Effects On The Kidneys
Besides the harmful effects reported from taurine accumulation with excess intake, data exist which have associated varying effects ranging from acute renal failure from excessive Red Bull consumption, increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as heart rate, and even reduced blood supply to the brain.
An abstract presented at the 2019 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology meeting showed that young healthy adults consuming Rockstar energy drink had a significant increase in their resting blood pressure which could predispose to cardiovascular events .
How To Make Better Beverage Choices
A little soda or sweet tea is not going to hurt you, but you are better off making sure you get the necessary amount of water per day first. An easy way to make water your priority is to count how much water you drink daily and refuse to drink anything else until you meet the necessary quota. Once you have the recommended amount, then you can have a glass of your favorite drink as a reward.
Now is good time to think about your calorie intake as well. The beverages you drink factor in weight management in fact, these beverages make up about 20 percent of total calories for most people. Once you realize how your calorie intake is impacted by the beverages you consume, youll see how fast the calories add up if you drink even just a few glasses of sugary soda or tea.
Make this the year you promise to pay attention to your urinary health. Drinking more water and less soda or sweet tea is a great way to start. If you have any questions about how your diet impacts your urinary health, contact Dr. Scott Miller or call at 705-5201.
How Sweet Tea And Soda Affect The Bladder
Sweet tea and soda have a couple of things in common that can lead to urinary problems. First, they both cause frequent urination. Caffeine, which is present in both drinks, acts as a natural diuretic. The caffeine stimulates the bladder, so you use the restroom more often when you drink either of these two beverages. Studies show that women who drink large amounts of caffeine are 70 percent more likely to suffer from urinary incontinence.
Other potential concerns include:
- Tea tends to be acidic, which may cause irritation in the urinary tract.
- Carbonated drinks like soda irritate sensitive bladders.
- Both artificial and natural sugar can cause irritation in the bladder as well.
The biggest obstacle is that if you drink a lot of soda or sweet tea, then you are probably not drinking enough water. The human body consists mostly of water it makes up more than half of your body weight. It is necessary to transport oxygen in the blood, to support immune system functioning, to maintain proper body temperature, and to remove waste. In general, you should try to drink up to eight glasses of water daily for optimal health.
Read Also: Is Celery Juice Good For Kidneys
How Can I Take Care Of Myself
- Follow your healthcare provider’s treatment. Take all of the antibiotic that your healthcare provider prescribes, even when you feel better. Do not take medicine left over from previous prescriptions.
- Drink more fluids, especially water, to help flush bacteria from your system.
- If you have a fever:
- Take aspirin or acetaminophen to control the fever. Check with your healthcare provider before you give any medicine that contains aspirin or salicylates to a child or teen. This includes medicines like baby aspirin, some cold medicines, and Pepto Bismol. Children and teens who take aspirin are at risk for a serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.
- Keep a daily record of your temperature.
What Are The Causes Of Urinary Tract Infection
- Urinary tract infections are caused by microbes such as bacteria that affect the bladder, kidneys and tubes connected to them.
- Women are at greater risk of getting Urinary tract infections. It happens because the tube , which carries the urine from the bladder to outside the body, is situated very close to the anus. Bacteria from E.coli like large intestine can easily enter the urethra after escaping the anus. They travel up to the bladder from there and keep infecting the kidney if the infection is not treated. Women have shorter urethras, making them more prone to UTIs, as bacteria can quickly enter the bladder.
- Bacteria can be introduced in urinary tract by having sex with the infected partner too.
You May Like: Can Kidney Stones Cause Gas And Constipation
Warning Signs You’re Drinking Too Much Coke
Today, Coca-Cola sells so many kinds of different beverages that if you drank one a day, it would take you 9 years to sample them all. Every day 1.7 billion servings of Coke products are consumed worldwide.
That’s a lot of sugar water.
Are you drinking too much Coke and other sodas? A quick glance in your recycling bin may offer a clue. If you count up 7 cans or bottles of soda that you drained yourself, many studies suggest that yes, you’re drinking enough to compromise your health. According to one of the largest, the landmark U.S. Framingham Heart Study, drinking just one can of soda daily has been linked to obesity, increased waist size, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart attack, stroke, poorer memory, smaller brain volume, and dementia.
While an occasional Coke won’t leave you with lasting ill-health effects, making a habit of drinking soda may, studies suggest. These subtle warning signs may signal that it’s time to cut back before your habit becomes a serious health issue. Read on, and for more on how to eat healthy, you won’t want to miss these 108 Most Popular Sodas Ranked by How Toxic They Are.
