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Kidney Stones and the UAE Heat: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
Severe pain in your side or back that comes in waves? Learn the symptoms of kidney stones, why hot climates raise the risk, and how to prevent them.
Quick answer
Kidney stones cause sudden, severe pain in the side or back that can spread to the groin, often with nausea and blood in the urine. Hot climates raise the risk because sweating concentrates the urine. Small stones often pass on their own with pain relief and fluids. Seek urgent care for fever with pain, vomiting that stops you drinking, or pain not controlled by painkillers.
In this article
Kidney stones are hard deposits that form when minerals in the urine crystallise. People living in hot countries such as the UAE get them more often, because heat and sweating lead to concentrated urine.
Symptoms
- Sudden, severe pain in the side or back, below the ribs (renal colic)
- Pain that comes in waves and may spread to the lower tummy or groin
- Feeling restless and unable to find a comfortable position
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blood in the urine (pink, red or brown)
- Needing to urinate more often or burning when urinating
Risk factors
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Hot climate and outdoor work
- A diet high in salt or animal protein
- Excess weight
- Previous kidney stones or a family history
- Some medical conditions and medicines
Diagnosis and treatment
Your doctor will examine you and test your urine. A scan may be arranged to confirm the stone and its size.
- Small stones often pass on their own within days to weeks, helped by pain relief and plenty of fluids.
- Larger stones may need hospital treatment, such as shock-wave therapy or a telescope procedure, arranged through a specialist.
When to get urgent help
Go to the emergency department if you have:
- Fever or shivering with kidney pain (a possible infected, blocked kidney)
- Pain not relieved by painkillers
- Vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down
- Only one kidney, or you are pregnant
Preventing kidney stones
- Drink enough water to keep your urine pale yellow, more in summer.
- Cut down on salt and processed food.
- Don't overdo red meat and other animal protein.
- Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
- Don't cut out calcium-rich foods unless advised; normal dietary calcium can actually lower the risk of common stones.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get another kidney stone?
Many people do, especially without changes to fluid intake and diet. Prevention advice greatly reduces the risk.
Does lemon water help?
Citrate in lemons may help prevent some types of stone, but drinking enough fluid overall matters most.
