What Are The First Signs of Kidney Damage From Alcohol?

The kidney is an essential organ of the body. Its function is to help the body eliminate toxins. The kidneys filter the blood and remove waste products from the body through urine. The size of the kidney is like a human fist. You will be surprised to know that one can survive with only one kidney. In this blog, we will mainly focus on the First Signs of Kidney Damage From Alcohol. The blog will discuss Kidney Damage Symptoms, Can Kidney Damage From Alcohol Be Reversed, And Can Kidney Damage Heal.

Read Also : Stones In Kidney : Symptoms, Treatment, Causes And Types

When one or both of a person’s kidneys stop working, it is called kidney damage. Causes like diabetes, high blood pressure, and acute kidney injuries are the causes of kidney damage. Kidney Damage Symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, swelling, frequent bathroom visits, etc. Let us first talk about the first signs of kidney damage from alcohol.

First Signs of Kidney Damage From Alcohol

Fluid retention, changes in urination, lethargy, and loss of appetite are the first signs of kidney damage from alcohol. Kidney damage symptoms such as fluid retention and changes in urination appear when the kidneys become less effective at regulating bodily fluids. Kidney damage symptoms like lethargy and loss of appetite are caused by the build-up of toxins in the bloodstream. Some of these toxins cause the problem of fatigue. However, some toxins are anorexigenic (i.e., they cause loss of appetite). Due to kidney damage, people may face more severe side effects. If a person experiences the following symptoms, they should consult a doctor immediately:

1. Kidney pain
2. Experiencing extreme confusion
3. Lose consciousness
4. Bloody urine
5. Fever with kidney pain

First Signs of Kidney Damage From Alcohol There is also a risk of urinary tract infection (UTI). People who have CKD are at higher risk of UTIs. The reduced immune response in CKD also reduces the body’s ability to fight infections such as UTIs.

Read Also : 10 Amazing Benefits of Cinnamon, According To Experts

How Does Alcohol Affect the Kidneys?

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol causes dehydration. In dehydration, there is a lack of water in the body. Additionally, kidneys help control blood pressure. However, alcohol causes blood vessels to constrict and blood pressure to increase. Kidneys help control high blood pressure by removing fluid from the blood. Since the kidneys’ primary function is to retain fluid to help with dehydration and release fluid to protect against high blood pressure, alcohol consumption increases the strain on the kidneys. Apart from this, the function of the liver is to maintain blood flow to the kidneys, but drinking excess alcohol can also cause liver problems. In such a situation, due to liver-related problems, the kidneys are also affected.

Read Also : Disease X : A Potential New Pandemic, WHO Warning And Impact on World

Can Kidney Damage From Alcohol Be Reversed

Yes, if there is kidney damage from alcohol, it can be cured. A study has revealed that kidney damage from alcohol can be cured by quitting alcohol for four weeks. However, the length of time a person’s alcohol-damaged kidneys will take to heal depends on how long the person has been consuming alcohol. The time may be longer if the person also has other health problems. Kidney Damage From Alcohol Can Be Reversed, but for this, you will first have to stop consuming alcohol.

However, sometimes kidney damage from alcohol is not cured. Drinking excessive alcohol over several years increases the risk of chronic kidney disease. Let us tell you that this risk is four times higher in people who smoke along with alcohol. Sometimes, such a person may also suffer from kidney failure. If this happens, it may lead to regular kidney dialysis or even kidney transplantation. However, many problems arise in kidney transplantation.

Read Also : Sleep Talking : Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment

Kidney Damage Symptoms

Since we are talking about the first signs of kidney damage from alcohol, it is essential to know about kidney damage symptoms. People often cannot recognize these symptoms, and they are not treated at the right time in such a situation. Let us know some symptoms pointing towards kidney problems –

1. Muscle cramps
2. Swelling in feet and ankles
3. Nausea-vomiting
4. Loss of appetite
5. Fatigue and weakness
6. Sleep problems
7. More or less urination
8. Ltching on the skin.

Kidney disease does not progress suddenly but gradually. Therefore, kidney damage symptoms also appear after a long time. Decreased kidney function can lead to fluid build-up or problems related to waste or electrolytes in the body. Sometimes, kidney-related problems also occur due to other diseases. Kidney damage symptoms are also seen in many different diseases.

Read Also : Stammering Meaning : Causes, Symptoms, And Prevention

Can Kidney Damage Heal

Kidney damage in any person can be divided into two types:

Acute kidney disease or acute kidney failure: Kidney damage occurs in a very short time. This time may be a few hours or a few days.

Chronic kidney disease or chronic kidney failure: This kidney damage takes several months or years. Often, this kidney damage occurs due to alcohol.

When the first signs of kidney damage from alcohol are seen, its treatment should be started immediately. In case of acute kidney failure, immediate hospitalization is required. However, it takes weeks to months for kidney damage to heal. At the same time, chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs when kidney damage occurs over a long period. Chronic kidney failure is, therefore, often irreversible. There is no other treatment for kidney damage caused in this way except dialysis and kidney transplant.