Summer is the season of the stones: those tiny, ill-intentioned crystals that cluster in the most uncomfortable places and move through the body as though dragging razor blades.

Georgia is in what scientists call the Kidney Stone Belt, which girdles the Southeast. Men are more likely to develop kidney stones than women.

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Keep kidney stones at bay during hot summer months by drinking plenty of water. Skip the sweet tea; it contains an amino acid by-product that contributes to formation of those painful stones.

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"One reason men in the South are at higher risk is the typical Southern diet, often high in green vegetables and brewed tea — both of which are high in oxalates," an amino acid by-product that contributes to the formation of the stones, said Dr. Jerry Yuan, a urologist at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.

Why now?

Doctors tend to see more cases of kidney stones in the summer, Yuan said. The season's heat contributes to dehydration, which helps in forming kidney stones, he said.

In many cases, the stones form during the summer and make themselves known in the late summer and early fall, he said.

What to look for

The first sign is often extreme pain in the middle back or upper abdomen or lower abdomen. This is sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Some women have told Yuan the pain of passing a kidney stone can be worse than having a baby.

"One woman said she would rather have 10 more kids than have another stone," he said.

How to avoid them

Doctors offer the following tips to help stave off stones. They also recommend consulting with a physician on any dietary restrictions.

• Drink more fluids, especially if you are sweating.

• In particular, drink fluids before going to bed; most kidney stones form at night due in part to the increased chance of dehydration.

• Avoid large amounts of coffee and tea, which contain oxalates.

• Reduce salt in your diet, since salt promotes the formation of stones.

• Limit your intake of animal protein, also a contributor.