Doctors at Changsha South Lake Hospital in Hunan province performed percutaneous nephrolithotomy on Ms. Xiao. The surgical team divided the intervention into three stages to remove large, complex stones while preserving kidney function as much as possible. The patient has since recovered and been discharged.

Nine years prior, Ms. Xiao had successfully treated kidney stones. However, she later neglected her regular follow-up appointments. Every day, she drank one glass of sweet beverage, completely replacing plain water, and spent entire afternoons playing cards. Because her body did not show warning signs like back pain or blood in urine, she mistakenly believed her excretory function was normal until a general health check-up revealed the extent of the problem.

The image from the scan shows stones filling the patient's kidneys. *Photo: Henan*

Doctor Li Ruifeng, Director of the hospital's Kidney Stone Center, explained that the massive amounts of sugar and creamer powder in such beverages increase metabolic burden. This process raises calcium and oxalate levels in urine, accelerating crystal deposition. Furthermore, a sedentary lifestyle causes urine flow to stagnate, creating conditions for impurities to accumulate into complex, hard masses. In the early stage, the condition often remains hidden without symptoms, making it easy for patients to overlook.

The medical community has recorded many similar cases. Not long ago, a 28-year-old man in Guangdong developed gouty tophi on his fingers and feet, experienced joint fluid discharge, and restricted mobility after a long period of consuming three cups of bubble tea daily. Another 20-year-old woman also developed numerous kidney stones due to excessive consumption of sugary drinks.

Experts recommend consuming bubble tea a maximum of one to two times per month. When ordering, choose small cup sizes and prioritize sugar-free or low-sugar options to minimize sugar intake. If you have a habit of drinking bubble tea, find plain water unappealing, or occasionally experience lower back pain without having been examined, people should get regular health check-ups at a hospital as soon as possible.

Binh Minh (According to 163, QQ, Henan)