Thursday, April 25, 2024
HomePopularCan Your Kidneys Hurt From Drinking

Can Your Kidneys Hurt From Drinking

Can Alcohol Cause Kidney Stones

Alcohol and Kidney Damage – How Does Alcohol Affect Your Kidneys?

Kidney stones are crystals that form from some of the materials in urine. While liquor does not directly cause them, it can contribute to the increased risk for the formation of the stones. This is because the intoxicant has a high purine count. Purines are the chemical compounds that result in uric acid kidney stones. The presence of excessive amounts of purines can lead to the accumulation of uric acid, hence resulting in a kidney stone.Dehydration generally can lead to the formation of the stones. With ethanol being a dehydrating agent, calcium oxalate stones can form as a result.

Is Drinking Wine Bad For Your Kidneys

Both chronic drinking and binge drinking is not good for the health of the kidneys. The intake of too much alcohol at a time that is binge drinking can lead to acute kidney injury in which the kidneys of the affected person stop to perform normally which needs emergency medical attention and at times, dialysis.

Why Kidneys Hurt After Taking Alcohol

Does alcohol damage the kidneys? After indulging in drinking, some people may complain of pain in the upper or lower back or between the buttocks and lower ribs. This is because of the effects of alcohol on back pain, which is an effect of alcohol poisoning. The pain may be accompanied by painful urination, fever, vomiting, loss of appetite and fatigue. This pain can also be caused by several conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease or infection, dehydration and hydronephrosis. Most of these conditions are as a result of the diuretic effect of the drink, hence the importance of limiting its consumption. It is important to seek medical care if kidneys hurt after drinking alcohol.

Don’t Miss: Grapes And Kidney Stones

Alcohol & Kidney Stones: How They Develop

There has been no direct causality found between drinking alcohol and the development of kidney stones. However, alcohol can contribute to an enhanced risk for the formation of kidney stones in various ways. Beer and grain alcohol have a particularly high purine count.

Purines are chemical compounds that can lead to uric acid kidney stones. Uric acid is typically released from the body in the urine, but excessive purines can result in the accumulation of the acid and can eventually lead to the development of a kidney stone.

How to Treat Kidney Stones Caused by Alcohol

The best treatment and prevention for small kidney stones is to remain hydrated by drinking plenty of water. You should also eat more fruits and vegetables to balance acid levels in the body.

ALCOHOL REHAB HELP

Get Help for You or Your Loved One

What Are The Symptoms Of Kidney Failure

Find Alcohol Kidney Pain Information

Symptoms of kidney failure may begin so slowly that you dont notice them right away.

Healthy kidneys prevent the buildup of wastes and extra fluid in your body and balance the salts and minerals in your bloodsuch as calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium. Your kidneys also make hormones that help control blood pressure, make red blood cells, and keep your bones strong.

Kidney failure means your kidneys no longer work well enough to do these jobs and, as a result, other health problems develop. As your kidney function goes down, you may

  • have swelling, usually in your legs, feet, or ankles
  • get headaches
  • feel itchy
  • feel tired during the day and have sleep problems at night
  • feel sick to your stomach, lose your sense of taste, not feel hungry, or lose weight
  • make little or no urine
  • have muscle cramps, weakness, or numbness
  • have pain, stiffness, or fluid in your joints
  • feel confused, have trouble focusing, or have memory problems

Following your treatment plan can help you avoid or address most of these symptoms. Your treatment plan may include regular dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant, a special eating plan, physical activity, and medicines.

Also Check: Is Watermelon Good For Kidneys

You Experience Confusion Or Disorientation

One sign of overhydration or water intoxication is a feeling of confusion or disorientation. This is linked to falling levels of electrolytes, such as sodium, in the body.

In extreme cases, drinking too much water and lowering the sodium concentration in your blood can cause your brain to swell dangerously.

If you begin experiencing symptoms, like confusion, seizures, or loss of consciousness, you may want to seek immediate medical attention.

