206k views
24 votes
What happens when you just have 1 kidney ​

User Mrk
by
4.0k points

2 Answers

4 votes
Most people with a single kidney live a normal life without developing any long- or short-term problems. However, the risk of developing mild blood pressure, fluid retention, and proteinuria is slightly higher if you have one kidney instead of two. This is because a second kidney can compensate and make up for a kidney that has lost some function. If you have a single kidney, injuring it can be a big problem because there isn’t another one to compensate. If the injury is severe and your kidney stops working completely, you need dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive. Most people with a kidney don’t need to follow a special diet, but like people with two kidneys, you should eat a healthy balanced diet. Many of your body’s organs are affected by alcohol including your kidneys. Drinking in moderation (one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men) usually won’t harm your kidneys.

Hope this helps
User Eric Grunzke
by
4.0k points
2 votes

Answer:

Most people with a single kidney live a normal life without developing any long- or short-term problems. However, the risk of developing mild high blood pressure, fluid retention, and proteinuria is slightly higher if you have one kidney instead of two.

User Yuri Gadow
by
4.3k points