Skip Citrusy Or Caffeinated Sodas Irritate The Bladder
Sodas in general have been found to irritate the bladder in people with chronic bladder inflammation, and they could aggravate symptoms in someone with a bladder infection. Citrus-flavored sodas and caffeinated sodas are the culprits when it comes to worsening urinary tract infection symptoms. So, when you’re struggling to overcome a bladder infection, stick to water or cranberry juice as your drink of choice.
Also Check: Stds That Affect Kidneys
What Does It Mean To Have A Urinary Tract Infection
The body is naturally home to a whole range of different bacteria, which play an essential role in the functioning of systems such as the inestinal tract, but there is a balance of good and bad bacteria. In the urinary tract, its not normal to find bacteria, but sometimes, they enter through the opening in the urethra. Under certain circumstances, bacteria can settle in and flourish, which leads to an infection.
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection can be irritating most of the time, and in some circumstances, completely debilitating. They include:
- A frequent, sudden, and urgent need to urinate
- Pain and burning when peeing
- Urine that is smelly, cloudy , or discolored
- Incontinence or an inability to empty the bladder completely
- A slow or intermittent urine stream
- Pain or pressure in the pelvis, lower abdomen, or lower back and flanks
- A low grade fever
When the infection progresses into the kidneys, where there could be several complications, a person may also experience a much higher fever, chills, nausea and vomiting, and unbearable pain in the lower back.
How You Can Get Kidney Stones From Drinking Soda
Sodas are filled with unhealthy chemicals, including high levels of processed bleached sugar, phosphoric acid, caffeine, and high fructose corn syrup. These ingredients can be extremely harmful to your body, especially when consumed in large amounts.
High fructose corn syrup, in particular, can metabolize into oxalate and increase excretion of uric acid and calcium. This combination of high-level oxalate, uric acid, and calcium encourage kidney stone formation. Phosphoric acid is another culprit found in the average soda. This chemical creates an acidic environment in your kidney tract, enabling kidney stones to form more easily. In addition, many sodas are high in caffeine which is a diuretic that encourages chronic dehydration, which is the most common risk factor for kidney stone formation.
Recommended Reading: Kidneys Medical Term
How Does It Occur
Normally the urinary tract does not have any bacteria or other organisms in it. Bacteria that cause UTI often spread from the rectum to the urethra and then to the bladder or kidneys. Sometimes bacteria spread from another part of the body through the bloodstream to the urinary tract. Urinary tract infection is less common in men than in women because the male urethra is long, making it difficult for bacteria to spread to the bladder.
Urinary tract infection may be caused by a sexually transmitted disease. Sometimes a stone in the urinary tract blocks the flow of urine and causes an infection. In older men, an enlarged prostate can cause a urinary tract infection by keeping urine from draining out of the bladder completely. Infection might also be caused by the use of a catheter used to drain the bladder or by urethral stricture, which is a narrowing of the urethra by scar tissue from previous infections or surgical procedures.
You may be more likely to have a UTI if you have diabetes or another medical problem that affects the immune system.
My Kidneys Were Very Sore And Painful From Drinking Soft Drinks & Caffeine
I began noticing that my lower back and sides was really started to have this odd dull ache. I also started to notice that my bladder felt full and bloated all the time, and I was trying to urinate several times per day to relieve this feeling . Sorry if that is too much info
This pain got worse each day, until I started to get very nervous. I didnt know if I had a UTI , kidney infection, or what was going on.
My kidneys ached so badly, I was practically bedridden for a few days, barely leaving my bed to simply eat and use the bathroom. I had no fever or anything, but I was in pain and felt weak. My wife had to take care of me because I felt terrible.
At first, I didnt know what was causing this. Then, my lovely wife , suggested that it could have been all the soft drinks I have been chugging at my meals . She said, Bennie, its probably all of those soft drinks. The caffeine in soft drinks can be really bad for your kidneys. Trust me
I immediately agreed because it reminded me of how I went through this same thing when I was 18 years old . My sides and back had this terrible dull ache. I went to the doctor about it back then, and had a urine test to make sure I didnt have an infection or something. They said it was fine and I had no infection, but I did have some protein in my urine. I guess that is sometimes normal.
The doctor at the time said that the soft drinks didnt cause the pain , because , soft drinks go in your stomach, not your kidneys.
Don’t Miss: Constipation With Kidney Stone
How Is It Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history. You may have lab tests of your urine and discharge from the urethra and prostate gland.
For serious or repeated infections, you may need:
- An intravenous pyelogram . An IVP is a special type of X-ray of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.
- An ultrasound scan to look at the urinary tract.