  • Read more:

You May Like: Ginger Tea For Kidneys

Kidney Pain After Drinking Water

According to a large-scale study conducted on over 14,000 adults, about 1.7 percent of the general population has hyponatremia. Women and individuals with certain conditions, such as stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure and mental disorders, are at greater risk, according to findings published in the American Journal of Medicine in December 2014.

Drinking too much water can affect your kidneys’ ability to excrete it, as the Mayo Clinic points out. The excess fluid may reduce sodium levels in your body, causing electrolyte imbalances. Other potential causes of hyponatremia include hormonal disorders, diarrhea, vomiting, kidney disease and the use of certain medications or illegal drugs.

Hyponatremia can be acute or chronic, as reported in a review featured in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism in November-December 2014. The acute form is characterized by a sudden onset of symptoms, such as seizures, coma and even death, and results from fluid buildup in the brain. The chronic form develops over more than 48 hours, causing nausea and vomiting, fractures, reduced bone mineral density, confusion, headaches and muscle cramps.

While it’s true that hyponatremia affects renal function, it doesn’t cause kidney pain. If your kidneys hurt after drinking water, you may have ureteropelvic junction obstruction or other renal disorders. The best way to determine the root cause of your symptoms is to consult a doctor.

Read Also: Is Ginger Good For Kidney Patients

Can You Flush Your Kidneys After Drinking Alcohol

Kidney cleanses involve eating specific foods and herbs that may help remove toxins from the body and encourage improved kidney health.

Kidney cleansing programs vary but usually involve following a restricted and healthy diet for several days. This diet may include teas, juices, smoothies, herbs, and foods that people believe help detoxify the body and enhance overall health.

However, there is currently limited scientific research to support the claims that certain foods, drinks, and diets can detoxify your kidneys and body.1

Most people can keep their kidneys healthy by remaining hydrated and eating a balanced, healthy diet. However, some herbs and foods that are commonly used in kidney cleansing programs may have properties that help enhance kidney health.

Why Do I Get Kidney Pain After Drinking Alcohol

Kidneys and Alcohol – How to keep your kidneys healthy

When people do not consume enough water to replenish their bodys waste, they can feel dehydrated because of the effects of alcohol. During an intoxicated state, the kidneys work overtime, and dehydration strains them further. An alcoholics kidneys may begin to hurt as a result of alcohol consumption.

Read Also: Can Aleve Cause Kidney Damage

Is Alcohol Harmful To Kidneys

Alcohol causes changes in the function of the kidneys and makes them less able to filter the blood. Alcohol also affects the ability to regulate fluid and electrolytes in the body. When alcohol dehydrates the body, the drying effect can affect the normal function of cells and organs, including the kidneys.

Signs And Symptoms Of Alcohol

When alcohol causes kidney disease, there are several signs and symptoms that may be observed. Kidney pain is the main symptom that alcohol is affecting the kidneys. Kidney pain will appear as pain in lower back on one or both sides. Other symptoms and signs of alcohol-induced kidney damage may include:

  • Pain when urinating
  • Fatigue
  • Fever or chills

If you are having any of these signs or symptoms, especially if you also have kidney pain, you should seek help and treatment from a doctor. Waiting to seek treatment for possible kidney damage can lead to increased damage that cannot be fixed.

Don’t Miss: Is Ginger Good For The Kidneys

Do Certain Drinks Foods Or Medication Cause Kidney Stones

Experts have found that certain drinks, foods, and medication may increase ones risk of developing a kidney stone:4

  • Animal proteins .
  • Oxalate-rich foods .
  • Sodium .
  • Diuretic drinks .
  • Medication .

Its important to talk with your doctor about all your health concerns including proper diet, exercise, and alcohol consumption. Brief health screenings by your provider can help determine if you are at increased risk for developing these types of health problems.

Benefits Of Ginger Tea

Kidney Pain In Lower Back Alcohol

Drinking Ginger tea will not only help to fight infection or kidney diseases but is also a cure to several ailments.

