So Where Does Alcohol Come Into All This
Alcohol will make you urinate far more than you normally do causing a fluid imbalance in your body. This puts unnecessary strain on the kidneys. It causes you to lose vital electrolytes, while tricking the other parts of your body into retaining water. Net result is that you end up feeling bloated, while the water content in your blood diminishes. Ironically, your skin begins to look parched and wrinkled as it fails to retain sufficient moisture. This means that your kidneys have to filter greater concentrations of toxins in a smaller amount of time. The chemical and mechanical damage caused to your kidneys is incalculable.;
What Is The Role Of The Kidneys
Kidneys are essential to your overall health, serving multiple essential functions. The primary role of the kidneys is to filter the blood of toxins and turn the waste into urine.;
They also regulate the bodys electrolyte and water levels, keeping them constant.;
And finally, they secrete hormones important to proper bodily function.;
When your kidneys stop working properly, harmful toxins and waste products can build up, leading to various side effects and dangerous conditions.
All You Need To Know How Alcohol Affects Our Kidneys
There are far too many celebrities who have died of cirrhosis of the liver because they indulged in a glass too many of some kind of alcohol, too many times. So, it is unlikely that you are unaware of the downside of alcohol. However, do you know how alcohol can impair kidney function, which might even cause kidney failure? After all, kidneys are vital organs like the heart, lungs, liver, and eyes are. Unfortunately, alcohol is not simply so much fluid which the kidneys need to flush out.Beer flushes out kidney stones: Yes, there are many doctors who recommend drinking beer to flush out small renal calculi kidney stones in lay parlance but that does not mean you go on a drinking binge under the pretext that it is good for your kidney stones. In fact, there is a marked relation between heavy drinking, and the probability of getting kidney stones. So, first you should understand what kidney function entails.;
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How Common Are Kidney Stones
Each year, more than half a million people go to emergency rooms for kidney stone problems. It is estimated that one in ten people will have a kidney stone at some time in their lives.
The prevalence of kidney stones in the United States increased from 3.8% in the late 1970s to 8.8% in the late 2000s. The prevalence of kidney stones was 10% during 20132014. The risk of kidney stones is about 11% in men and 9% in women. Other diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity may increase the risk for kidney stones.
Why Do My Kidneys Hurt After Drinking Alcohol
The purpose of the kidneys is to filter waste from the body, and proper water intake is required to replace this waste. Alcohol dehydrates you, which makes it difficult for this to happen.;
On top of that, you are intoxicated, which also puts a strain on your kidneys. This is one reason why you may feel pain after that glass of wine or beer.
The best way to avoid this pain is to drink plenty of water after a night of drinking.
Can Alcohol Cause Kidney Stones?;
Alcohol does not directly cause kidney stones. However, excessive alcohol consumption can increase your risk of developing kidney stones in several ways. The most common way this happens is through dehydration.;
Other factors associated with excessive alcohol use, such as weight gain and poor diet, can be risk factors for kidney stones.
Should I Drink Alcohol if I Have Kidney Stones?
If you already have kidney stones, drinking alcohol may worsen your condition. Drinking alcohol can cause kidney stones to move around faster, causing increased pain in the body.;
How to Prevent Alcohol-Related Kidney Stones
The best way to prevent kidney stones from alcohol use is to drink alcohol in moderation.;Excessive drinking or addiction will put you at a higher risk of developing kidney stones. Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated will also help reduce your risk. However, the best way to avoid alcohol-related kidney stones is to abstain from drinking entirely.
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How Can Your Diet Increase The Risk For Calcium Stones
Approximately four out of five kidney stones are calcium stones. These stones are often a combination of calcium and oxalate, but can also be a combination of calcium and phosphate or a combination of all three. A great deal of research has uncovered dietary factors that can lead to the development of these stones.
The beef about animal protein: Protein is an essential nutrient needed for numerous functions in our body. The average American consumes about twice the RDA for protein each day with the majority of it coming from animal sources. Some research has shown a link between kidney stones and diets high in animal protein, while others have found no difference in stone formation in animal versus plant protein consumption. If the majority of your meals contain a source of meat , then the recommendation would be to cut back on the quantity and/or frequency that these are consumed. Here are some ways to get protein from plant sources:
- Vegetables
- Nuts
The salt that you add while cooking or eating can easily put you over your limit for the day. Each teaspoon of salt contains about 2,300 mg of sodium. Some techniques for keeping your sodium intake down are:
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.
