The number of emergency admissions of kidney stones is on the rise, according to an analysis of the latest hospital admission figures.
In the last 10 years emergency hospital admissions for kidney stones rose by 115% from 5,842 cases in 2004/2005 to 12,572 cases in 2014/2015.
There was also an 83% increase in the number of cases being admitted to hospital in England for kidney stones since 2004/2005.
Professor Tom Sanders, from the nutrition and dietetics department at King’s College London said: “The increased prevalence of obesity probably explains why kidney stones and chronic kidney disease are increasing.
““People who have adequate fluid intake could be up to 30% less likely to suffer from the condition, and water is one of the healthiest choices when it comes to maintaining kidney health, as it has no sugar or calories. Yet two thirds of the population report drinking no more than one glass of water a day,” he added.
The key symptoms of kidney stones are a persistent ache in the lower back, which is sometimes also felt in the groin, as well as periods of intense pain in the back or side of the abdomen – or occasionally in your groin – which may last for minutes or hours. Other symptoms include pain when urinating and blood in the urine.
Top tips to support kidney health:
· Water requirements vary from person to person. The recommendations are average requirements, for women it is 2 litres a day, and for men it is 2.5 litres a day.
· Kidney stones are more likely to occur when the climate is hot and dry and fluid intake is insufficient.
· Patients can track their urine colour – it should be straw coloured or paler. If it is any darker than this, it is an indicator that they could be dehydrated.
