Urology

Is Beer Good for Kidney Stones ? - Myths Vs Facts | Fortis Healthcare

Dr. Aman Gupta Jul 02, 2024

Is Beer Good For Kidney to Pass Kidney Stones? | Myths Vs Facts

A teetotaller took a bottle full yesterday for stone pain and ended in Emergency room with inability to pass Urine, and the very reason behind writing this blog post!

TRUTH and MYTHS

Beer is a diuretic, produces lots of urine, so may help in passage of small stones less than 5 mm (stones have to pass through an exit passage of size 3mm!).
Since it produces lots of urine suddenly, don't even try if you not able to pass urine or in pain, it will make it more miserable for you. If kidney is already blocked with stone and lots of urine is produced in the kidney, which it is not able to expel out, it becomes very painful and you may end up vomiting, unable to pass urine and of course groggy if you never had alcohol before!
Prolonged beer intake will make you dehydrated, oxalate loaded (beer has high oxalate content, one of the main components of kidney stone) and overweight (beer is high on calories).

ALL THE ABOVE ARE RISK FACTORS FOR KIDNEY STONES.

Medicines are available which do the same job of flushing out small stones and are of course much cheaper and safer than beer!
Beer is an alcohol after all, and does harm your liver! Too much price to pay for flushing out a stone!
If a stone stuck in the ureter has to pass, it will, in a span of a month. If it doesn't, in spite of whatever you tried, get it removed. Many people end up with a damaged kidney because of this totally preventable and treatable reason!

Conclusion

Nowadays, procedures for stone removal are highly advanced and safe and not to be afraid of!
So next time you grab that beer pint to flush out the stones, reconsider the options!
Author: Dr Aman Gupta- Senior Consultant- Urology & Kidney Transplant

Fortis Healthcare, a leading healthcare provider in India, is at the forefront of providing comprehensive and advanced kidney stone treatment solutions. With a team of experienced urologists and access to state-of-the-art medical technology, Fortis Healthcare offers a range of minimally invasive procedures, including the versatile ECIRS technique, to address even the most complex kidney stone cases. By combining clinical expertise and cutting-edge technology, Fortis Healthcare is committed to ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients struggling with kidney stones, including those with high-risk profiles.