in Kidney Stones Among Youth During Summer

Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology | May 1, 2025

As temperatures rise in India, there is a serious unwelcome trend washing over, one that urologists are warning the youth about. As the heat rises, there is a sharp increase in the number of cases of kidney stones in India, increasing at the rate of roughly 40%. What’s more concerning is that the highest increase comes in the case of young individuals, resulting from a lot of factors. Identifying kidney stones symptoms and taking precautionary measures as recommended from specialists is key to staying healthy this summer. Here’s all you need to know about it.

What Experts Have To Say

According to experts from AINU, the incidence of kidney stones increases among the younger population during summer due to various reasons. Most prominently, the age group between 20 and 40 is at the highest risk of developing kidney stones due to dehydration or inadequate hydration along with other problematic habits. Increased fast food consumption in addition to reduced intake of water contributes to increased occurrence of kidney stones. Understanding the signs of having kidney stones plays an important role in quickly understanding when you are getting them and thus getting the issue handled at the earliest.

The chances of getting kidney stones during summer months increase because the body loses a lot of water in the form of sweat. As such, salt deposits in the body tend to crystallize in the absence of enough water to flush them out. These crystals or stones cause a lot of issues, including excruciating pain. Handling kidney stones effectively can involve various approaches, such as taking medications to help dissolve the stones quickly, drinking plenty of fluids, or undergoing surgery in severe cases. Early detection increases the chances of seeing a positive impact from non-invasive methods like increasing fluid consumption and taking medications. However, if the issue goes unnoticed for a long time and becomes severe, surgery may be recommended.

Why Incidents of Kidney Stones Rise During Summers

Apart from dehydration, several factors contribute to an increased risk of developing kidney stones, especially during the summer. Some of the key reasons include:

History of Kidney Stones in the Family

Individuals who have a family history of kidney stones are always at a higher risk of developing them if proper care and precaution are not taken. These individuals need to ensure they consume ample water every day in order to prevent getting afflicted with kidney stones.

Poor Diets

With increasing work pressure and the need to maintain a strong social presence, people have developed poor dietary habits. A lot of fast food and junk food consumption leads to increasing incidences of developing kidney stones. This mostly happens because such foods are high in salt. Apart from salt, overconsumption of foods that contain oxalates and proteins contributes to increased development of kidney stones. Furthermore, unbalanced diets, especially among the overly health conscious who focus on protein intake, often forgetting balance, also lead to increased cases of kidney stones.

Excessive Heat Exposure

Professionals who are exposed to heat because of their occupation, such as people in sales jobs, those in manufacturing sectors, miners, etc., are also at an increased risk of developing kidney stones because of the extremely hot conditions. Similarly, young individuals who spend too much time outside, whether playing or otherwise, and are exposed to too much heat need to be cautious about their water intake to allow the body to excrete excessive salts, calcium, and other elements deposited in the body.

How To Prevent Kidney Stones During Summers

In order to prevent kidney stones in hot weather, especially among younger people, a number of helpful measures can be taken. Some of the most effective ways to prevent kidney stones include the following.

Hydrating Religiously

During the hot weather, make sure you hydrate yourself adequately. A helpful way is to set reminders on your phone to ensure you do not forget to drink while busy.

Eating a Balanced Diet

Focusing on what you eat is another essential element to ensuring you do not get kidney stones. Regulate how much your consumption of oxalate-laden foods is and the intake of salt and sodium-rich foods.

Limiting Sun Exposure

Try to limit time in the sun to prevent loss of water through sweat. This leads to dehydration in the body, which is a leading cause of kidney stones during summers.

Potential Treatment Routes

In case you still get kidney stones, even after taking measures to prevent them, there are multiple treatment routes that can be taken to address the issue. Based on the severity and needs of each case, a specialist may recommend any of the following treatment options.

Medications

To manage pain and help dissolve the stone, medications may be prescribed by the professionals. Along with these, the key recommendation is to drink lots of water, which will further help in dissolving the stones.

Surgery

In very severe cases, when the stone cannot be removed by medications, a surgery may be recommended by the specialists. Surgical intervention is typically avoided for as long as possible by the specialists, as it causes significant discomfort and is an invasive methodology for addressing the issue.

Lithotripsy

Lithotripsy is another treatment option that can be recommended for kidney stones treatment in Hyderabad. This is a non-invasive treatment option in which the specialists try to break down the stones.

Conclusion

With the continuous rise in temperatures, the need to tackle the potential of kidney stones effectively is rising. People in the younger age group, falling between the ages of 20 and 40 years old, increase their chances of developing kidney stones by up to 40% during the hot months. Those that have a history of kidney stones in their family, have poor dietary habits, or are exposed to heat too much are at a higher risk of developing kidney stones. As such, it is essential to remain well hydrated and take necessary precautions to ensure you stay safe.