Why Summer Is Kidney Stone Season — and How to Protect Yourself

Emergency rooms across Georgia see a predictable surge in kidney stone cases every summer — and it's no coincidence. The combination of high heat, heavy sweating, and not drinking enough water creates exactly the conditions kidney stones need to form. If you've never had one, consider this your heads-up. If you have, you already know how serious the pain can be.

What Is a Kidney Stone?

A kidney stone is a hard mineral deposit that forms inside the kidney when urine becomes too concentrated. The most common type is made of calcium oxalate, though stones can also form from uric acid, struvite, or cystine. Most stones are small enough to pass on their own — but that process is notoriously painful. Larger stones can become lodged and require medical intervention.

Why Summer Increases Risk

When you sweat in Georgia's summer heat, your body loses water and your urine becomes more concentrated with minerals. Less water flowing through the kidneys means those minerals are more likely to crystallize and clump together. Researchers have found that kidney stone incidence rises significantly during hot months, particularly in high-humidity states like Georgia. People who work outdoors, exercise heavily, or simply don't drink enough water through the day are at the greatest risk.

Symptoms: What a Kidney Stone Feels Like

The hallmark symptom is a sudden, severe pain in the side and back, just below the ribs, that radiates toward the lower abdomen and groin. The pain often comes in waves and can be intense enough to cause nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms include painful or burning urination, pink, red, or brown urine, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, a persistent urge to urinate, and fever or chills if an infection is present. Fever alongside these symptoms is a red flag — call us or seek emergency care promptly.

Who's Most at Risk

A personal or family history of kidney stones is the strongest predictor of future stones. Other risk factors include chronic dehydration, a diet high in sodium, animal protein, or oxalate-rich foods (spinach, nuts, chocolate, tea), obesity, Type 2 diabetes, gout, inflammatory bowel disease, and certain medications including calcium supplements and some diuretics. If you've had a stone before, the chance of having another within five to seven years is around 50% without prevention.

The Single Best Prevention Strategy

Drink more water — consistently. The goal is to produce at least two liters of urine per day, which typically requires drinking 2.5 to 3 liters of fluids daily in summer heat. Your urine should be pale yellow, not dark. Water is the best choice. Lemonade and citrus juices contain citrate, which naturally inhibits stone formation and can be a useful addition. Cut back on sodium, which causes the kidneys to excrete more calcium, and limit animal protein if you've had uric acid stones.

When to Come In vs. When to Go to the ER

A small stone causing manageable pain and no fever can often be monitored at home with fluids and over-the-counter pain relief while waiting for it to pass. Come see us if you have your first suspected stone episode, if pain is poorly controlled, if you notice blood in your urine, or if you want to discuss prevention. Go to the ER immediately if you have fever above 101°F with stone symptoms (this suggests a kidney infection that needs urgent treatment), if pain is severe and uncontrolled, or if you have only one kidney.

What We Can Do at WAPC

If you've had a kidney stone or are concerned about your risk, a visit to West Atlanta Primary Care is a practical starting point. We can order labs to check your kidney function, screen for metabolic conditions that increase stone risk, review your medications and diet, and refer you to a urologist if imaging or intervention is needed. Prevention is far more comfortable than passing another stone. Call us at (678) 401-4597 or book online through the healow app — we're accepting new patients in Douglasville and the greater West Atlanta area.