- A cystoscopy. This is an exam of the inside of the urethra and bladder with a small lighted instrument. It is usually done by a specialist called a urologist.
Leads To Low Sodium Levels Or Brain Swelling Usual Intake Per Day Should Be Eight To 10 Glasses Overhydration Can Lead To Water Intoxication
With mercury levels rising, doctors maintain that staying hydrated was essential but overdoing it may not be the best road to take.
Recent research has indicated that overhydration or excess fluid accumulation can lead to dangerously low sodium levels in the blood or cause brain swelling, especially among the elderly, the doctors said.
K. K. Aggarwal, immediate past president, Indian Medical Association , said, Overhydration can lead to what is known as water intoxication. In this condition, the amount of salt and other electrolytes in the body become too diluted.
A person who drinks the normal amount of water has straw-coloured to transparent yellow urine. Although most people believe that clear urine is the healthiest sign of hydration, but urine with no pigmentation at all may be an indication that one is drinking too much water, he added.
One should normally intake eight to 10 glasses a day, the doctors said.
This varies depending on an individuals height, weight and exercise patterns. Drinking a lot of water or not having an effective mechanism to remove it from the body can cause water levels to build up. This in turn dilutes important substances in the blood. Endurance athletes, such as those who run marathons and triathlons, sometimes drink too much water before and during an event, he said.
Recommended Reading: Is Ginger Good For Kidney Stones
How Do The Carbonated Beverages Help In The Formation Of These Stones
Soda is made out of many chemicals including high levels of processed bleached sugar, caffeine, high fructose corn syrup, and phosphoric acid. These ingredients can be extremely harmful, especially when consumed in large amounts. High fructose corn syrup can metabolize into oxalate and increase the secretion of uric acid and combination. This encourages kidney stone formation. Phosphoric acid, on the other hand, creates an acidic environment in your kidney tract enabling kidney stones to form more easily.
Caffeine is a diuretic that encourages chronic dehydration which is the most common risk factor for kidney stone formation.
How Is A Urinary Tract Infection Diagnosed How Do Healthcare Providers Test For A Uti In Toddlers
After interviewing you about your childs history and performing a physical examination, the healthcare provider may order the following tests:
- Urine tests like the leukocyte esterase and a urine culture to test for the presence of bacteria or white blood cells.
- Blood tests looking for infection or kidney function.
- Ultrasound or CT of the kidneys and bladder.
- Voiding cystourethrogram , which evaluates the bladder and urethra to detect vesicoureteral reflux .
Don’t Miss: Almonds And Kidney Disease
Kidney Stones Feel Like A Stomachache
MYTH BUSTED: Kidney stones are more along the lines of a contraction, and some people it is more severe than labor, so go ask your mom if labor is just like a stomachache and send us her reaction. Trust us, the pain can range from a stabbing sensation to pain along the lines of menstrual cramps. Its definitely not a tummy ache.
What Are The Best Foods For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Diet plays an important role in curing or prevention from diseases. The most common recommendation about the food in Benign prostatic hyperplasia are: –
- Fresh fruits and veggies: Eat more fruits will surely be helpful and green vegetables too. Some fruits are required to avoid but most of the fruits are healthy. They are rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants and thus play an important role in the body. The fruits and veggies include strawberries, watermelon, banana, apple, and peanut butter.
- Fatty fish: Omega-3 fatty acids can lower cholesterol and also maintain the right blood pressure in the body. Cut the animal fat and go for the omega-3 products. The food includes sardines, salmon, tuna, and anchovies.
- Nuts and seeds: Nuts are very beneficial for the healthy prostates. They are portable and give you instant energy. They contain calcium and Vitamin-E. Nuts which are helpful are pecans, almonds, and walnuts. When it comes to seed, Sesame seed is very helpful.
- Beans: Chia, hemp seeds, and beans are full of protein and other nutrients. Adding up beans in your diet will surely boost prostate health. They contain amino acids as well as important fibre for the body.
- Green tea: Researchers say that green tea is one of the best cures available. They can help protect against prostate cancer and lower cholesterol and improves concentration ability.
Also Check: Does Diet Soda Cause Kidney Stones
What Are The Causes Of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
The actual cause of BPH is still unknown whether many types of research studies have concluded some of the facts. Thus, here are some possible causes of BPH: –
- Normal ageing.
- Genetics is also a possible cause as it has been observed Africans are more likely to have this problem other than Asian men.
- Obesity as men with overweight has higher a risk than others.
- Changes in the balance of sex hormones.
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.
Read Also: 5mm Kidney Stone Passable