This is the area at the back of your abdomen, under your ribcage on both sides of your spine. This pain may be felt as a sudden, sharp, stabbing pain or more of a dull ache. It may be mild or severe and can be felt on one or both sides of the body. For these reasons, it’s natural that when your kidneys have to work extra hard to rid the body of excess alcohol, you may experience pain. Frequent urination that goes along with this flushing of the system can lead to dehydration.
Alcohol’s Impact on Kidney Health
The kidneys also experience increased production of certain proteins, indicative of stress and damage. Electrolyte imbalances, particularly in sodium and potassium levels, are common, contributing to further complications. Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to more severe consequences, such as the development of alcoholic kidney disease. For those struggling with alcohol addiction and its impact on kidney health, detoxification is often the first critical step. The luxury detox program at The Ohana Hawaii provides a safe and supportive environment for individuals to begin their recovery journey. With 24/7 medical supervision, clients receive personalized care to manage withdrawal symptoms effectively and minimize risks to their overall health.
Health Conditions
If you do drink, be sure to drink responsibly, for the sake of your kidneys and your quality of life. This condition requires immediate medical attention, and treatment may involve antibiotics if the blockage is caused by a kidney infection instead of kidney stones. Because alcohol is a diuretic, it can cause severe dehydration when over-consumed, and in fact dehydration is one of the biggest culprits in causing the symptoms of a hangover (like headache).
Six Easy Ways to Prevent Kidney Stones
- As the fifth major cause of death in men and women, it has inspired decades of research illuminating alcohol addiction’s severe effects on both physical and mental well-being.
- Severe or recurring kidney infections may require hospitalization or surgery.
- Kidney pain after drinking can sometimes indicate dehydration or a more serious underlying issue.
- Recognising symptoms early and seeking medical advice can prevent irreversible kidney damage.
- Therefore, if you’re experiencing kidney pain after drinking, it’s crucial to consider the full picture of your symptoms before drawing conclusions.
- The NKF also notes that excessive drinking can cause acute kidney injury (AKI) — a sudden decrease in kidney function that usually resolves with time but may be lasting in some cases.
- However, the precise location and nature of the pain can vary considerably.
Understanding these differences is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management. The pain isn’t always directly caused by the alcohol itself but can be triggered or exacerbated by its effects on the kidneys. The organization adds that regular heavy drinking can lead to CKD and that this type of kidney disease does not resolve with time. As the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD) explains, the kidneys contain tiny, finger-like structures called nephrons. These filter waste products from the blood and maintain the balance of water and minerals in the bloodstream. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no so-called “safe” level of alcohol consumption, and the more alcohol a person drinks, the greater their risk of health issues.
Alcohol consumption triggers several physiological changes in the kidneys. These changes include increased blood flow initially, followed by a decrease in blood flow as the body attempts to compensate for dehydration. This fluctuation can damage the glomeruli and disrupt the delicate balance of filtration and reabsorption. Inflammation is another significant consequence, leading to swelling and impaired function of the nephrons.
OTC pain relievers
Moderate drinking, such as one or two drinks now and then, usually has no severe effects. However, too much alcohol (more than four drinks daily) can affect your health and worsen kidney disease. Being in pain or discomfort after drinking alcohol is more common in people with liver disease.
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. One reason alcohol may affect the kidneys is through acute kidney injury. This may result from high levels of toxins leading to tissue injury and inflammation. Drinking alcohol if you already have kidney stones may cause them to move quickly. The areas around your kidneys may feel sore after you drink alcohol.
Damage to one organ has reverberating effects that impact many other organs. According to the National Kidney Foundation, alcohol harms the kidneys in the following ways. Kidney pain usually appears in the back, on either side of the spine, just under the ribs. A person who experiences this type of pain, especially if it intensifies over hours or days, may have a serious illness and should speak to a doctor.
Is Kidney Pain After Drinking Normal?
Though it’s reversible with treatment, it can increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption significantly increases the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD is a progressive condition characterized by a gradual decline in kidney function over time. In individuals with pre-existing kidney conditions, even moderate alcohol use can accelerate the progression of CKD. The long-term effects include reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a key indicator of kidney function, and an increased risk of kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation.
- Kidney disease is a long-term condition where the kidneys lose their ability to filter blood and remove waste from the body.
- Similarly, the presence of other signs of alcohol abuse, such as liver damage, could point towards alcohol-related kidney problems.
- The kidneys play a vital role in maintaining overall health by filtering waste and excess fluids from the blood, regulating blood pressure, and balancing electrolytes.
How Can Kidney Pain Be Prevented?
In particular, if you drink excessively or are an alcoholic, this is likely. Kidneys are essential to keeping the body healthy and free of harmful substances such as alcohol. The kidneys also maintain the proper balance of fluid and electrolytes. Regular excessive drinking doubles the risk of chronic kidney disease, which doesn’t disappear over time.
The radiation of pain to other areas, such as the groin or abdomen, is also possible, depending on what is Oxford House the underlying condition. There are no specific studies suggesting that certain types of alcohol are worse on the kidneys than others. People with alcohol-induced CKD will require treatment for AUD as well as CKD. Sometimes, AKI can resolve over time if a person makes sure to stay hydrated.
Your doctor may also prescribe H2 antagonists or proton pump inhibitors to lessen the production of stomach acid. However, severe or recurring kidney infections may need surgery or hospitalization. The discomfort may be mild or severe and manifest on one or both sides of the body. If the symptoms of a hangover or hangxiety are severe—or if you are having shaking, tremors, a fever, changes in consciousness, or seizures—get prompt medical attention.
We review the symptoms of kidney damage and kidney failure further along in this article, but first let’s discuss how alcohol interacts with the kidneys. If you do not have underlying kidney disease or low kidney function, over-the-counter pain relief medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be appropriate and helpful for managing pain. Drinking alcohol may exacerbate the signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection.