The hot and dry months of summer are upon us, which may bring with them a host of threats to our safety and well-being. In addition to the widely known danger of overexposure to the sun, physicians in the field of urology say summer is also known as “kidney stone season.”
Kidney stones are solid, usually irregularly-shaped formations of mineral and salts which can easily cause excruciating lower back pain when traveling through the urinary tract system. The risk of developing a kidney stone generally increases with age. However, people between 20 and 40 years of age are more prone to kidney stones during the summer months.
Many studies have shown that kidney stones, which have formed during winter months when people tend to be less active, begin to move within the kidneys once typical summertime activities start. Pikeville Medical Center’s (PMC) team of urologists also see an uptick in patients suffering from Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) during summer months.
During the months of June, July and August, heat and humidity rise and can be a reason a person loses a significant amount of fluids. Drinking plenty of water during the heat of summer can prevent dehydration but can also go a long way to reducing the body’s risk of developing both a kidney stone and/or a UTI.
PMC offers several options to treat urinary tract issues, including kidney stones, UTIs and many others. For more information on services provided by PMC Urologists, visit www.pikevillehospital.org/services/urology, or call 606-430-2202.
