SATURDAY, June 30, 2007 (HealthDay News) -- Staying hydrated in the summer is important for many reasons, including prevention of kidney stones, says Dr. Gary Faerber, associate professor of urology at the University of Michigan Health System.
A lack of fluid can lead to the development of kidney stones, and typical summer physical activities can shake loose kidney stones and result in painful symptoms.
"One of the best ways to prevent kidney stones is to stay hydrated throughout the entire 24-hour period. I recommend may patients have at least six to eight glasses of water a day, and I ask them to make sure that they spread that throughout the entire day and up until night time. This is important year-round but especially important in the summer months," Faerber said in a prepared statement.
"It is very important for people to be aware of how to prevent kidney stones because many people -- about 13 percent of men and 7 percent of women -- will have kidney stones sometime in their lives," he added.
Faerber offered the following tips on reducing your risk of developing kidney stones:
More information
The American Medical Association has more about kidney stones.