{"id":14044,"date":"2026-08-12T15:08:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/?p=14044"},"modified":"2026-08-12T16:20:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T16:20:11","slug":"its-kidney-stone-season-heres-how-to-reduce-your-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/2026\/08\/12\/its-kidney-stone-season-heres-how-to-reduce-your-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s\u00a0Kidney Stone Season: Here\u2019s How to Reduce Your Risk\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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You may think of summer as beach season, baseball season, or vacation season. For urologists,\u00a0it’s\u00a0also kidney stone season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The summer and early fall months bring a noticeable increase in kidney stone cases as rising temperatures, humidity, dehydration, and changes in our daily habits create the perfect conditions for stones to form or for existing stones to become symptomatic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Many people don’t connect hot weather with kidney stones, but dehydration plays a major role,” says Timothy Averch, MD, FACS<\/a>, Head of Endourology and Stone Disease at Cooper University Health Care<\/a>. ” When you’re losing more fluid through sweat and not replacing it, your urine becomes more concentrated, making it easier for crystals to form.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Summer Increases Your Risk <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dehydration<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your kidneys rely on adequate water intake to help flush waste products from your body. During the summer, sweating causes you to lose fluids more quickly. If you don’t drink enough to replace those losses, your urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals such as calcium and oxalate to stick together and form crystals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven mild dehydration can increase your risk,\u201d Dr. Averch says. \u201cA simple way to monitor your hydration is to look at the color of your urine. Pale yellow or nearly clear urine generally indicates adequate hydration, while darker yellow urine may be a sign that you need to drink more fluids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer Diet Changes<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cookouts, vacations, and outdoor gatherings often mean eating more processed meats, salty snacks, and restaurant meals \u2013 all of which may increase your risk of kidney stones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A diet high in sodium causes your kidneys to excrete more calcium into the urine, increasing the likelihood that stones will form. Eating large amounts of animal protein may also contribute to stone formation in some people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Time Outdoors<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer is often the most active time of year. Whether you’re strolling the boardwalk, playing pickleball, working in the yard, or spending the day at the beach, increased physical activity usually means greater fluid loss through sweat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The amount of water you need isn’t the same every day,” Dr. Averch says. “If you’re active or spending time in the heat, you need to replace those extra fluids before dehydration sets in.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer Tips to Help Prevent Kidney Stones <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, a few simple habits can help lower your risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n