What Are The Early Signs Of Kidney Problems
Usually the most obvious sign of kidney distress is a change in the habits of urination. Urine production is a function of the kidneys and therefore any major change such as: less urine, urinating more often, change in color, foam, smell, pain, or blood in urine, can all indicate an issue with the kidneys.
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.
ALCOHOL REHAB HELP
How Long Does It Take For Alcohol To Damage Your Kidneys
Alcohol and Acute Kidney Failure
Binge drinking occurs when more than five drinks are consumed in about two hours. Binge drinking can lead to a sudden drop in kidney function referred to as acute kidney failure. While acute kidney failure typically subsides over time, it can occasionally lead to lasting kidney damage.
You May Like: Is Pomegranate Juice Good For Your Kidneys
How Much Alcohol Is Too Much
When experts talk about one drink, they are talking about one 12-ounce bottle of beer, one glass of wine , or one shot of “hard liquor.”
Having more than three drinks in a day for women, and more than four drinks in a day for men, is considered “heavy” drinking. The kidneys of heavy drinkers have to work harder. Heavy drinking on a regular basis has been found to double the risk for kidney disease.
Binge drinking can raise a person’s blood alcohol to dangerous levels. This can cause a sudden drop in kidney function known as “acute kidney injury.” When this happens, dialysis is needed until a person’s kidney function returns to normal. Acute kidney injury usually goes away in time, but in some cases, it can lead to lasting kidney damage.
Some people should not drink at all. Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe for you to drink, especially if you have a medical condition or take medicines that might be affected by using alcohol. Women, older people, and those with smaller bodies should be especially careful. Of course, pregnant women are advised not to drink alcohol.
What Are The Stages Of Kidney Failure
Kidney failure has five stages that vary from mild to complete kidney failure . Doctors use serum creatinine, an organic compound of the blood that is a waste product from metabolism, to measure the kidney function as they filter it without problems. Besides, they calculate and use the Glomerular filtration rate , an index that shows how much blood does the kidneys filter in 1 minute.
This rate helps to establish the current kidney function according to age and weight. As it lowers, the stage will rise:
- Stage 1: It is a stage with normal to highly functioning kidneys. Over 90% of the kidney is still working.
- Stage 2: There is a mild decrease in kidney function, and the percent of kidney function goes from 89% to 60%
- Stage 3A: Stage 3 divides in two, A and B. It has a mild to moderate decrease in kidney function with a percentage of kidney functionality that goes from 59% to 45%
- Stage 3B: It has as well a mild to moderate decrease in kidney function. However, this is a more serious stage in which the percentage of kidney functionality goes from 44% to 30%
- Stage 4: In this stage, there is a severe decrease in kidney function. The percentage of kidney functionality goes from 29% to 15%.
- Stage 5: This is also known as an end-stage renal disease in which there is complete kidney failure, and the percentage of kidney functionality is less than 15%
Read Also: Reducose Weight Loss
How Alcohol Affects Your Kidneys
With the holiday season in full swing, there are bound to be parties, get-togethers, and celebrations in the upcoming weeks, with many of them involving alcohol. While a drink or two at an occasional party will likely not have any serious effects on your kidneys, heavy drinking can have more serious implications on your health. Over time, the abuse of alcohol affects your kidneys in more ways than one: ranging from acute kidney failure to chronic kidney disease.
Alcoholism And Kidney Disease
The human body has dozens of vital organs, and the kidneys are among the most important. They regulate water intake and outtake, they balance the amount of minerals in the body, and they produce vital hormones, according to the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Threats to the normal functioning of the kidneys are serious medical problems, and alcoholism is a contributing factor to kidney disease.
If you or a loved one has pre-existing kidney issues or are concerned about alcohol consumption and kidney health, it may be time to seek professional help. Our admissions navigators are available 24/7 at Who Answers? Who answers the helpline calls. to discuss treatment options and give you the information you need to begin your road to recovery.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Functional Unit Of The Kidneys
Treatment For Alcohol Misuse And Kidney Disease
Treatment for AUD varies depending on your needs. If you struggle with chronic alcohol misuse, treatment begins with a medical detox program. Afterward, treatment may involve a variety of therapies in either inpatient or outpatient settings.
Treatment for AUD may include:
- Detox and withdrawal Medical detox provides a safe place for you to withdrawal from alcohol. Detox typically lasts up to 7 days, but that also depends on the person.
