Are you aware of the risks of drinking too much alcohol? Excessive alcohol consumption can damage your kidneys, leading to various health problems. If you’re worried about your alcohol intake, keep reading! In this blog post, we’ll discuss the risks associated with heavy drinking and explain how it can adversely affect your kidneys. We’ll also provide helpful tips on how to reduce your risk of kidney damage.
What Damages Kidneys?
So what exactly happens to your kidneys when you drink too much? Let’s start by looking at the numbers. According to a study published in Addiction, 88% of adult men and 45% of adult women report drinking alcohol within the past year. The majority reported having five or more drinks on one occasion during that period. Alcoholism and Kidney Disease are correlated to each other.
According to the (NIAAA) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, heavy drinking is defined as having four or more drinks per day for women and five or more drinks per day for men. So, what happens to your kidneys after you consume this much alcohol?
Well, first of all, your kidneys start to work overtime trying to flush the alcohol out of your body. When your body tries to break down ethanol for elimination, it creates what’s known as acetaldehyde in your liver. If there’s too much acetaldehyde floating around in your bloodstream at once, it can damage your kidneys. It can lead to nephritis, inflammation of the kidneys and ureter (the tube connecting the kidney and bladder).
Another way drinking too much alcohol damages the kidneys is by leading to hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). This condition occurs when liver failure results in kidney failure, usually through scarring of the glomeruli or excessive fluid retention. Several different types of HRS may develop depending on what’s causing the liver damage.
In addition, excessive drinking can also lead to what’s called alcoholic nephropathy (AN). This type of kidney disease may result from chronic heavy alcohol consumption or acute reactions due to binge drinking. The mortality rate for people with AN has been reported as high as 74%. However, you should note that not all heavy drinkers will develop kidney disease.
Other habits that can damage the kidneys
High Sodium
A diet high in salt is high in sodium, which can raise blood pressure and cause damage to your kidneys. Add herbs and spices to your meals rather than salt. You might be able to avoid using added salt (sodium) on your food after a while.
Many individuals with kidney disease must limit their phosphorus intake for medical reasons. According to research, individuals without kidney disease who ingest a lot of phosphorus from processed food have damaged kidneys and bones.
Nicotine intake
Yes, smoking is harmful to your lungs and heart. But did you know that smoking may also be detrimental to your kidneys? Protein in the urine is more common among smokers, which is a sign of kidney damage.
Overuse of Painkillers
Over-the-counter painkillers, such as Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), can help with discomfort and aches, but they can also harm the kidneys. If you have kidney disease, avoid using NSAIDs altogether and take more than the recommended dose. Obesity and Processed Foods
Not hydrating yourself enough.
Staying hydrated helps your kidneys remove sodium and toxins from the body. One of the best methods to avoid painful kidney stones is to drink a lot of water. Those with kidney issues or renal failure might need to limit their fluid intake, but most people should aim for 1.5 to 2 liters (3 to 4 pints) of water per day.
Lack of Sleep
It has been established that getting a decent night’s sleep is critical for one’s general health, and it has also been discovered that it is beneficial to one’s kidneys. The sleep-wake cycle controls kidney function by helping the kidneys coordinate their workload over 24 hours.
Eating Large Amounts of Meat
Kidney damage and acidosis, especially rich in animal products. Protein is required to grow, maintain, and repair all body parts, but you should balance your diet with fruits and vegetables.
Excess consumption of sweet foods
Like salt and fat, sugar causes a build-up of plaque in your arteries. Sugar raises the risk of heart disease and diabetes, two conditions linked to weight gain. Sugar is frequently added to dishes and beverages that you wouldn’t consider “sweet.” Condiments, breakfast cereals, and white bread are all sources of processed sugar that you should avoid. When buying manufactured items, be sure to see what’s in the ingredients so you don’t get any added sugar into your diet.
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How to Reduce Your Risk of Kidney Damage
So what can you do to reduce your risk of alcohol-related kidney damage? Here are a few tips:
- Pace yourself. Take it easy when consuming alcohol and alternate alcoholic beverages with water or nonalcoholic drinks. It will aid in the breakdown of alcohol more slowly, lowering your risk of damage.
- Avoid binge drinking. Binge drinking can cause acute kidney damage, so it’s best to avoid it altogether.
- Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Eating before you consume will help slow down the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream.
- Stick to moderate drinking. Moderate amounts of alcohol (one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men) are considered safe in most cases.
- Don’t increase your intake based on what you perceive to be the effects of alcohol or what people around you are doing. You know your body best, so don’t change what you’re used to just because others do it.
- To prevent hangovers, drink plenty of water.
- Limit your intake of caffeinated beverages. Caffeine can impair the effectiveness of alcohol when mixed. The “wide-awake drunk” sensation makes you feel more intoxicated than you are, and it’s not a good idea. It increases the chance of alcohol consumption or poor decisions that might have health consequences.
- Finally, if you have a history of heavy drinking or alcohol abuse, it’s essential to seek treatment. Several different treatment programs can help you address what’s behind your addiction and learn how to live without alcohol healthily.
How Much is too Much?