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Does Alcohol Cause Kidney Stones
No direct link between alcohol and kidney stones has been proven. However, alcohol can cause dehydration, which is linked to kidney stone formation. For this reason, alcohol use is not recommended if you have kidney stones or are trying to prevent them.
In addition, there are other factors to consider:
- Dehydration: If you drink, particularly in excess, it can cause dehydration, which is linked to kidney stone formation.
- Weight gain: Drinking excessively means you are getting a lot of empty calories, which can cause weight gain. Being overweight or obese are also risk factors for kidney stones.
- Uric acid: Alcohol like beer contains something called purines, which are the building blocks of uric acid. Purines can lead to the formation of uric acid kidney stones, and beer could exacerbate problems that you have with high purine levels.
Kidney stones and beer might not be directly associated with one another in a causal way, but there are a lot of reasons to watch your alcohol consumption if youre concerned about kidney stones.
Causes Of Kidney Stones
There are several factors that increase the risk for solid accumulations in the kidney. These are some of the most common:
* A high-protein, low-fiber diet* Genetic predisposition to forming kidney stones* An overactive parathyroid gland, which increases the risk of developing calcium stones* Being a man aged between the age of 30 to 40* Suffering from a disease or conditions affecting the small intestine* A history of developing kidney stones* Leading a sedentary lifestyle* Suffering from certain kinds of cancer* Undergoing chemotherapy* Suffering from gout, which affects the bodys ability to effectively break down chemicals* Having only one kidney* Frequently taking antacids and aspirin seem
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Do Libations Like Wine And Beer Reduce Your Risk For Kidney Stones
Kidney stone pain is unlike anything elsemany compare the pain of kidney stones to that of childbirth. As uncomfortable as kidney stones are, there is little to do about them when you have one. Most of the time you have to wait for the stone to pass before experiencing relief, or undergo a kidney stone procedure to break the stone up into passable amounts.
Either way, its easy to see that kidney stones are no fun! And since 19 percent of men and 9 percent of women will experience at least one kidney stone in their lifetime, it becomes even more important to do whatever you can to prevent kidney stones in your own life.
When it comes to preventing kidney stones though, theres always quite a bit of debateespecially when it comes to which fluids work and which dont. Obviously drinking lots of water is ideal for preventing kidney stones, but what about other fluids?
Disclaimer: While there is no proven connection between libations such as beer and wine and the prevention of kidney stones, studies have been conducted that show libations can actually have a positive impact on your kidney health and lower your risk of kidney stones.
We plan to discuss these findings below, and offer our advice for healthy fluid intake in regards to kidney stones.
So, its time to settle the debatedoes wine really prevent kidney stones?
Alcohols Effect On Kidneys
Your kidneys have an important role to fill. They filter waste from your blood, regulate the balance of water and minerals in your body and produce hormones.;
When you drink heavily, your kidneys have to work harder to filter out the alcohol. And in rare cases, binge drinking five or more drinks at a time; can cause a sudden drop in kidney function called acute kidney injury. This serious condition occurs when toxins from alcohol build up in your blood so fast your kidneys cant maintain the proper fluid balance. Though its reversible with treatment, it can increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.;
Regular, heavy alcohol use can also be harmful to your kidneys over time. According to the National Kidney Foundation, regular heavy drinking can double the risk of chronic kidney disease. The risk is even higher in people who drink heavily and also smoke.;
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Alcohol And The Link To Kidney Stones
It is inconclusive whether or not alcohol consumption specifically leads to the formation of kidney stones; however, there are several ways in which alcohol use can contribute to factors that increase the risk for developing them. These include:
- The buildup of purine,;which is converted into uric acid: Alcohol contains purine, and this chemical is converted into uric acid, a buildup of which can lead to the formation of uric acid kidney stones.
- Obesity: Alcohol can contribute to unhealthy weight gain due to the consumption of empty calories and poor nutrition, which can raise the risk for developing kidney stones.
- Dehydration: Alcohol consumption can lead to dehydration, which means there will be less liquid to dissolve waste safely in the urine and can therefore result in the formation of kidney stones.
