On occasion, many people enjoy going out and having a few drinks with friends. In moderate amounts, this may not affect one’s health, but when is it too much? Too much alcohol can lead to a lot of health concerns, including kidney disease. Learn more about how alcohol may affect your kidney health.*

How Much Alcohol Is Considered “Heavy Drinking”?

Heavy drinking is defined differently for men and women because of physiology, ability to metabolize alcohol and other factors: 

• For Women – More than seven drinks per week or more than three drinks in a single day
• For Men – More than 14 drinks per week or more than four drinks in a single day 

Why Does Alcohol Cause Kidney Disease?

Healthy kidneys help to control the fluid in your body and filter waste from the blood. However, heavy drinking may cause your kidneys to be strained from having to work harder. Regular heavy drinking can double the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). The risk is even greater in those who smoke and do heavy drinking. 

In rare cases, binge drinking – 5 drinks or more at a time – can lead to an acute kidney injury. This can be a serious and deadly condition as toxins from alcohol are building up faster than your kidneys can work. 

Can Drinking Alcohol Lead to Kidney Stones or Kidney Infections?

There is minimal evidence to suggest that alcohol can increase the risk of kidney stones and kidney infections. Kidney specialist Dr. Shane Bobart, MD, FASN, notes that we are unsure if this is caused by alcohol or from dehydration caused by alcohol. Either way, heavy drinking should be avoided to maintain healthy kidneys. 

What Other Health Conditions Are Associated with Heavy Drinking?

For some, heavy drinking may lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, and/or liver disease. These conditions can also lead to kidney disease. 

“The body is a big domino set,” explains Dr. Bobart. “If you have one part of your body not in balance, it can cause problems in many parts of your body.”

“I urge anyone who has any trouble with alcohol to seek medical help,” says Dr. Bobart. “Doing so is nothing to be ashamed of. We have a lot of avenues to help people, and there are resources out there to get people the help they need.” 

*How Alcohol Affects Your Kidney Health. (2021, June 22). Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-alcohol-affects-your-kidney-health/