Alcohol consumption, even in moderation, can have a negative effect on your kidneys. Regular and excessive consumption of alcohol can double the risk of chronic kidney disease, and the risk is even higher in people who drink a lot and also smoke. Areas around the kidneys may feel pain after drinking alcohol, and this pain can be mild or severe. It is important to note that it is not just excessive alcohol consumption that can damage the kidneys, but regular consumption as well.
When it comes to drinking alcohol, moderation is key. A little alcohol, one or two drinks once in a while, usually has no serious effects. However, drinking too much can harm your health and make kidney disease worse. According to the National Kidney Foundation, regular consumption of excessive alcohol can double the risk of chronic kidney disease.
When experts talk about a drink, they talk about a 12-ounce bottle of beer, a glass of wine (5 ounces), or a shot (1.5 ounces) of hard liquor. A standard drink is defined as 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-degree distilled spirits. After moderate alcohol consumption, about 24 oz of non-alcoholic beer with 1 milliliter of alcohol per kilogram of added body weight, the researchers observed several effects. These effects included an increase in blood pressure and an increase in sodium levels in the blood.
This could lead to hypernatremia, which is an electrolyte imbalance caused by dehydration. In addition to these physical effects, drinking too much alcohol can also affect judgment and interfere with making decisions related to remembering to take medications and following dietary and fluid guidelines. It is important to remember that even moderate alcohol consumption can have a negative effect on your kidneys over time. Therefore, it is important to drink responsibly and in moderation to avoid any potential health risks.
