Drink more water to prevent kidney stone, doc tells Punjabis

“The machine generates powerful shocks which cause the stones to crumble,” said Sharma.

Giving details of the procedure, the doctor said: “X-rays and ultrasounds are used to determine the location of the kidney stone. By a computerised procedure, the stone is placed at the focal point of the lithotripter. The stones then turn to powder and are passed out of the body through urine.”

“On an average, about 30 per cent of all urological cases pertain to kidney stones. This is because of the extreme temperature conditions prevailing in this region. Most of such cases are reported from March to September when temperatures soar and water intake is low,” Dr Sharma said.

He ends on a note of warning. “There is a 20 to 30 per cent chance that the stone may recur in patients. So, one needs to drink as much water as possible to reduce the chances of that happening.”