How to make Ginger Tea

To make ginger tea just grate washed and unpeeled ginger into the hot water, cover the pan and allow it to step for five minutes at low flame. You can add sweetener to it. Ginger should always be used unpeeled because all its nutritious and medicinal properties lies just below its skin.

You May Like: How Does Flomax Work For Kidney Stones

Effect Of Drinking Alcohol On Your Kidneys

Your kidneys play a very important role in keeping your body healthy and free from harmful substances. Aside from filtering and getting rid of the waste, your kidneys also make sure that your body maintains a proper balance of fluid and electrolytes. So when youre drinking, your kidneys work double-time to flush out the excess alcohol from your body, which can result in the pain that youre feeling right now.

When you drink alcohol, you tend to urinate frequently, which leads to dehydration. This can affect your kidneys functions, as well as the other organs. This gives way to symptoms such as pain in your kidney, flank, and back.

/8drinking Water Even When You Are Not Really Thirsty

Do you keep a bottle with you at all times and drink water even when you are not really in the mood? Stop! Thirst is the bodys natural reaction to fight dehydration and hence, it isnt actually helping you by drinking water even when you arent thirsty. By doing so, you are only confusing your bodys mechanism.

You May Like: Is Ginger Tea Good For Your Kidneys

Symptoms You May Experience

The areas around your kidneys may feel sore after you drink alcohol. This is the area at the back of your abdomen, under your ribcage on both sides of your spine. This pain may be felt as a sudden, sharp, stabbing pain or more of a dull ache. It may be mild or severe and can be felt on one or both sides of the body.

Kidney pain may be felt in the upper or lower back or between the buttocks and lower ribs. The pain may be felt immediately after consuming alcohol or after youve stopped drinking. Sometimes it gets worse at night.

Other symptoms include:

There are many causes of kidney pain. Its important to understand the reason for your discomfort in case its a sign of something serious. Read on to learn more about these conditions and how to treat them.

Alcohol Effect On Kidney Stones

Real Question: Can Daily Drinking Damage My Kidneys?

The National Kidney Foundation reports that an occasional drink or two should pose no problem in most circumstances. Alcohol affects the entire body, and it can strain the kidneys because they separate damaging substances from the blood.

The kidneys also make sure a persons water content is balanced correctly. Alcohol is associated with dehydration and affects their ability to work correctly.

There are other ways alcohol affects the kidneys.

Read Also: Can Apple Cider Vinegar Hurt Your Kidneys

Kidney Pain After Drinking Alcohol Why

There are so many reasons behind your kidney pain. Some people experience pain only when they drink some alcohol, while others experience a dull pain even when they have stopped drinking. Here are some of the causes behind your kidney pain.

1. Overwork of the Kidney

You may be experiencing pain because youre making your kidneys to overwork. The kidneys filter out the waste materials, and keep the body hydrated. Your kidneys have a limited capacity to process alcohol, but if you drink excessively, you make them to work harder and longer. This overtime leads to an increase in urination, which may as well cause dehydration. Once your body becomes dehydrated, it puts even more pressure on your kidneys and impairs their function. This will cause severe pain.

2. Fragile Renal Pelvis

Your urine passes into the ureters through a tubular structure called the renal pelvis. Drinking excessively will lead to excess production of urine that will affect the renal pelvis and cause pain. The pain usually goes away after you have expelled the excess urine.

3. PUJ Obstruction

Pelviureteric Junction obstruction may also cause kidney pain after drinking alcohol. The condition refers to the complete blockage of the renal pelvis, which eventually leads to flank pain or back pain.

4. Kidney Stones

5. Liver Disease

Side Effects Of Drinking Coca

According to Coca-Cola, Diet Coke was launched in 1983 as a sugar-free alternative to regular Coke. It has its own blend of flavors that is different from that of the original Coca-Cola drink. Diet Coke is low in calories and offers no nutrition Coca-Cola says a 330-milliliter serving of Diet Coke has 1 calorie and 0 grams of protein, fat, carbs, sugar and salt.

