Does Alcohol Cause Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are painful and often interfere with daily life.
They are formed by certain waste products that are either calcium, oxalate, or uric acid in your urine if they become oversaturated, thus giving birth to crystals.
These stones could then proceed to the urinary tract, causing a lot of pain.
People have been recently talking about whether alcohol plays a role in kidney stone development, particularly one of the most popular queries being “Does alcohol cause kidney stones?”
Identifying the link between alcohol consumption and kidney stones is important to find out whether your choice of consuming alcohol is influencing your kidney health outcome.

What Exactly Are Kidney Stones?

Alcohol leads to the dehydrating process, which causes the body to lose more water.
This occurrence is called the formation of kidney stones, which are hard deposits made of minerals and salts.
The ones that are too small often go away in an unnoticed way, while those that are larger do the opposite and might be the reason for blockages, pain, and other complications.

• Calcium stones are usually formed from calcium oxalate. 
• Uric acid stones are the most frequently associated with high-protein diets. 
• Struvite stones are often seen in individuals with urinary tract infections. 
• Cystine stones are of the hereditary disorder type, and they are very rare as well.

Food routine, the condition of your body fluids, and the way you live can significantly affect them.
This is where alcohol, water intake, and kidney function are the main subjects.
Can there be a possible connection between alcohol and kidney stones?

Does Alcohol Cause Kidney Stones?

So, can you get kidney stones from alcohol? The answer is no, alcohol doesn’t do that directly.
Consuming alcohol in and of itself is not a direct cause of kidney stones.
However, it might lay the groundwork for the stones’ formation. Here is a comprehensive process of explanation:

1. Dehydration
   Drinking alcohol can cause dehydration as alcohol is a diuretic that increases the flow rate of urine. Due to the lack of water in our body if we don’t drink enough water the salt concentration in our urine increases. Furthermore, the urine may include particular minerals and salts that may ultimately lead to the growth of kidney stones.
2. Uric Acid Levels
   The major cause of alcohol, with a special focus on beer and liquor, is an increase in the uric acid levels in the blood. Elevated uric acid levels are among the few reasons that may lead to kidney stones, most of which are the product of uric acid. This can occur, especially, if you suffer from a gout problem or any other uric acid-related issue in your body.
3. Lifestyle Factors
   Consumption of a reasonable amount of alcohol is not conversant with a direct cause; however, it is likely to be accompanied by poor diet and reduced water intake, which are the causes of kidney stones.

Is Alcohol Bad for Kidney Stones?

Even though you’re unlikely to get kidney stones from alcohol directly—one of the questions that almost everyone asks is the following, “Is alcohol bad for kidney stones?” 

Yes, on certain occasions, it can be.
As harmless as little alcohol may seem, it should be known that a substantial amount of alcohol consumption is dangerous for the kidneys.
One of the ways that alcohol can harm you when you drink too much of it is that it can overwhelm the kidneys and also give a body a weaker ability to detoxify itself.

In circumstances where the kidneys don’t properly control the body’s excretion systems, the development of kidney stones and other health issues in the area of the kidney is something that can occur.
If you have had kidney stones before, consumption of large portions of alcohol might add to the risk of them coming back.
Sweetened beer and cocktails should be carefully avoided as sugar is part of the reason for kidney stones.

Types of Alcohol and Kidney Stones

The beverages are not always equally harmful to the kidneys when you consume them. Here’s a breakdown:

• Beer and Kidney Stones
  Can beer cause kidney stones? Because beer contains purines that convert into uric acid, it may lead to the production of uric acid stones.
• Dark Liquor
  There is that type of alcohol like whiskey and rum that can be harmful to the kidneys because of high amounts of toxic substances (congeners) that come from the fermentation process, thus more likely to harm.
• Wine
  Even though wine hardly ever triggers side effects that are harmful like alcohol drinks, you should always mind your liquid intake volume.

How to Mitigate the Risk of Kidney Stones

Avoiding alcohol is not one of the solutions for kidney stones, however, always taking caution with alcohol is very important.
These are the guidelines for reducing the risk of kidney stones:

1. Stay Hydrated
   Drinking more water is really the most effective remedy for kidney stones. You require about 8 to 10 glasses of water each day or more.
2. Limit Sugary Drinks
   Cocktails with loads of sugar may increase the likelihood of stone creation. However, dry alcoholic beverages should be drunk in moderation.
3. Balance Your Diet
   Eating enough fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is a measure that can be very crucial to the decrease of stone frequency. But, if you’re already prone to calcium oxalate stones, eliminate spinach, chocolates, and nuts from your diet.
4. Be Mindful of Purine Levels
   Control, or better yet, cut down, the purine intake in your diet, and avoid drinks that are purine-rich if you have uric acid stones. You should avoid organ meats, certain types of seafood, and beer.

Alcohol Consumption and Kidney Stones: Does Moderate Drinking Help?

Interestingly, some relevant research speaks about the seemingly favorable aspects of moderate drinking only under specific types of alcoholic beverages such as wine.
In this way, the intake of this liquid leads to increased urination that in turn releases stone-forming minerals.
If you are a moderate drinker only, the advantages might come due to these circumstances. Yet once you cross the limit, the scales will tip another way.

When to Get Medical Help

Should you notice extreme back or side pain, or blood in your urine, if you are unable to urinate, one reason for that might be kidney stones.
The medical professional will diagnose and provide the right procedure for the particular type of stones you have and this way you will be able to get rid of them.
It is always better to sort out trivial issues in the beginning before they snowball into major health problems.

Final Thoughts

As for the main question—Does alcohol cause kidney stones?
The bottom line is that while alcohol is not a direct cause; it does play a role in kidney stone formation through dehydration, the increase of uric acid, and related lifestyle habits.
If you have had kidney stones in the past or if you are fearful of having them, cutting back on alcohol and ensuring hydration are a must.

Amazing Care Health Services LLC Can Help

Amazing Care Health Services LLC can offer you the best solution if you’re dealing with issues related to alcohol consumption and its impact on your health.
Our professional team can give you medical support, advise you about prevention procedures, and create a personalized path of treatment that will consider your unique needs.
Therefore, feel free to contact us and let us guide you through the way to a healthier life. Start taking care of your health today.

Next Steps

1. Drink more water and limit your alcohol consumption.
2. Contact Amazing Care Health Services LLC for help and additional treatment options, if needed. 
3. Also, share this blog with those close to you, the awareness would do a lot of good for them.

FAQs

Does alcohol trigger kidney stones?
No, you’re unlikely to get kidney stones from alcohol, yet it can be a facilitator through dehydration and increasing the level of uric acid in the body which in turn leads to mineral deposition in the kidney.

What drinks cause kidney stones?
Sugary drinks like soda, beer, and cocktails can be involved in the process of kidney stone generation. Hydration is essential, so focus on water.

What are the first signs of kidney damage from alcohol?
The very first symptoms of kidney damage that come with alcohol might include frequent urination, swelling, fatigue, and even substantial back pain.

What are the number one causes of kidney stones?
Dehydration, diets high in sodium, and overconsumption of oxalate and purine-rich foods are the main causes of kidney stones.
Excessive alcohol intake is also an important contributing factor.