Can we live a normal life with one kidney? What you need to know

Dr.Vikas Agarwal, 4 mins read

Under normal circumstances, most people will have both kidneys intact and working fine, and even if for whatever reason, a person has to make do: living with one kidney is quite manageable and more than possible, by which we mean you, can live a proactive and normal life on one kidney. However, it is naturally vital for anyone living with one kidney to protect it by avoiding the things you can't do with one kidney, like the foods to avoid with one kidney. If you lose kidney function in the remaining kidney, you’ll have to make do with dialysis or get a kidney transplant if possible.

Simple and gainful things like living a wholesome and healthy life, aided by a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and regular checkups will help you protect and preserve your kidney’s health. Read on if you’re concerned about how the general outlook of life is with one kidney.

The first and most natural question you’ll have is “how long can you live with one kidney?”

The answer is “as long as you preserve your sole kidney, you’ll be good to go for a long, normal, and fulfilling life.” Just remember to keep your kidney functioning well, for which you’ll have to take certain measures.

There are many reasons why people may have one kidney. Some are born with just one kidney, and some have donated their kidneys for a transplant or had one kidney removed to treat a medical condition or an injury. Some have both kidneys but with only one that functions, which amounts to the same equation as living with a single kidney.

Having one kidney is not the same for everyone.

One big point of attention towards the outlook for those with one kidney is whether they were born with one kidney or did they lose or donated one in life. For people born with one kidney, the single kidney will do the job of both kidneys from day one, and will most likely grow into a bigger and much better functioning kidney, one that has been programmed to perform the functions of both. However, when a kidney is removed or donated, the other kidney cannot make up for it, and as a consequence, the overall kidney function is reduced by half.

How is life with one kidney?

Normally, both kidneys will filter out waste and unwanted fluids from the blood and excrete them from the body via your urine. Even one healthy and functional kidney will be able to filter enough blood for keeping your body working and functioning as it would with two kidneys. This is why most people with one kidney live normal healthy lives; doing most of the things they love doing.

A person living with one kidney should follow the same health recommendations as a person with both kidneys. Normal things like working out four to five times a week can even be a walk in the park, no need to shred iron in the gym all day long. A healthy diet, preferably with a nutritionist’s advice for keeping kidney function healthy and maintaining an ideal weight can fend off most kidney-related issues by themselves. Keeping hydrated with loads of water is beneficial for a host of reasons, apart from the good it does for kidney health. Keeping your blood pressure and blood sugar under control, and ensuring you diligently manage any high blood pressure or diabetes if you have or develop them later on, will be vital. Find an accessible doctor you’re comfortable with and visit them regularly for checkups or when you’re called in by them. Other important things to remember for keeping your kidney intact you should consider are protecting it from injury by way of avoiding certain activities like contact sports and ensuring you don’t have any medications that can prove harmful to your kidney.

Are there any health problems that come along with living on one kidney?

Life will be normal for most people with a single kidney without any long- or short-term problems. There is a slightly higher risk of developing mild high blood pressure, fluid retention, and proteinuria as there is no backup for its reduced function.

Diet

There are no particular dietary restrictions for people with a single kidney but of course, everyone should have a healthy and balanced diet; no matter how many kidneys they have.

Staying hydrated and drinking water when thirsty is better than drinking too much or too little.

If you have had a kidney transplant or kidney disease due to which you have a single kidney, you’ll perhaps have to reduce sodium, phosphorous, and protein as the kidney won’t be able to remove them completely from your blood, which will cause a build-up. 

Also, Read: How to Prevent Kidney Failure?