Hydration and diet fix urged as U.S. kidney stone surge grows younger
A kidney-stone surge is hitting the U.S., with roughly 11% of men and 9% of women affected and more than 500,000 emergency visits annually; stones are rising fastest among those aged 12–30 due to high-salt, ultra-processed diets, dehydration, obesity and inactivity. Doctors say the fix is simple: drink more water to dilute urine, cut salt and sugary drinks, eat more potassium- and citrate-rich fruits/vegetables, and limit oxalate-rich foods if calcium oxalate stones are a risk, plus regular activity. The article cites a patient story of Bill who passed a stone after weeks and improved by increasing water intake and reducing tea, underscoring the prevention message.
