DUBAI Fasting residents are at high risk of kidney stones and urinary tract infections this Ramadan as they don’t drink enough water between iftar and suhoor, doctors have warned.

They said the incidence of kidney, ureter or bladder (KUB) stones and urinary tract (UT) infections has been rising towards the last days of Ramadan in recent years, adding that such cases this Ramadan are expected to be more severe.

This year Ramadan overlaps the long scorching days of July and August, with worshippers going with water and food for about 14 hours between dawn and dusk.

Doctors said many fasting residents fail to rehydrate themselves sufficiently at night, exposing themselves to KUB stone disease and UT infections.

“This problem’s getting bigger and bigger in Ramadan because people aren’t taking drinking water seriously enough,” said Dr. Foroozan Khezri, a specialist urologist at Medcare Hospital.

“You should drink enough water at night to pass about two litres of urine in a 24-hour cycle. I don’t say drink two litres of water, but drink enough water to pass two litres of urine - that depends from person to person, how active they are, how much they sweat.

“There’s a big difference between a person sitting in an air conditioned office and someone working under the sun, even if they drink the same water amount.

“The urine should be clear or light yellow. If it’s dark yellow or reddish yellow, it’s too concentrated or there’s blood in it - that’s a problem.”

She added: “Before, these incidences weren’t clinical - they were at a small stage - but increasingly towards the last two weeks of every Ramadan it’s becoming a clinical problem.”

Another urology specialist, Dr. Ismail Hassan from Dubai’s Al Garhoud Private Hospital, said those fasting must also change their diet to avoid these health problems.

“Eating meat can produce a lot of uric acid. And also take care with foods rich in oxalates, the most common stone is the calcium oxalate stone,” Dr. Hassan said.

“Oxalates are found in excess in tea and coffee, spinach, tomato, mango and strawberries. They’re also found in nuts. It would be advisable to not have these in abundance.”

He also warned against exercising while fasting and advised kindey stone patients to see a urologist before deciding to fast.