TO many it is an ‘elixir of life.’

The importance of drinking water is already well documented, particularly in relation to maintaining good health, but quenching our thirst is even more imperative to keep us cool and hydrated in the heat.

Whether we can actually achieve the recommended daily intake of eight glasses a day is another thing, but considering dehydration could be putting us at risk of kidney stones, it is certainly worth a try.

Kidney stones are small stones that form in the kidneys. They are usually made up of deposits of calcium, ammonia, uric acid (one of the by-products from when the body breaks down food) and the amino acid cysteine. The medical term for them is nephrolithiasis.

James Forster, clinical lead for urology at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, explains kidney stones commonly affect the 20 to 50 age group. They are less common in children.

The lifetime risk of getting a kidney stone is one in eight in the Western World, according to Mr Forster.

He refers to data produced at a recent national conference indicating a year on year increase of the condition in the UK which, he believes, could be down to obesity, along with diets high in salt and animal protein content and lack of fluids.

“The most common factors are being overweight and not drinking enough fluids,” says Mr Forster.

He explains stones can range between 2mm and three inches. Symptoms tend to start if the kidney stone becomes lodged in the kidney, travels down the ureter (the tube attaching each kidney to the bladder) or causes an infection.

They include a persistent ache in the lower back, sometimes felt in the groin - men may have pain in their testicles or scrotum. Periods of intense pain in the back or side of the abdomen, or occasionally in the groin, which may last for minutes or hours; Restlessness and unable to lie still; nausea; the need to urinate more often than normal and pain when urinating or blood in the urine.

Although treatable, kidney stones can be fatal.

Apparently more people die from kidney-related diseases than testicular cancer because testicular cancer can be treated but kidney stones can cause infections which may lead to sepsis and septicaemia.

However, Bradford now has a helping hand in tackling patients’ kidney stone problems in the form of a revolutionary new piece of medical equipment.

The ‘Ultra Mini PCNL’ (percutaneous nephrolithotomy) was donated to Bradford Royal Infirmary, part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Bradford is understood to be the first Trust in the region to use the equipment, donated by Medi Tech Trust, a registered charity dedicated to the provision of medical equipment to hospitals and medical centres.

Says James: “This is great news for the patient because the benefits are immense; reduced blood loss, less damage to the kidney and usually a shorter stay in hospital.”

Of course, they say prevention is better than cure so we should all be mindful of trying to avoid having them in the first place which means having that extra litre of water to keep hydrated, particularly when the heat is on.

For more information visit nhs.uk