Many people manage by drinking just 2-3 glasses of water a day. But did you know that a lack of water can lead to serious health problems?

In today's hectic lives, we often struggle to properly care for our eating and drinking habits. Amidst work, mobile phones, and stress, we often forget the most important thing: drinking water. Many people manage with just two to three glasses of water a day. Did you know that a lack of water can lead to a serious condition called kidney stones?

Kidney stones are a condition that causes sudden, intense and unbearable pain in the abdomen, waist, or back. This pain can be so severe that a person must be hospitalized. In many cases, problems like blood in the urine, vomiting, fever, and burning sensation also occur. The main cause of this condition is insufficient drinking and dehydration. 

How does lack of water cause kidney stones?

When we don't drink enough water, the amount of fluid in our body decreases. This directly affects our urine. Consuming less water makes urine concentrated. Concentrated urine accumulates in higher amounts of elements like calcium, oxalate, and uric acid. These elements combine to form small crystals, which gradually turn into kidney stones. If dehydration persists for a long time, the body is unable to dissolve or excrete these crystals. 

What is a kidney stone?

Kidney stones are solid particles or stone-like structures that form inside the kidneys. They can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. Small stones often pass through urine without causing any symptoms, but larger stones can become lodged in the urethra, causing severe pain. 

The main symptoms of kidney stones

Kidney stones can cause several symptoms, including sudden, severe pain in the groin, back, or lower abdomen; pain spreading to the thigh or groin; burning or painful urination; blood in the urine; frequent urge to urinate; nausea and vomiting; fever and chills; and foul-smelling or cloudy urine. Sometimes, small stones may be painless. 

How can drinking water prevent kidney stones?

Drinking enough water is the easiest and most effective way to prevent kidney stones. Drinking water dilutes urine, allowing minerals and salts to dissolve and pass out more easily. This greatly reduces the likelihood of crystal formation. Doctors generally recommend drinking enough water to keep urine light yellow in color.