This problem isn’t easy to solve since everyone’s tolerance for alcohol differs. However, if you’re drinking heavily regularly, then you’re likely putting your health at risk. Men should not have more than four alcoholic beverages each day, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, while women should stick to three.
What Damages Kidneys? What happens to your kidneys when you drink at this level?
But that’s not the only way drinking too much can hurt your kidneys. When the liver metabolizes ethanol, an undesirable chemical called acetaldehyde is generated. If there’s too much acetaldehyde floating around in your bloodstream at once, it can damage your kidneys.
One of the most common ways drinking too much can damage your kidneys is by leading to a condition called alcoholic hepatitis. In this disease, excess alcohol consumption causes inflammation in your liver that eventually leads to cirrhosis and scarring. This type of damage may be irreversible without treatment from a liver specialist.
Another way drinking too much alcohol damages the kidneys is by causing dehydration. Dehydration can cause your kidneys to work harder to produce urine and get rid of toxins. It can lead to renal failure when the kidneys can no longer filter blood properly.
So as you can see, there are several ways drinking too much alcohol can damage your kidneys. It’s important to keep what your body can handle in mind when you’re drinking and limit yourself so that you don’t put too much strain on any part of your system.
Tips for Reducing your Risk of Kidney Damage
If you’re concerned about the risks of alcohol damage to your kidneys, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk:
- Drink in moderation. As we mentioned earlier, men should not drink more than four drinks per day, while women should limit themselves to three drinks.
- Avoid drinking on an empty stomach. When you drink when your stomach is open, the alcohol enters your body more rapidly, increasing the risk of kidney damage.
- Drink plenty of water. It will help flush out the toxins your kidneys are trying to filter out.
- Quit drinking altogether. If you’re serious about minimizing alcohol damage to your kidneys, then consider quitting altogether!
- Uric acid can harm the kidneys, causing them to fail. It reduces blood pressure and cholesterol levels, lowering your risk of kidney disease. However, high levels of this substance may cause damage and discomfort in your joints.
If you need help quitting drinking, please consult your doctor or a professional addiction counselor.
Kidney problems can lead to a variety of complications, including:
- Gout is a form of arthritis that causes uric acid to accumulate in the circulation.
- Anemia is a disease in which the body lacks sufficient red blood cells. The body’s condition deteriorates when there are insufficient red blood cells.
- Phosphorus is a risk factor for osteoporosis in many species.
- High levels of potassium in the blood
- high blood pressure
- limiting fat in the bloodstream and decreasing inflammation, thus reducing your chance of developing heart disease
- Fluid accumulation in the body leads to edema and swelling.
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What are the health risks of consuming alcohol?
Moderate drinking may be part of a healthy lifestyle. Still, it’s critical to realize the effects that chronic alcohol consumption (drinking more than the recommended daily allowance regularly) can have on one’s body.
Overuse of alcohol has numerous health hazards. It is why frequent visits to your healthcare provider are essential. It would help if you were forthcoming and honest about Many times, friends or relatives will not be aware of the adverse effects drinking alcohol can have on their health. As a result, when you’re between 16 and 65 years old, it’s wise to get your blood drawn at least twice every year as part of your yearly check-up. The size of the test is entirely up to your physician.
The Cure for Kidney Damage from Alcohol
If you have kidney damage from alcohol, the best cure is to stop drinking. If you can’t or don’t want to quit drinking, some treatments can help protect your kidneys. Consult your doctor about the best treatment for you.
What is the best way to stop drinking alcohol?
- Calculate how much you consume.
- Avoid drinking on an empty stomach.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Take breaks from drinking and have alcohol-free days.
- Avoid binge drinking.
- Seek help if you can’t stop drinking on your own.
- Quit smoking cigarettes simultaneously, as cigarette smoking increases the risk for kidney damage from alcohol.
- Consider why you drink.
- Changing your environment is one of the most effective self-improvement methods available.
- Get rid of any alcohol you have.
- Make a new favorite beverage.
- Vary your routine from time to time.
- Make time for yourself by taking care of yourself.
- Make health and fitness a top priority.
- rediscover your interests
- Reach out for assistance.
There is no fixed solution to this problem since the best approach to quitting drinking varies from person to person. Some people may quit cold turkey, while others may need more assistance. There are many alternatives for people who want to stop drinking, including psychotherapy, prescription drugs, and support groups. It’s critical to figure out what works best for you and obtain help if you’re having difficulties stopping on your own.
The risks of drinking alcohol are well-known. You should never drink so much that it poses a danger to your health, and even if you do somehow get past these warning signals, there is always the potential for long-term damage or death from an overdose!
A common misconception about being protective towards others who consume responsibly within their limits (i e not excessive) may lead them down a path where they could have been preventing preventable problems like brain injury due to accidents occurring during this period.
Therefore, it is essential to know these things so that you can make an informed decision and not be swayed by what could inaccurately appear to be “overbearing” friends or relatives. Remember: your health is in your own hands!
If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, don’t hesitate to seek help. There are many resources available to you. Don’t let alcohol control your life – take back control today! Kidney damage from alcohol is a real problem, but you can overcome it with the correct information and support.
Ref: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0041008X18302904
