When under strain, the kidneys’ demands can lead to a dull ache or pressure in the lower back. This discomfort often results from the kidneys working harder, not direct damage. As the body processes alcohol, it produces byproducts like acetaldehyde, which the kidneys help eliminate. Maintaining electrolyte balance, such as sodium and potassium, becomes challenging during alcohol-induced dehydration.
Reasons Why Your Kidneys Hurt After Drinking Alcohol
- When we talk about the effects of alcohol on our health, our kidneys often take a backseat in the conversation.
- Diabetes is a leading cause of kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy), as consistently high blood sugar levels harm the tiny blood vessels within the kidneys.
- When you drink excessively, there will be an increase in the production of urine, which will make kidney stones to move rapidly, causing severe pain.
- Experiencing discomfort or pain in the kidney area following soda consumption can be unsettling.
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When worrying about how alcohol affects the kidneys, many wonder, «Can alcohol cause kidney stones?» Dehydration can, and excessive alcohol consumption quickly induces dehydration. Kidney damage treatment usually includes measures to help control symptoms and reduce complications. If your kidneys are severely damaged, you may require treatment for end-stage kidney disease. Liver disease makes you more likely to experience pain or discomfort after drinking alcohol.
- You may wish to swap out hard liquor for beer or wine, since these have a lower alcohol content.
- Kidney pain typically occurs in the flank area – the space between your ribs and hips on either side of your spine.
- Each time your kidneys work overtime to process alcohol, microscopic damage occurs.
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- The liver, located in the upper right abdomen, also plays a primary role in processing alcohol.
Kidney Infection
UTIs can cause discomfort in the lower abdomen and back, especially if the infection affects the kidneys, though this is less common with typical post-drinking pain. These sources highlight that back pain after drinking can have multiple origins beyond direct kidney strain. Not only can it worsen high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes — the two leading causes of kidney https://ecosoberhouse.com/ disease — but it can interfere with medicines used to treat them.
How does alcohol harm the kidneys?
According to Health match, applying a heat pad can kidney pain after drinking help relieve pain from the back and side which is caused from the kidneys. It is also important to keep hydrated, this can help prevent things such as UTI’s. Avoid drinking more alcohol, as well as coffee or other stimulants anything that is a.
How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed and Treated?
- Dehydration can strain the kidneys as they attempt to maintain the body’s fluid and electrolyte balance despite the excessive fluid loss.
- This pain may be felt as a sudden, sharp, stabbing pain or more of a dull ache.
- According to the National Kidney Foundation, regular heavy drinking can double the risk of chronic kidney disease.
- Alcohol is converted into toxic substances like acetaldehyde during metabolism, which the kidneys process and eliminate.
- Excessive drinking can worsen or hasten the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially when paired with other risk factors like high blood pressure or diabetes.
When chronic kidney disease progresses to end-stage renal disease, the kidneys can no longer do their job. Chronic kidney disease occurs when the kidneys are damaged and unable to function correctly. This condition is typically permanent and sometimes requires dialysis, a form of life support where a machine performs the Halfway house filtering function of your kidneys. The damage chronic alcohol use creates doubles your risk of chronic kidney disease. This risk is five times higher if you smoke in addition to drinking.
