Doctors seeing more patients with kidney stones due to dehydration in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - As temperatures rise, doctors are seeing more patients suffering from kidney stones in Santa Barbara.

Dr. Ron Golan, a urologist at Sansum Clinic now part of Sutter Health, says dehydration caused by summer heat puts people at a higher risk for kidney stones.

“When the weather gets warmer people drink less, they have more insensible losses of fluid if they’re doing a lot of sports if they’re working outside, they’re losing water and that can lead to a crystallization episode. They can lead to a stone they can then encrust," said Golan.

Golan believes excessive loss of fluids is thought to be the primary cause of these painful mineral deposits.  

Athlete Mike Hall of Santa Barbara suffered from a kidney stone.

“But it hurt a lot, and it was painful for about two weeks until it fully passed," said Hall.

Now he makes sure to drink plenty of fluids, especially during summer season. 

“More than anything else and even if I go for a short run 20 minutes just to get out I still take a bottle of water with me," said Hall.

“As the weather warms up, Golan believes staying hydrated now will prevent agony later.

“I think it’s warmer. There’s more barbecues people are gonna be eating more meat more salty food. Those can also increase the risk of stone disease so keep hydrating," said Golan.

Golan recommends consuming  more fruits and vegetables to help increase fluid in your body, and may also provide the body with more citrate, a key component in stone prevention. 

“My hope is to continue to develop the habits of eating the right way and drinking enough water and my hope is to never a kidney stone again," said Hall.

In an article by Vitals contributor Nicole Young, here are Golan’s tips to prevent the formation of pain-inducing kidney stones: 

• Water is the #1 choice to prevent kidney stone formation. Sparkling or fruit-infused waters are the next best option, along with calcium-fortified orange juice (with reduced sugar). While sugary drinks are best avoided, there is evidence that clear sodas, lemonade or drinks with lemon juice contain citrate which can help prevent kidney stones. Dark colas or large quantities of tea may further increase kidney stone risk.  
• Consuming more fruits and vegetables will help to increase fluid in your body, and may also provide the body with more citrate, a key component in stone prevention. 
• Sweating It Out. Exercises performed in the heat such as running, beach volleyball or hot yoga may lead to excessive fluid losses. While good for your health, they can lead to concentration of stone-producing minerals in the urine which results in crystallization and stone formation. Being vigilant about your fluid intake can help counteract these losses.   
• Calcium Counts. Most kidney stones in the United States are comprised of calcium oxalate. Unbalanced quantities of either component, though especially oxalates, can increase the risk of stone formation. Normally calcium binds to oxalate in the gut and is excreted. With too much oxalate, or too little calcium, the risk of crystallization of the oxalate increases and can result in the creation of stones. Summer diets may include less calcium than other times of the year. Consuming adequate but not excessive calcium-containing food and drink such as dairy products, calcium-fortified foods or calcium-rich produce is preferable to supplementation, unless medically warranted. Too much oxalate can also raise your risk for calcium oxalate stones. Spinach, chocolate, nuts, potatoes and beets all have high quantities of oxalate. While challenging to avoid entirely, the goal is to reduce, and balance intake with adequate dietary calcium. 
• Attention to Symptoms. Unfortunately, most people with kidney stones do not always get advance warning. Sudden onset of back pain, abdominal pain, groin pain, or difficulty urinating can all be symptoms of kidney stones. Other times, it could be blood in the urine, or persistent nausea and vomiting.  In those cases, it is wise to seek medical attention.  
• Passing Kidney Stones. Some kidney stones may pass through the urinary tract on their own. Drinking plenty of liquids can aid that process.  Larger kidney stones, ones which can block the urinary tract, or those that cause unmanageable pain may need more urgent attention.  Doctors often use imaging to evaluate the size, location and characteristics of stones. In the event that treatment of a stone is warranted, there are a number of available options that may be considered depending upon patient-related and stone characteristics. There are off-label medications that may facilitate stone passage. Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a non-invasive treatment that uses targeted sound waves to break the stone into passable fragments. A ureteroscopy (URS) involves a small camera passed into the urinary tract to visualize the stone and then fragment it with a laser and/or extract it. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is often used for larger or more complex kidney stones.