Health
Kidney stones tied to climate change
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 11, 2008
Global warming is likely to increase the proportion of the population affected by kidney stones by expanding the area of the nation most affected by the ailment, said researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the University of Texas, both in Dallas.
The "kidney stone belt" includes Southeast states and has been attributed, in part, to regional temperature differences. Dehydration is one risk factor linked to kidney stone disease, and the study -- in the July 14 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences -- suggests that global warming will exacerbate this effect.
Researchers say that by 2050, higher temperatures will cause 1.6 million to 2.2 million more kidney stone cases, representing up to a 30% growth in some areas.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/08/11/hlbf0811.htm.
