According to the Brazilian Society of Urology (SBU), the increase in kidney stone cases increases by up to 30% during the summer.
The incidence of kidney stones is more common in the summer by up to 30%, according to data from the Brazilian Society of Urology (SBU). This occurs due to increased fluid loss during hotter days, when sweating is almost inevitable. Furthermore, the lack of adequate hydration for the season contributes greatly to the increase in cases.
The formation of kidney stones, popularly known as kidney stones, occurs due to an imbalance between the amount of fluids and salts inside the kidneys, and low hydration. Other factors that corroborate this problem are some metabolic situations that make the person more susceptible to stone formation. This occurs in cases where there is increased elimination of salts.
According to Dr. José Carlos Truzzi, urologist at Hospital Santa Catarina – Paulista, to avoid the formation of kidney stones, especially in this summer which tends to be one of the hottest in history, in Brazil, the important thing is to maintain a good hydration.
“Fluid intake must be sufficient to replace losses caused by metabolism. It is important to always observe the color of the urine. If it has a darker, orange hue, it means the person needs to drink more fluids. Light yellow urine indicates that your fluid intake is good,” he explains. According to the expert, another measure that helps reduce the risk of stone formation involves reducing sodium intake, which is found in greater quantities in processed foods. Ideally, there should be a combination of good hydration and a balanced diet.
Kidney stone removal procedures
Currently, most kidney stone removal is done through so-called minimally invasive procedures, with a very restricted number of open surgeries. Minimally invasive procedures, in general, are performed endoscopically or through natural ducts, that is, through the urethra or ureter.
One of the usual procedures is Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL). “This procedure consists of fragmenting urinary ‘stones’ using the energy generated by the lithotripsy device, which emits shock waves, without the need for any type of cut on the patient. The device acts locally on the kidney stone. The shock waves break the stones, which end up being eliminated spontaneously in the urine”, concludes Dr. José Carlos Truzzi.