- Psychotherapy Therapies in individual and group settings are a vital part of treatment. Therapy sessions can help you better understand yourself and your issue with alcohol. Because family is crucial in treatment, family therapy is often part of treatment.
- Medication management For some people with AUD, the use of medications in treatment is vital. The changes that alcohol causes to the brain can be lethal when a person stops drinking.
- Treatment for other mental health issues Many people who misuse alcohol also have a mental disorder. As a result, dual diagnosis treatment offers whole-person treatment. It also lowers a persons relapse rate.
- Holistic or alternative therapies Many treatment centers offer holistic therapies. These therapies may include yoga, meditation, mindfulness.
What Do The Kidneys Stop Doing As The Damage Progresses
In the presence of kidney injury, the kidney can maintain the bloods glomerular filtration rate despite the progressive destruction of healthy glomeruli.
The remaining glomeruli enlarge and filtrates more than usual to maintain normal levels in the blood. This situation is sustainable until the kidney function decreases to 50%. Later this may result in a major cause of progressive renal dysfunction. The increase of pressure within glomeruli may damage the small blood vessels leading to further damage.
Before reaching those stages, the kidneys initially decrease the production of erythropoietin, the hormone responsible for bone marrow stimulation for red blood cell production. This leads to the onset of anemia, and it becomes more severe with the progression of the disease.
Kidneys also lose the ability to filter sodium, leading to sodium retention and the inability to eliminate liquids, causing edema and accumulation of liquids within the body.
The kidneys also lose the ability to eliminate potassium through the urine,which leads to an excess of potassium in the blood . Excess of potassium can lead to multiple complications like arrhythmias and cardiovascular disease.
Bone disease is a common complication in this condition due to the retention of phosphate and low calcium levels in the blood. The kidneys also become unable to produce ammonia to excrete normal acids of the body in the form of ammonium leading to metabolic acidosis.
Don’t Miss: Cranberry Good For Liver
Safe Levels Of Drinking Alcohol For Better Kidney Health
The recommended serving for alcohol is usually one drink, but the size of the drink can vary depending on the beverage. For example, one drink can be classified as 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.
Having more than three drinks a day, or seven in a week, is problematic for your kidneys. Binge drinking refers to having more than five drinks in a two-hour period.
Pregnant women, seniors, persons taking certain medications, persons with smaller body build, or persons with certain medical conditions should avoid drinking alcohol as much as possible.
Effects Of Alcohol On The Kidneys
This March, the Affiliated Urologists team will be celebrating National Kidney Month.
We want to use this opportunity to educate our patients about the kidneys are how influential they are to our health. While most people may think about damaging their livers when consuming an alcoholic beverage, the kidneys actually play an important role too.
The kidneys and the liver have a close relationship. Alcohol is known to cause liver disease. In fact, over 2 million Americans per year are diagnosed with liver disease as a direct result of alcohol. When liver disease throws the body off-balance, the kidneys have to work harder to do their job. Since they are a part of a system, when the livers are damaged, the kidneys can soon become impaired themselves. Even though liver disease is commonly caused by chronic alcohol consumption, an occasional drink can have an effect on the kidneys too.
After a few drinks, people often feel the need to urinate often. Alcohol is known to dehydrate the body, and if people dont drink enough water to replace the waste, they can feel dehydrated. The kidneys are already working overtime when intoxicated, and dehydration often puts a strain on them. This is one explanation for why people can feel kidney pain after drinking alcohol.
Recommended Reading: Stds That Affect Kidneys
Kidney Pain After Drinking: Is It Normal
The areas around your kidneys may feel sore or uncomfortable after you drink alcohol. These areas include the back of your abdomen and under your rib cage on both sides of your spine.
This sensation may be experienced as a sudden, sharp, or stabbing pain. Or, it may feel like a dull ache. The pain may be mild or severe and can be experienced on one or both sides of the body.
Kidney pain may be experienced immediately after drinking alcohol or after you have stopped drinking. In some circumstances, it worsens at night.
Other symptoms that may come with kidney pain include:
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
There are many causes of kidney pain. It is essential to understand why you are experiencing discomfort in case it is a sign of something serious.
ALCOHOL REHAB HELP
Can People With Ckd Drink Alcohol
Being able to drinkalcohol if you have CKD can depend on the stage of your disease, if you have other serious conditions, and whether or not your Nephrologist or dietician tells you that it is okay. If your healthcare team tells you to avoid alcohol, then do so.
