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SATURDAY, July 10 (HealthDayNews) -- In the summer, we're constantly warned of the dangers of becoming dehydrated, but what many don't realize is that a big risk of not getting enough water is the formation of kidney stones.

Notorious for the extreme pain they can cause, kidney stones are made of hardened crystal clumps in the urinary system. They are formed when there is an imbalance of liquid that the kidneys need to remove materials from the body, according to the American Foundation for Urologic Disease.

While there are many other causes of kidney stones, hot weather, heavy sweating or not having enough fluid intake can all contribute to that kind of imbalance. An estimated half a million Americans develop kidney stones each year, says the foundation.

The risk is particularly high among those who work outdoors in the summer and who don't get enough water.

About 70 percent to 80 percent of kidney stones pass out of the body through urination, and various treatments can be used to break them apart if they don't pass on their own.

Once you've had a kidney stone, it becomes even more essential to get enough fluid to prevent a recurrence. About half the kidney stone patients do develop another stone within five to 10 years, and about 80 percent see another sometime in their lives.

To prevent the development of additional stones, experts recommend that anyone who has had a kidney stone should drink at least eight ounces of fluid at each meal and between meals, with an ideal intake of 10 to 12 large glasses of fluid over the course of each day. At least half of the fluid intake should be water.

More information

Here's extensive information on kidney stones.

(SOURCE: American Foundation for Urologic Disease )

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