Do Men Also Experience the Pain of Childbirth? Increase in Urinary Stones During Summer

Daedong Hospital Treats with Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy, Prevention through Adequate Hydration and Dietary Control

The number of men visiting hospitals for urinary stones during the summer is increasing.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Every summer, the number of ‘men’ visiting hospitals due to this condition reportedly increases. The disease that torments male patients with pain comparable to childbirth is urinary stone disease (urolithiasis).

When human pain is divided into 10 levels, patients with ‘complex regional pain syndrome’ experience unbearable pain at levels 9 to 10.

Also, childbirth pain, which is the happiest yet most painful moment, reaches level 7. Urinary stone disease causes pain comparable to childbirth, driving men to hospitals, especially during the summer.

According to statistical data analyzing urinary stone patients from 2015 to 2019 by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of urinary stone patients increased by 15.5%, from 266,493 in 2015 to 307,938 in 2019.

As of 2019, men accounted for 68.8% of all urinary stone patients, about twice as many as women at 31.2%.

It was especially more common in summer (July to September) compared to other seasons. By age group, those in their 50s had the highest incidence, followed by those in their 40s and 30s. Middle-aged men in their 40s and 50s accounted for about half of all patients, indicating that middle-aged men should be particularly cautious about urinary stones during summer.

The urinary tract is the organ involved in expelling urine from the body. Urine is produced in the kidneys and first appears in the renal pelvis; the urinary tract refers to the path from the renal pelvis to the urethra just before urine exits the body.

Stones forming in the renal pelvis, ureter, bladder, or urethra?hard like rocks?are called urinary stones. Urinary stones cause pain due to the stones formed inside the urinary tract.

The exact cause of urinary stones is not yet fully understood. Generally, people who consume salty foods or enjoy meat have salt from salty foods and protein from meat concentrated in their urine, which attaches to potassium, oxalate, uric acid, the main components of stones, leading to stone formation.

Additionally, when the concentration of urate or calcium salts increases or the urinary tract is infected by bacteria, the solubility of salts decreases, causing stones to form in the urinary tract. Stones can also form when the urinary tract is blocked and urine accumulates.

It occurs due to intense exercise or working in hot environments causing excessive sweating without adequate hydration, reduced urine volume, high calcium intake, or consumption of foods rich in oxalate. Symptoms vary depending on the stone’s location, but most experience severe pain in the lower back and lower abdomen.

The sudden onset of pain often lasts from several minutes to hours, disappears, and then recurs intermittently. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating may accompany, and blood may appear in the urine. Severe symptoms can lead to urinary tract infection, renal failure, or hydronephrosis.

The higher incidence of urinary stones in summer is due to significant fluid loss through sweat, which concentrates urine and causes stone particles to clump together more easily.

Moreover, insufficient fluid intake combined with high consumption of calcium- and oxalate-rich foods promotes stone formation, causing a surge in urinary stone patients during summer.

To diagnose urinary stones, urine tests are first conducted, followed by X-rays, intravenous pyelography (IVP), and ultrasound examinations. The most helpful diagnostic test is ‘intravenous pyelography,’ which can precisely determine the stone’s location, size, and degree of obstruction.

If the stone is smaller than 4mm, natural expulsion is encouraged by drinking more than 3 liters of water daily or exercising such as jumping rope. For severe symptoms, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is performed to break the stones into small pieces that can be passed through urine.

The number of treatments varies depending on the stone’s size, number, and location, but ESWL has become common recently, showing a success rate of over 90%.

ESWL does not require surgery or anesthesia, making it safe for elderly or chronically ill patients. It also has minimal side effects or complications and can be repeated, unlike other procedures.

Most treatments are outpatient, allowing patients to return to normal daily activities immediately after the procedure. It is also relatively inexpensive compared to other treatments or surgeries. If pain is severe or ESWL is ineffective, surgery to directly remove the stones may be considered.

Lee Young-ik, head of the Urology Department at Daedong Hospital, said, “During the hot summer, excessive sweating causes frequent fluid loss, concentrating urine and causing stone particles to clump, resulting in a relatively higher incidence of urinary stones compared to other seasons.”

He advised, “Since urinary stones have a high recurrence rate, those who have experienced them should increase fluid intake during summer and pay attention to dietary control.”

In conclusion, what efforts should be made to prevent urinary stones? It is necessary to maintain adequate hydration, reduce salt intake, and avoid excessive meat consumption by improving dietary habits.

Also, it is important to limit foods high in oxalate such as peanuts and nuts, maintain a healthy weight, and consume sufficient fruits containing citric acid like oranges, lemons, and maesil (Korean green plums), as well as dietary fiber.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.