Alcohol and Your Brain: The Latest Scientific Insights

In many patients with liver cirrhosis, the kidneys’ ability to create dilute urine is compromised, leading to a state of abnormally low sodium concentration (i.e., hyponatremia). In hyponatremic patients, the amount of fluid retained by the kidneys is disproportionately greater than the amount of sodium retained. In other words, the kidneys’ ability to excrete excess fluid by way of dilute urine is impaired, and too much fluid is reabsorbed. Hyponatremia probably is the single most common electrolyte disturbance encountered in the management of patients with cirrhosis of the liver (Vaamonde 1996). This abnormality may reflect the severity of liver disease, but the available data do not allow correlation of kidney impairment with the degree of clinical signs of liver disease, such as ascites or jaundice. Low blood levels of phosphate commonly occur acutely in hospitalized alcoholic patients, appearing in more than one-half of severe alcoholism cases.

• The estimates from the 2021 Sri Lanka NCD risk factor survey (STEPS), showed that every 1 in 3 adults (34.8%) had raised blood pressure, an almost 25% increase in prevalence from that of 2015 STEPS survey.
• While drinking alcohol in moderation (one or two drinks every once in a while), probably won’t harm your body, excessive alcohol consumption can have negative effects on your physical and mental health.
• Alcohol consumption apparently leads to excessive phosphate levels by altering muscle cell integrity and causing the muscle cells to release phosphate.
• In other studies, the researchers used serum creatinine or eGFR to ascertain the kidney function of patients; however, they are not ideal in many drinkers, especially in those with extremely low or high muscle mass due to chronic alcoholism [123].
• You can make mocktails in a fancy glass if you want to drink something special, especially in social situations.

Association of monthly frequency of alcohol consumption and binge drinking with change in the eGFR over 12 years

2The terms “alcoholic patient” and “alcoholism” as used in this article are summary terms for the diagnoses of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence as defined variously by the studies cited. 100% of your donation will go directly to kidney patients in Houston affected by the flooding. When experts talk about one drink, they are talking about one 12-ounce bottle of beer, one glass of wine (5 ounces), or one shot (1.5 ounces) of “hard liquor.” So why is it so hard to know whether alcohol is good or bad for us—especially for our brains? In this post, we’ll explore the current science and some practical ideas on how to approach the topic.

Abnormal immunoreaction and renal tubular dysfunction to alcohol consumption

A little alcohol—one or two drinks now and then—usually has no serious effects. Hypertension poses a significant health challenge in the countries of WHO South-East Asia Region affecting an estimated 294 million individuals aged 30 and above. The condition was responsible for 2.4 million annual deaths in 2019, accounting for nearly half of all deaths due to cardiovascular diseases. Half among those with high blood pressure were unaware of their condition and only less than half of those on treatment had their condition under control. Considering their impact and influence on the rest of the body, these small organs should always be factored into our proactive approach to maintaining health, MakatiMed reminds. Some people with kidney disease don’t feel its effects until the condition reaches an advanced stage when treatment only involves alleviating symptoms and slowing down the progression of the disease.

Risks of Alcohol Abuse with Kidney Disease

The risk of developing CKD from heavy drinking also increases if you smoke. Smoking is also one of the most common risk factors for kidney cancer. Moderate drinking is defined as one alcoholic beverage per day for women and how does alcohol affect the kidneys two per day for men, and is generally considered safe for most healthy adults. Heavy drinking is more than three drinks per day (or seven per week) for women, and more than four drinks per day (or 14 per week) for men.

How kidney disease causes chain reaction of health woes

You probably already know that excessive drinking can affect you in more ways than one. Please follow individual advice that is set for you by your renal team and dietician, and if you aren’t sure if you should be following any specific diet, please speak with your medical team. Be aware of the particular medication you are taking, as this may also limit how much alcohol you are allowed to drink.

Study participants and data collection

• This means that waste products can build up in the blood as the kidneys are not filtering them out of the body as effectively as usual.
• Both acute and chronic alcohol consumption can compromise kidney function, particularly in conjunction with established liver disease.
• Though scientists agree that alcohol can play a role in the development of certain types of cancer, kidney cancer isn’t one of them.