The kidneys are very sensitive to pressure changes, and big swings in blood pressure or prolonged high blood pressure can damage them. Alcohol causes an initial dip in blood pressure that quickly elevates, leading to high blood pressure for several hours after drinking. Binge drinking can cause severe increases in blood pressure, while heavy drinking over time causes chronically high blood pressure. While moderate alcohol consumption might not directly harm healthy kidneys, for those with chronic kidney disease, any amount can be detrimental. Alcohol can further impair kidney function and accelerate disease progression.
When to visit a doctor
Some of these toxins may cause fatigue, while others are anorexigenic (i.e., they suppress appetite). The study showed that abstaining from alcohol for only four weeks was sufficient to reverse the effects of chronic drinking. However, abstinence did not work for all the study participants. Kidney abnormalities persisted in a small selection of participants. According to the NKF, one potential symptom of AKI is flank pain, which is pain in the side of the back, between the ribs and hips. Below are some answers to frequently asked questions about alcohol-induced kidney damage.
Kidney Stones
As a result, your kidneys receive less nutrients from the bloodstream, making it harder for them to perform their role of removing toxins. One of the kidneys’s jobs is to remove toxins from your blood. When you drink alcohol, you put toxins into your blood, making your kidneys’ job extra hard. If you drink too much, your kidneys might not be able to keep up. As a result, your kidneys will struggle to maintain the proper amount of fluid within your body. There are several different ways that using alcohol can lead to the development of kidney pain.
- For women, heavy drinking is defined as drinking more than three drinks in a single sitting or more than seven drinks in a day.
- Kidney stones alone can be painful but alcohol can cause them to move more quickly and be the pain you feel after drinking.
- Blood tests revealed elevated creatinine levels, suggesting acute kidney injury (AKI).
- You may wish to swap out hard liquor for beer or wine, since these have a lower alcohol content.
- They are responsible for filtering waste from your blood and regulating levels of minerals and water in your body.
- Alcohol affects the kidneys’ ability to keep the correct balance of water and electrolytes in the body.
Is Kidney Pain After Drinking Normal?
The exact amount of alcohol someone can safely consume depends on multiple factors. For example, older adults and women should drink less as their kidneys filter alcohol https://ecosoberhouse.com/ more slowly. Alcohol harms the kidneys by changing the way these organs process substances. The kidneys’ primary function is to filter out toxins from the bloodstream.
Alcohol Can Affect the Kidneys Through High Blood Pressure
If someone feels this discomfort, especially if it lasts for several hours or days, they should see a doctor since they may have a dangerous illness. Should kidney disease alcohol kidney pain develop, it could be due to alcohol or other contributing health conditions that alcohol exacerbates, including high blood sugar, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure, which, like liver failure, can sometimes only be reversed by organ transplantation. 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.
Gallops, Bruits, and Murmurs in Older Adults: A Comprehensive Overview for Better Heart Health
- In this way, you will expect to avoid kidney problems and kidney pain from taking place in the near future.
- Nonetheless, the reviewers note that alcohol metabolism produces free radicals and other harmful by-products that are known to damage the body’s organs and tissues.
- Chronic alcohol consumption may even result in liver disease, which further affects the function of kidneys.
- In fact, you should essentially follow a safety guideline i.e. never drink more than one or two drinks in a day.
In some cases, a kidney biopsy might be necessary to obtain a tissue sample for microscopic examination, providing a definitive diagnosis and assessment of the severity of the damage. By clicking “Submit,” you certify that you have provided your legal name and phone number, agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy, and authorize Addictionresource to contact you. You consent to receive SMS notifications and promotions from Addictionresource.
Possibilities for Experiencing Kidney Pain After Consuming Alcohol
Drinking too much can damage your body’s sensitivity to insulin, disrupting your body’s blood-sugar levels. Alcohol can also lead to acute pancreatitis, and repetitive damage can lead to chronic pancreatitis. Because your kidneys impact the health of your other organs, stressed kidneys can create a ripple effect that has ongoing consequences for your overall health. Here, we’ll share insights into some of the ways alcohol impacts the kidneys and how much alcohol is safe to drink.
Causes Liver Disease and Affects Kidneys
People with kidney damage also have a higher risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs). CKD often features a lowered immune response, reducing the body’s ability Alcoholics Anonymous to fight infections like UTIs. These structural changes result in modifications to kidney function. Most importantly, they make the kidney less effective at filtering alcohol from the blood and regulating bodily fluids and electrolytes. The NKF explains that chronic drinking can cause liver disease, which impairs the rate of blood flow to the kidneys.
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