Kidney injury is one of those ideas that makes you feel a little queasy: just thinking about damaging your kidneys can make you experience a pang of agony. In addition to what you may already know about the consequences of drinking on your liver, a Cleveland Clinic renal specialist explains how one habit—that is, drinking—can create long-term injury to your kidneys.
Dr. Shane Bobart, MD, is a nephrologist at the Cleveland Clinic. The liver isn't the only organ harmed by alcohol, according to Bobart, who writes for the hospital system's blog. The kidneys, which are responsible for filtering waste out of your blood, controlling the balance of water and minerals in the body, and creating hormones, are also affected by alcohol, according to the Clinic.
Isn't that a list of significant responsibilities? Take a look at this: Drinking five or more drinks in a short amount of time can cause toxins from alcohol to "build up in your blood so fast that your kidneys can't maintain the right fluid balance," according to the Cleveland Clinic. This can result in "acute renal damage," which can progress to chronic kidney disease.
The danger of binge drinking isn't the only one: As the National Kidney Foundation has pointed out, an alcohol habit can quadruple your risk of getting kidney disease over time, according to the Clinic.
Furthermore, while Bobart stated that little data shows that alcohol is directly responsible for kidney stones and pain, we know that alcohol dehydrates the body, which might contribute to these problems. (Ouch.)
Finally, "chronic alcohol consumption" can lead to liver disease, obstructing healthy blood flow to the kidneys, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
All of this is to imply that, while our liver may appear to be impenetrable, it isn't—the kidneys also play a vital role in detoxing your system when you drink. It's a friendly reminder that even if summer has returned this year, maintaining a healthy and balanced body is one solid reason to keep track of how much you drink.