Chronic dehydration can affect renal function and increase the risk of kidney stones, as Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, according to an expert.

In the UAE, the fast this year is up to 15 hours and during the intense summer months, he said.

Dr Deepak Janardhanan, specialist urologist at Medeor 24x7 Hospital, said: “The hot, dry days ahead of us for the remainder of Ramadan means those fasting should be extra careful of dehydration. Symptoms such as lethargy, light headedness and excessive sweating should not be ignored as they are the first signs of a heat related illness. In the more extreme cases, muscles twitch and spasm and eventually lead to heatstroke which is potentially fatal.

“When the body’s fluid levels are dangerously low, vessels contract and blood pressure levels drop. The lack of electrolytes in the blood means vital organs do not get blood flow. This can cause fatal irreversible damage as a person can go into a coma.

“There are three types of dehydration – the first one is isotonic dehydration where the body loses water and electrolytes (salts) through vomiting or diarrhea which results in a deficiency of water and sodium. The second kind is hypertonic dehydration where water loss occurs without a loss of electrolytes – this usually happens when a person has a high fever or sweats excessively due to physical labor. The third type, hypotonic dehydration, happens when the body loses more electrolytes than water due to compensating for excessive sweating by drinking fluids lacking in salt.

“In the case a person is suffering from sickness it is advisable not to observe the fast to avoid extreme dehydration.”

“Kidney stones are small, hard mineral deposits that form when the urine becomes concentrated thereby causing minerals to stick together and crystalise. The stones can form in any part of the urinary tract and can be painful to pass via urine. If the stone is large in size, Doctors will have to remove it through a surgical operation,” Dr Janardhanan said.

To avoid chronic dehydration, he has recommended drinking at least three litres of water between Iftar and Suhoor.

“Drinking lemonade low in sugar is also proven to reduce the risk of kidney stones as it boosts the body’s intake of natural citrate which helps hinder the formation of kidney stones,” said Dr Janardhanan.

“Avoid large quantities of animal protein if you are prone to kidney stones too. Instead ensure you include leafy vegetables and citrus fruits at Iftar and Suhoor as these are have high water content,” he added. - TradeArabia News Service