Other major risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, hypertension, family history of kidney disease, and certain medications. The NKF explains that chronic drinking can cause liver disease, which impairs the rate of blood flow to the kidneys. Similarly, there’s minimal evidence to suggest that alcohol increases the risk of kidney stones or kidney infections. When your liver isn’t functioning well, it can impair blood flow to your kidneys. “Liver disease can have significant impacts on the kidneys,” says Dr. Bobart.
How does alcohol abuse lead to chronic kidney disease?
Alcohol can also cause pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas. While not directly a kidney condition, pancreatitis can indirectly affect kidney function through widespread inflammation and significant fluid shifts. These systemic disturbances can place additional stress on the kidneys. Alcohol can disrupt the balance of electrolytes like sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphate, which the kidneys regulate. These imbalances can further compromise kidney function and overall cellular health. Alcohol can cause changes in the function of the kidneys and make them less able to filter your blood.
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Moreover, even if alcohol may help prevent kidney cancer, it can increase the risk of developing other cancers. In particular, studies have shown that alcohol can contribute to liver, breast, and colorectal cancers (28). The Recovery Village Columbus offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions.
Impaired Fluid Handling
In addition, AUD’s effect on other major organs (liver, heart, intestines, and skeletal muscle) appears to promote unfavorable pathological processes that are harmful to the kidneys. Notably, these mechanisms have not yet been validated experimentally in the kidney. Additional research is needed to clarify if alcohol does indeed promote kidney injury and the mechanisms by which alcohol-induced kidney injury may occur. In addition to filtering blood, the kidneys also produce hormones that help regulate blood pressure and stimulate the production of red blood cells.
They can also harm the kidneys, especially if you already have kidney disease. Reduce your regular use of NSAIDs and never go over the recommended dosage. If you are currently living with health issues related to alcohol consumption or would like to stop https://ecosoberhouse.com/ drinking alcohol to help minimize or prevent any health issues, Dove Recovery is here for you. Alcohol can also lead to liver disease, which slows the flow of blood to the kidneys.
The kidneys, situated just below the rib cage, are complex organs responsible for maintaining the body’s internal balance. Understanding how alcohol influences these delicate processes is important. This exploration focuses on the immediate physical reactions after a single drinking session and the structural damage that can accumulate from prolonged, heavy consumption. As noted above, there is much to learn about alcoholic kidney disease and the complex interplay among multiple organs affected by alcohol consumption. Although research suggests several potential mechanisms by which alcohol may directly or indirectly affect the kidneys, they have not yet been validated experimentally.
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- It’s essential to be aware that alcohol is metabolized primarily in the liver, but excessive drinking can lead to increased strain on the kidneys as they work to filter out toxins from the bloodstream.
- Each kidney contains approximately one million tiny filters called nephrons, which are essential for the filtration process.
- While low levels of drinking may pose a low risk, no amount of alcohol consumption is entirely free of potential harm.
Excessive consumption of several beverages can be harmful to the kidneys. This includes alcohol, sugary, does alcohol damage kidneys and high-sodium beverages, such as vodka, sodas, energy drinks, and sweetened juices. Furthermore, certain compounds found in beer, such as d-amino acids (DAAs), might contribute to elevated uric acid levels in the blood, which can negatively affect kidney function (23). If you have specific concerns about alcohol and your kidney health, it’s best to get personal medical care. Our team of experienced, compassionate urologists are here to assist you. For instance, you should abstain if you are pregnant or under the age of 21.
How Alcohol Affects Your Kidneys: Short- & Long-Term Effects
The kidneys are essential in maintaining the body’s fluid levels and are very sensitive to hydration, detecting dehydration by recognizing when electrolyte levels become more concentrated. Dehydration stimulates the kidneys to conserve and produce less fluid. One primary effect is dehydration, as alcohol acts as a diuretic, increasing urine production. This occurs because alcohol suppresses the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which signals the kidneys to conserve water. With ADH inhibited, the kidneys excrete more water, leading to dehydration and increased concentration of electrolytes in the blood, which stresses kidney cells. In terms of alcohol’s effects on the kidneys, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) states that drinking too much alcohol can harm kidney function and worsen existing kidney disease.
Knowing how alcohol harms kidneys is key to stopping it and treating it. If you do choose to drink alcohol, limit your intake to no more than one to two drinks per day. A drink in this instance is equivalent to a 5 oz glass of wine, 12 oz beer, or a single shot (1.5 oz) of 80-proof hard liquor. Chronic kidney disease, however, is characterized by a slow decline in the normal function of your kidneys.
- Excessive or chronic alcohol consumption can negatively impact kidney function.
- Alcohol abuse may also increase the risk of glomerulonephritis, an inflammation of the tiny filters in the kidneys.
- Heavy drinking causes the kidneys to work harder, which can weaken their filtering ability.
- Alcoholic liver disease is damage to the liver from drinking too much alcohol over time.
- As a result, alcohol-induced dehydration causes additional stress on the kidneys.
The Role of Kidneys in the Body
However, regular heavy drinking over a few years can start to harm your kidneys. A few studies have linked rhabdomyolysis and myoglobin toxicity with acute kidney injury, supporting a possible association among alcohol use, alcohol-related acute myopathy, and kidney damage. Another study by Alcoholics Anonymous Plotnikov and colleagues (2009) showed that mitochondria isolated from rat kidneys were damaged by oxidative stress when incubated with myoglobin.