Kidney Stones can also be Caused by Climate Change

Hot days, more sweaty people and more dehydration are not only the results of a warming planet, it is also a high risk factor for a surge in kidney stones, researchers said Thursday.

Already, the study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found a link between hot days and kidney stones in 60,000 patients whose medical records were studied in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

Health Effects of Global Warming/What is Global Warming?
Greenhouse effect causes excessive heat to build up in the earth’s atmosphere causing global warming and affects the environment and health.

"We found that as daily temperatures rise, there is a rapid increase in the probability of patients presenting over the next 20 days with kidney stones," said lead author Gregory Tasian, a pediatric urologist and epidemiologist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

As average daily temperatures climbed above 50 Fahrenheit (10 Celsius), the risk of kidney stone presentation increased in all the cities except Los Angeles.

When comparing daily average temperatures of 50 F to 86 F (10 to 30 C), researchers found the higher temperatures were associated with a 38 percent higher risk of kidney stone in Atlanta and a 37 percent higher risk in Chicago.

Kidney Stones Linked With End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
Kidney stones are associated with the development of end stage renal disease, according to a recent study.

Similarly, the risk in Dallas was 37 percent higher and in Philadelphia it was 47 percent higher. Los Angeles saw a smaller increased risk of 11 percent on hotter days.

Kidney stones were most common within three days of a hot spell.

Simple Global Warming Solutions
Concerned about global warming? Look no further; we’ve decoded some of the best solutions you can adopt to help create a better environment at the individual level.

Researchers also found that very cold weather in Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia was associated with a rise in kidney stones, perhaps because people were inside and restricting their physical activity more than usual.

Kidney stones are caused when substances in the urine, such as calcium and phosphorus, become highly concentrated. Failing to drink enough fluids can exacerbate the problem.

Diet for Kidney Stones
Diet for kidney stone should comprise of calcium-rich foods, increased fluid intake. Other dietary recommendations depends on the type of kidney stone.

About 10 percent of the US population is believed to suffer from kidney stones. They are more common in men than women.

"These findings point to potential public health effects associated with global climate change," said Tasian.

With worldwide temperatures already regularly higher in recent years than the 20th century average, and more warming expected in years to come, Tasian said experts believe that kidney stones may become more common.

"Kidney stone prevalence has already been on the rise over the last 30 years, and we can expect this trend to continue, both in greater numbers and over a broader geographic area, as daily temperatures increase," said Tasian.

Source-AFP