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Most people know that when the weather heats up, drinking plenty of water can prevent dehydration. But you may not know that consuming lots of liquid in the heat of summer may also reduce your risk of developing kidney stones. Dr. Ivan Porter II, a Mayo Clinic nephrologist, says more patients go to the doctor with painful kidney stones in summer than during any other time of the year. He has tips to help you prevent getting kidney stones this season.
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When the temperatures rise, so does your risk of developing kidney stones, especially if you’ve had one before.
"When thinking about what a kidney stone is, you have to think about what a kidney does, and the kidney filters out toxins, takes out things that shouldn’t be there. And the way its gets rid of it is by putting it into the urine," says Dr. Porter.
He says if you get dehydrated, your urine can become concentrated to the point where stones form.
"There are things you can do to try to combat that."
Dr. Porter has summer time tips to help you prevent kidney stones. First, drink plenty of fluid ─ eight to 10 glasses a day.
"The other thing you can do is try to avoid some of the foods that tend to show up around summertime," he says.
Stay away from overly salty, processed foods and meats.
"That increased sodium will increase your risk of kidney stones," says Dr. Porter.
And if you've ever had a kidney stone, you know how painful they can be.
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