Does kidney failure cause bruisingThe list of individual drugs that cause kidney damage is so long that its hard to decide on the top ten. So Ive chosen to list them by type of drug: antibiotic, analgesic, etc. Top ten drugs that cause kidney damage: 1. Antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, methicillin, vancomycin, sulfonamides. 2.
Don’t Miss: Kidney Pain High Blood Pressure
Alcohol And Your Kidneys
Kidneys help filter toxins from your blood, and they also help to ensure youre maintaining the right amount of water in your body. When you drink, alcohol affects your kidneys threefold. First, alcohol itself is considered a harmful substance that your kidneys have to work to filter out of your blood. Unfortunately, alcohol also disrupts the normal function of your kidneys, making them less able to filter the blood at all. Finally, alcohol dehydrates your body, which further hinders the normal function of your cells and organs.
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.
Also Check: Kidney Pain Std
Kidney Functioning And Alcohol Use
The kidneys act as filters in the body. As blood passes through, kidneys filter out waste products and toxins which are excreted in urine.
Another function of the kidney is to balance bodily fluids, which is done through a complex process of filtering blood and electrolytes and excreting them in the urine as needed. Kidneys also regulate blood pressure, help produce active vitamin D and control the production of red blood cells. Ultimately, kidneys are essential to many critical bodily functions.
Alcohol can affect the kidneys and can damage kidneys directly in several ways. It can harm the kidney structure and function, making it increasingly difficult for the kidneys to filter blood. Alcohol also affects hormones that act on the kidney and disrupts the regulation of fluids and electrolytes.
Alcohol also damages kidneys indirectly. High alcohol consumption affects blood pressure. People who drink too much often ask, does alcohol lower blood pressure? In general, drinking more than two alcoholic beverages per day raises blood pressure and increases the risk of kidney disease.
In addition to the kidneys, the liver plays an important role in healthy urine excretion. A healthy liver helps regulate how much blood the kidneys receive to filter. However, in a person who has liver disease, which can be caused by alcohol, the fluid balance is less regulated. The kidney will receive too much or too little blood to filter, making it work harder.
How Long Can You Live With Chronic Kidney Disease
The life expectancy of the chronic kidney disease depends on the stage at the time of diagnosis. It is a condition that affects old people differently from young adults. Life expectancies decrease with age when diagnosis occurred.
People with a diagnosis at the age of 30 have a possibility of living 10 to 20 years. However, due to renal treatment and technology improvement, the lifespan may go up with a few years.
Studies show that patients with a GFR of 60 and above and aged between 30 and 50 years when diagnosed. They have a life expectancy of between 24 years and 12 years.
Those patients facing stage 4 of the disease have a life expectancy of 20 years for those with 30 years old and 7 years for those with 50 years old.
When these patients reach end-stage renal disease or stage 5, the life expectancy shortens even further. Individuals aged 60 years and 85 years have a life expectancy of 6 years and between twelve and eighteen months, respectively.
These statistics are only approximated and averages, these are not absolute numbers as the situation. Life expectancy varies from case to case, but as people grow older, life expectancy reduces.
Also Check: Can A Kidney Infection Cause Diarrhea
Body Fluid Volume And Blood Pressure
Chronic alcohol consumption may cause both fluid and solutes to accumulate, thereby increasing the overall volume of body fluids. In turn, such expansion of body fluid volume can contribute to high blood pressure, a condition often seen among chronic alcoholic patients.
The association between increased blood pressure and alcohol consumption has been recognized at least since 1915, when Lian reported the prevalence of high blood pressure in relation to the drinking habits of French army officers. More recent studies have substantiated this link. For example, in the large-scale Kaiser-Permanente study, in which blood pressure measurements and alcohol histories were obtained from more than 80,000 men and women, the association between blood pressure and drinking was found to be independent of age, sex, ethnicity, weight, smoking habit, and social class .
Can Alcohol Cause Kidney Stones In Teens
A direct link between alcohol use and kidney stone formation has not been identified. However, the kidneys play a role in pH regulation and electrolyte balance. Excessive alcohol consumption has been shown to reduce urine pH, which can promote uric acid kidney stones. In addition, alcohol can affect electrolyte balance by causing dehydration. When kidneys are dehydrated, electrolytes can crystallize and form stones. Youth does not allow someone to avoid alcohol-related kidney stones, and teens can get stones just as quickly as an adult.
You May Like: Seltzer Water Kidney Stones
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.