Alcohol and Kidneys: Effects, Risks & Treatment

Consuming adequate water before, during, and after drinking alcohol can help flush out toxins and prevent dehydration. Consuming alcohol affects various parts of your body, including your kidneys. Moderate drinking, such as one or two drinks now and then, usually has no severe effects. However, too much alcohol (more than four drinks daily) can affect your health and worsen kidney disease.

Condition Spotlight

Alcohol can impact these functions, as drinking affects your kidneys in many ways. For example, alcohol causes dehydration, which decreases blood flow to the kidneys and makes it more difficult for them to do their job. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol use, knowing how it can affect kidney function and health is important. Chronic kidney disease is a progressive and irreversible disease that leads your kidneys to stop functioning. This can then cause all manner of health issues, including electrolyte imbalances, stroke, and life-threatening kidney infections. When chronic kidney disease progresses to end-stage renal disease, the kidneys can no longer do their job.

Can alcohol cause kidney failure?

Avoid binge drinking, and drink plenty of water if drinking alcohol. People with chronic kidney disease should not drink alcohol at all, and they can speak to a doctor for help with quitting if they are finding it challenging. Kidney pain after drinking alcohol may occur due to acute kidney injury or an infection.

• Research has shown that alcohol can lead to alterations in the kidneys’ structure and function, as well as a decreased ability to regulate the body’s fluid volume and electrolyte balance.
• When you urinate, you’re losing fluids, which means drinking alcohol can lead to dehydration.
• Let’s explore the link between the two in more detail as we dive into the topic together.
• Understanding what really is behind alcohol-induced kidney disease is essential.
• Your kidneys have been faithfully serving your body, filtering toxins and maintaining balance even when faced with challenges.

Heavy drinking can also cause liver disease, which makes your kidneys have to work harder. When you have liver disease, your body doesn’t balance the flow and filtering of blood as well as it should. This has a harmful effect on your overall health and can increase the chance of complications. Liver disease makes you susceptible to pain or discomfort after drinking alcohol.

Permanent Damage From Alcoholic Liver Disease

It may be mild or severe and can be felt on one or both sides of the body. However, in advanced alcoholic liver disease, liver regeneration is impaired, resulting in permanent damage to the liver. In liver failure, the liver is severely damaged and can no longer function. Other organs, such as the kidneys, and body systems such as the respiratory system, may also begin to fail.

At-Home Solutions for Kidney Stones

In particular, if you drink excessively or are an alcoholic, this is likely. If you suspect you’ve overdone on alcoholic beverages, seek medical advice before being prompted by severe pain. Your doctor may be able to detect the early signs of kidney stressors before they cause irreversible damage. Quitting or significantly reducing alcohol use is the best way to give your kidneys a chance to heal. The challenge lies in the fact that many people take medications regularly without considering how they might interact with their drinking habits. Always consult with healthcare providers about potential interactions, especially if you notice kidney pain after drinking while taking any medications.

Chronic kidney damage is often progressive, requiring dialysis every one to three days to remove toxins that build up in your body and keep you alive. The kidneys are one of several ways the body controls blood pressure. As pressure rises, the kidneys can reduce blood pressure by removing some of the blood’s volume. The kidneys are very sensitive to pressure changes, and Alcoholics Anonymous big swings in blood pressure or prolonged high blood pressure can damage them.

Applying a warm compress to the lower back or abdomen, specifically targeting the area where kidney pain is concentrated, can help alleviate discomfort. Apply a heating pad to the affected area for approximately 20 minutes at a time to help alleviate discomfort. A bladder infection is simply a bacterial infection in the bladder.

Worsening of Existing Conditions

Inpatient treatment involves living on-site at the detox or rehab facility, an approach that keeps patients in a healing environment and allows for better monitoring and treatment. Kidney infections can become serious very quickly and are usually the result of an untreated UTI or bladder infection. Contact your urologist if you are experiencing the symptoms of kidney infection. While we suggest that anyone who experiences kidney pain visits their urologist, there are several ways to alleviate kidney pain and discomfort from your home. Below, you’ll learn the most common causes of kidney pain and how to treat this type of pain at home. If you or a loved one are experiencing mild to moderate pain in your kidney, this list of home remedies should offer relief.

Our team of skilled and experienced addiction specialists is here to provide the support, guidance, and personalized treatment you need to embark on your journey to recovery. While moderate alcohol consumption may not cause significant harm to kidney function in most people, heavy drinking poses serious risks. It is important to drink responsibly and seek help if you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction. The kidneys’ main job is to filter blood in order to keep bodies clean & healthy. Kidneys filter the body of waste through urination and are in charge of maintaining a balance of fluid in the body. These organs, located at the back of the abdomen and under the rib cage on both sides of the how to treat kidney pain after drinking alcohol spine, play a very important role in keeping our bodies functioning properly.

Some people describe it as feeling like someone is pressing firmly on their lower back, while others experience it as a radiating discomfort that spreads toward the lower abdomen or groin area. When these systems become imbalanced, your kidneys must work even harder to restore proper fluid distribution and electrolyte concentrations. This additional strain can manifest as pain, particularly in individuals who may already have compromised kidney function without realizing it. In this article, learn more about the causes of kidney pain and how they might be related to drinking alcohol.

These recurring symptoms require diagnostic testing, including blood work, urinalysis, and imaging, to identify the root cause and establish a long-term treatment plan. Experiencing kidney pain after drinking alcohol can be incredibly uncomfortable and worrisome. The kidneys, which play a critical role in filtering toxins and waste from the bloodstream, can become irritated or inflamed due to excessive alcohol intake. Alcohol can lead to dehydration, which in turn places additional strain on these vital organs. Pain might manifest on either side of your lower back, where the kidneys are https://ecosoberhouse.com/ situated, and could be accompanied by other symptoms like nausea or changes in urination patterns.