Kidney stones may be genetic,;Harvard Health;publishes. Certain medical conditions or combinations of medications can increase the risks for developing kidney stones as well. A person should always check with their doctor if they struggle with medical complications or take medications regarding how these factors may interact with alcohol and whether or not it is safe to drink. In order to prevent kidney stones,;it may be best to limit alcohol intake, drink plenty of water, stay conscious of weight gain, and eat a balanced and nutritious diet that is low in sodium.
Are Alcoholics More Prone To Kidney Stones
Alcohol use disorder , also known as alcoholism, increases your risk for kidney stones in several ways. First, drinking alcohol dehydrates you, which as mentioned before, will put you at higher risk. And as you become intoxicated, this weakens your kidneys effectiveness at filtering waste products.;
In addition, heavy drinking is associated with poor diet and obesity, which are two risk factors for kidney stones.;
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Drinking With Alcohol Is Not Good
Alcohol has also been found to indirectly inhibit a kidneys ability to expel uric acid from the body.; This leads to uric acid build up in body fluids that can lead to the formation of uric acid stones.
Urine acidity to a great extent can be effectively controlled by drinking enough water.; The pH level of water is 7 which can increase the alkaline levels of urine, and when urine is at a pH of 7, it can dissolve more uric acid than in acidic urine.
Drinking required amounts of water will help balance the pH levels in urine and can actually dissolve existing uric acid stones in the urine.; Thus it is necessary for kidney stone sufferers to avoid alcohol consumption, and in situations where drinking cannot be avoided, consume water at regular intervals to minimizes its risks.
Hence, while alcohol does not cause kidney stones, it can make matters worse for a kidney stone sufferer.
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/5alcohol And Kidney Stones
The kidneys are responsible for filtering harmful substances like alcohol. Alcohol contains a high purine content, a chemical which leads to uric acid and kidney stones. When you drink too much alcohol, the functionality of your kidneys is compromised, and they are not able to flush out the purine. It then gets accumulated in the kidneys, eventually resulting in a kidney stone.
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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.
How Does Alcohol Affect Your Kidneys
Research has shown that long-term consumption of heavy amounts of alcohol can negatively affect the kidneys.10, 11
Heavy drinking can, over time, increase a persons likelihood to develop chronic kidney disease. High levels of alcohol consumption may initiate or promote cardiovascular-related risk factors for kidney disease such as high blood pressure, insulin resistance, diabetes, and excess uric acid in the blood.10,
The main function of the kidneys is to filter waste from the blood. When the kidney malfunctions, it can lead to an imbalance of fluids and certain electrolytes. Chronic alcohol use, subsequent nutritional deficits, and associated hormonal imbalance may further contribute to renal dysfunction.14, 15
Other ways chronic alcohol use can affect your renal system and how your kidneys work include:14
- Renal tubular acidosis, which occurs when the kidneys fail to excrete acids into the urine, which causes a persons blood to remain too acidic.
- Hypomagnesemia, an electrolyte disturbance caused by a low level of serum magnesium in the blood.
- Anion gap acidosis, or liver failure.
- Hypophosphatemia, an electrolyte disorder in which there is a low level of phosphate in the blood.
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Treatment Options For Alcohol
Alcohol-related or not, once you develop kidney stones, you have several ways of treating them. Depending on their size, you can simply pass them when you urinate.;
If it is too large or painful to pass naturally, you may need to seek advanced medical care. There are non-invasive surgeries available to help you pass the stones.;
Shock wave lithotripsy involves using shock waves targeted at the area of the body with the kidney stones. The waves shatter them into fragments that are small enough to pass through the urethra without pain.;
The other, laser lithotripsy, entails a long, thin telescope inserted upward into the urethra. Once secured, a laser is used to blast the stones into tiny pieces.;
Even more invasive options include ureteroscopy and nephrolithotomy. The first involves passing a telescope into the bladder. The second consists of making a small incision into the back to physically remove the stone. The most invasive option, open surgery, is used in very rare cases.
Staying Healthy: What Else To Consider Besides Kidney Stones From Drinking Soda
We care for your wellbeing and its important to stay healthy, not only to prevent kidney stones from forming due to soda consumption, but to protect your urinary system as well. For more information on how to be your healthiest self, download our Nutrition and Lifestyle Guide for tips and tricks to implement into your day-to-day life.
This content was originally published in 2017 and refreshed in 2020.;
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