People usually resort to a drink or two, while socializing or when left to themselves Some customize their home bars filled up with their favorite types of alcohol. However, it proves to be a health hazard, when one tends to make a habit out of drinking. Kidney pain after taking alcohol is one of the major problems that can onset if one has a drink too many or if one is a habitual drinker. The pain is felt around the upper abdomen just below the diaphragm and it may be extremely painful or mild. The alcohol affects the kidney and the surrounding organs.
Why does kidney pain after drinking alcohol?
Kidney overwork
The kidney plays a vital role in eliminating harmful substances from our blood system through urine. Alcohol contains toxins that can interfere with bodily processes. When there is excess alcohol in our system, the kidneys work overtime in the filtration mode, and become stressed. When the kidney is overworked it releases too much urine, therefore causing the body to be dehydrated. The dehydration caused by overload of the kidneys may alter the normal functioning of different body organs, leading to the pain felt in upper back of the body.
Kidney stones
When the body is dehydrated as a result of alcohol, the end result may be the formation of the kidney stones. Those people who take fatty foods that are not rich in fiber may face higher risk of developing the stones in the kidney. The presence of the kidney stones leads to blockage of the ureter hence excess urine is accumulated in the kidney. This leads to the swelling and enlargement of the kidney capsule, causing excess pain. Moreover, the faster movement of stones may contribute to the pain.
Excess calcium and uric acid
Drinking alcohol leads to higher retention of the uric acid and excess calcium in the body. These toxic substances prove to be too hard to be removed by the kidney from the body. The accumulation of these harmful chemicals in the blood stream may cause illness to the person. Those chemicals may cause the pain to be felt and may take up to a month to be released from the body system.
Fragile Renal Pelvis
The intake of alcohol may cause excessive formation of the urine. The excessive urine that is formed in the renal pelvis may cause the pelvis to be fragile. The renal pelvis is the opening that the urine passes through to the ureter. The excess urine stored may be the cause of the pain and in many cases, the pain subsides when the urine is passed out of the body.
Antidiuretic Hormone Inhibition
The kidneys also release the antidiuretic hormones to control the amount of the water in the body. The regulation of the water absorbed in the blood cells and those released through the urine makes the body function properly. Excessive alcohol consumption causes the dehydration effect in our body. This is because the alcohol inhibits the releases of the hormone that is responsible for the water regulation. The dehydration may be felt in different cells including the kidneys, hence causing the pain.
Kidney Disease
Increased intake of alcohol may result in high blood pressure. The high blood pressure is the leading cause of the kidney disease. The higher the intake the higher the risk of developing high blood pressure and taking alcohol twice a day greatly increases high blood pressure.
Liver Disease
Too much of alcohol may also interfere with the normal functioning of the liver. When the liver is affected, then the body naturally transfers the functions of waste elimination to the kidneys. The rate of blood flow is always at a certain level in the kidneys therefore when there is liver disease; the liver impairs that vital role of balancing. Most of the alcohol addicts have both the kidney and liver diseases.
Symptoms of Kidney pain after taking alcohol
There are several symptoms that accompany the pain after taking the alcohol. You may experience extreme discomfort on the lower part of the back. Vomiting, Loss of appetite, nausea, high temperatures, chills and fever may accompany the pain. The patient may feel pain while urinating and may have sudden pain immediately after taking the alcohol.
Prevention
The only sure way of stopping the kidney pain after taking alcohol is to stop the excessive intake of the alcohol. For those who experiences sharp pains, they can reduce the level of alcohol intake. For those who find it difficult to stop consuming alcohol immediately, they can visit a rehabilitation center.
Also binge drinking should be avoided and alcohol should be taken slowly to reduce the pain. Taking a lot of water helps to hydrate the body. Also avoiding taking alcohol on an empty stomach.
