Alcohol and CKD

[Irelandy]

Hi, I only found out that I have ckd at stage 4 and I was wondering about alcohol. I like drinking red wine and beer. I know alcohol raises the blood pressure which is bad for ckd so would I be better to totally abstain?

[rabbit01]

Hello I have stage 4 as well and like you only found out at that stage. For me I cut out alcohol at first. I have gone back to it over the last year or so but only in moderation. I don't really drink beer anymore as I find my kidneys cant process the volume of liquid quick enough and it goes to my feet and lungs. I normally have white wine which some even claim is good for the kidneys (again, in moderation) I seem to be fine with this and it has not increased my blood pressure.

[phillen]

in moderation is fine my husband still has a whisky every day & couple of times a week a glass of wine even though on dialysis red wine is out though when on dialysis he has white, he's on fluid restriction so gives beer a miss. x

[Hidden]

Alcohol dehydrates, which is in turn bad for the kidneys, as well as raising the BP.

When you say enjoy.. A bottle of wine? 2 or 3 beers? a day/ a week?

If you have a couple of beers once a week, your well within any safe limits

If you drink daily then its worth knowing.

A the limits drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-fa...

B its probably NOT a good idea if your kidneys are failing, as any toxins will not be processed as efficiently.

I'm on dialysis and I don't actually enjoy booze as much as I used to (not that I ever drank a lot) the odd cider or glass of wine on celebratory occasions, or a hot summers day maybe

Good luck

[HealthStrength]

Bar the occasional sip of wine at Christmas/ champagne at celebrations, I pretty much stopped drinking about 5 years ago. Although I had only been a social drinker, I did find that the abstinence improved my metabolism and sleeping. Not entirely sure about effect on my overall renal health and function as I have continued to have some issues. Like JMan, I do find that when I am not well there are certain foods and drink for which I have no appetite (e.g. fruit, coffee, fruit juice). Have read (probably in passing in some small paragraph in a newspaper) that excessive amounts of broccoli can have the same effect as red wine, so maybe 'beware the broccoli'. All the best with your decision.