Summer Crisis: Kidney Stone Cases Surge; Doctors Warn Office Workers Are Primary Risk Group
Kidney stone cases are surging during summer, with office workers facing the highest risk due to low water intake in air-conditioned environments. Doctors warn that dehydration concentrates urine and allows stone-forming substances to cryst
Summer Crisis: Kidney Stone Cases Surge; Doctors Warn Office Workers Are Primary Risk Group
Compiled by Soha Online News Team May 3, 2025
According to international reports, intense summer heat is driving a continuous rise in kidney stone cases, particularly among office workers who are becoming the primary victims of this disease.
The warning comes from Dr. Tran Cong The Luong, a urologist at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital at Hanoi National University. He identifies low water consumption as a key factor accelerating kidney stone formation. Office workers in air-conditioned environments often don't feel thirsty, leading to insufficient fluid intake and rapid stone development.
Recently, a 33-year-old office worker required emergency treatment for severe lower back pain. Despite working in a cool, air-conditioned environment, months of consistently low water intake allowed large kidney stones to accumulate in his body undetected. This case serves as an important warning for those neglecting urinary tract health during hot weather.
Doctors explain that summer significantly increases kidney stone risk because the body loses water through perspiration to regulate temperature. As body water decreases, urine becomes more concentrated, causing substances like calcium, oxalate, and uric acid to reach high levels and crystallize into stones more easily.
Office workers are particularly vulnerable since they stay indoors with air conditioning all day, rarely sweat, and don't feel thirsty. Doctors emphasize that even in air-conditioned rooms, the body continuously loses water silently. Waiting to feel thirsty before drinking is a serious misconception, as by then the body may already be dehydrated, forcing the kidneys to work harder.
Beyond low water intake, summer consumption habits are another critical factor. Sugary soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and excessive red meat and salty foods all increase the concentration of stone-forming substances in urine.
In early stages, kidney stones often show no clear symptoms until a stone shifts and blocks the urinary tract, causing severe cramping, burning urination, or hematuria. However, many people mistakenly attribute these symptoms to fatigue from hot weather, delaying treatment and risking serious complications like kidney failure or infection.
To prevent this disease, doctors recommend adequate water intake as the simplest and most effective kidney care method. Drink more than 2.5 liters daily, distributed throughout the day to keep urine dilute.
Office workers should keep a water bottle nearby and set reminders to drink every 30 minutes.
Additionally, modify eating habits by reducing salt intake and avoiding sugary and alcoholic beverages.
If you experience chronic back pain or urinary abnormalities, seek prompt diagnosis. Modern endoscopic technology now allows doctors to treat kidney stones efficiently, with faster patient recovery and reduced long-term complication risks.
Source: SOHA