Read more:Diet Coke Nutrition and Sugar Facts

Diet Coke is sweetened using an artificial sweetener called aspartame. It also contains carbonated water, caramel coloring, caffeine, citric acid, phosphoric acid and phenylalanine.

The side effects of drinking Coca-Cola every day can be pretty severe. A May 2018 study published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition found that diet soda may be associated with a higher risk of diabetes.

The journal Nutrients published a study in May 2015 that found that consumption of diet soda was linked to a higher risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions like elevated blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar and excess abdominal fat. This syndrome can raise your risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Another of the long-term effects of Coca-Cola is that it can damage your teeth. According to the American Dental Association, the carbonation in the drink, combined with the acids it contains, can erode your teeth.

Read more:Coke Zero Health Risks

Recommended Reading: Renal Diet Orange Juice

Can You Drink Too Much Water

The short answer is yes but its hard to do. Hyponatremia, or low sodium, can be caused by a number of things but one of them is when people drink too much water over a relatively short period of time.

This condition can be quite serious but it is extremely rare, says Dr. Sukol. Its pretty unusual that anyone would drink so much water that they would actually hurt themselves.

What Causes Hydronephrosis

Kidney Back Pain After Drinking Alcohol

Hydronephrosis diagnosed in pregnancy is usually mild. It’s thought to be caused by an increase in the amount of urine your baby produces in the later stages of pregnancy.

In more severe cases, it may be caused by a blockage in the flow of urine from the kidneys to the bladder, backflow of urine from the bladder to the kidneys, or a blockage in the flow of urine out of the bladder.

In adults, hydronephrosis is commonly caused by:

Read more about the causes of hydronephrosis.

Read Also: Is Aleve Bad For Your Kidneys

Alcohol And Kidney Stones

The most often cited reason that alcohol could cause kidney stones is the fact that alcohol consumption leads to dehydration, but empirical data that supports this claim is scarce. Similarly, alcohol-induced pH changes could potentially affect kidney stone development, but again, data is lacking. Moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to be protective against kidney stones.

How The Kidneys Function And Where They Are Located

Our kidneys are part of the system known as the urinary tract, which also includes our bladders and ureters. Kidney health is essential for filtering toxins and waste out of our blood and transferring those substances to our urine for elimination from the body. The kidneys also keep our electrolyte and fluid levels balanced, and they are directly impacted by the excessive intake of alcohol.

Our kidneys are vital to our survival, and luckily they are one of many paired organs and parts our bodies have, like our eyes, ears, testes/ovaries, lungs, limbs, adrenal glands, and more. What’s fortunate about that is it’s quite possible to live with only one kidney, a fact that allows healthy, living people to donate one of their kidney organs to save the life of someone who has lost the use of both.

The kidneys are about the size of our fists and are located below the rib cage on either side of our spines. Kidney pain may be experienced as back pain, but if there is kidney damage resulting from alcohol use, other symptoms may occur. We review the symptoms of kidney damage and kidney failure further along in this article, but first let’s discuss how alcohol interacts with the kidneys.

Read Also: Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good For Kidney Disease

Mixed Drinks And Kidney Stones

In 2013, the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that carbonated drinks posed the highest risks for forming kidney stones.

The study looked at beer and wine, which were determined to have the lowest risk of forming kidney stones.

The study did not look at mixed drinks, but these usually have added ingredients, such as simple syrup, sugar-laden juices, and other sweeteners.

On April 2018, the Independent created a list of worst alcohols to drink. The list overwhelmingly includes popular sweet cocktails, such as Long Island iced tea, mojitos, piña coladas, margaritas, gin and tonic, and sweet white wine.

How Alcohol Affects Kidneys

Kidney Pain after Drinking Alcohol

Is alcohol bad for your kidneys? The answer is yes, although the damage is not always noticed at once.

Kidneys serve as a body filter, removing the harmful substances from the system. Alcohol is one of such toxic elements and is mainly excreted through kidneys and liver thus, these organs suffer the most. Alcohol negatively affects the body part in the following ways.

Don’t Miss: Apple Cider Vinegar For Kidney

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular