Do men urinate more after drinking alcohol because their kidney function is not good? The reality may be different from what you think.
Perhaps everyone knows that if you frequently need to urinate at night and produce a lot of urine, this may indicate poor kidney function. This is because the metabolic rate of the body slows down at night, leading to less urine production. Moreover, over 80% of the water passing through the kidneys is reabsorbed and utilized. Therefore, men with good kidney function generally do not need to urinate at night. We often use the quantity of urine to assess the strength of someone’s kidney function.
However, there is a phenomenon we must address, which is that male friends tend to enjoy drinking alcohol, and after drinking, they often need to visit the restroom frequently. This is especially noticeable when consuming a lot of beer. Some even jest, “Beer doesn’t intoxicate, it’s the kidneys that can’t handle it.” So, the question arises: does having increased urine output after drinking alcohol indicate poor kidney function? Today, let’s discuss this issue.
Kidney Function
The main functions of the kidneys are to excrete metabolic waste products and regulate water, electrolytes, and acid-base balance to maintain internal body stability. Normally, the kidneys concentrate urine by reabsorbing water through the renal tubules, filtering it through the renal corpuscles, and then excreting urine and toxins from the body. Hence, it’s commonly observed that more intake leads to more output, and less intake results in less output. The kidneys regulate themselves through these steps to maintain the body’s fluid balance. The volume of urine production is related to the body’s demand for water.
Alcohol primarily consists of water and ethanol (edible alcohol) at various concentrations. Once consumed and absorbed, it rapidly increases blood volume, leading to a significant influx of water into the bloodstream via the kidneys. The kidneys then stimulate the regulation functions of the renal tubules and renal corpuscles, reducing the reabsorption of water by the renal tubules, increasing filtration by the renal corpuscles, and accelerating the excretion of water and alcohol metabolites to maintain fluid balance in the body, resulting in increased urine output. Essentially, the body signals to get rid of the excessive fluid. Therefore, is it really wrong for urine to be increased under these circumstances?
Hence, increased urination after drinking alcohol is a normal phenomenon, indicating not poor kidney function but rather the strong metabolic function of the kidneys.
Experiencing frequent urination in daily life after drinking water; beware of pathological polyuria
Although increased urination after consuming alcohol is a normal kidney function, if excessive urination occurs consistently in daily life and without excessive fluid intake, you should be cautious about the possibility of pathological polyuria. In particular, situations where urine output is high despite low water intake could indicate an issue affecting the reabsorption function of the renal tubules, compromising the kidney’s concentrating ability and leading to increased urination.
For men, drinking alcohol undoubtedly increases the burden on the kidneys. Hence, avoid excessive alcohol consumption for kidney function tests; instead, try to lessen the load on the kidneys. A robust kidney function is an asset for men, potentially nurturing a better entrepreneurial spirit and improved performance in family life. Therefore, regardless of the strength of your kidneys, they deserve proper care.
