{"id":4218,"date":"2025-03-19T20:31:37","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T20:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drgura.com\/?p=4218"},"modified":"2025-03-19T20:31:37","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T20:31:37","slug":"can-you-live-with-one-kidney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drgura.com\/es\/blog\/can-you-live-with-one-kidney\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Live with One Kidney?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your kidneys are integral to your overall health. They are responsible for filtering waste products from the blood and producing a hormone that leads to the production of red blood cells. Most people are born with two kidneys, though this is not always the case. Due to the importance of these organs, you may wonder, can you live with one kidney? Below, you will find the answer to this question and more information about kidney function. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Can You Live with One Kidney?<\/span><\/h2>\n

A person can have only one kidney as a result of kidney damage sustained during their lifetime or because they are simply born with only one kidney. In both of these cases, it is possible to live a normal life with just one kidney. When a body only has one kidney to filter blood, the remaining kidney will work harder to complete its function. Unfortunately, this extra work means that the kidney may wear out more quickly and filter less effectively, which in turn can result in proteinuria. Additionally, having one kidney comes with risk factors like high blood pressure and an increased risk of kidney failure later in life. Though the risks may seem significant, most people who have only one kidney live <\/span>full<\/span>, healthy lives. Even more, there are effective treatment options like <\/span>wearable artificial kidneys<\/span><\/a> that patients can use to ensure they stay in good health.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Maintaining Your Health With One Kidney<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you only have one kidney, there are several steps you can take to maintain your health. Most importantly, you should work closely with an experienced kidney health specialist who is able to understand your unique medical needs. Still, there are practices you can engage in on your own to ensure your remaining kidney stays healthy.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Stay Hydrated<\/span><\/h3>\n

Staying hydrated is <\/span>important<\/span> for both your overall and kidney health. Drinking enough water ensures that your remaining kidney can effectively filter waste from your blood. Try to drink at least eight glasses of water each day. If you live in a hot climate or exercise regularly, you may need more. Consult with your nephrologist about how much water you should consume daily.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Regular Exercise<\/span><\/h3>\n

Staying physically active is another excellent way to ensure your overall health and maintain the function of your kidney. Low-impact <\/span>aerobic exercises<\/span><\/a>\u2014such as walking, swimming, biking, pilates, and yoga\u2014in particular, have been shown to improve renal function. People with one kidney should generally avoid contact sports that could damage their remaining kidney. You should consult with your doctor before engaging in any potentially strenuous activities to ensure you will not do more harm than good to your kidney.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Nutrient-Rich Diet<\/span><\/h3>\n

A healthy and balanced diet is beneficial to maintain the function of your kidneys. Maintain a diet rich in nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. You should also reduce your salt intake and avoid highly processed foods, as they can unnecessarily raise your blood pressure and put excess strain on your kidneys and digestive system.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Attend Regular Checkups<\/span><\/h3>\n

Regularly visiting your kidney specialist is critical to ensuring that any kidney damage sustained does not go unchecked. These appointments may include blood and urine tests and will provide your care provider with opportunities to review your kidney function and ensure your kidney is functioning as it should. Addressing kidney issues early on is critical for your long-term health, so it is crucial that you attend these appointments. Talk with your doctor about how often you should visit and any specific symptoms you should look out for on your own.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Common Symptoms of Kidney Issues<\/span><\/h2>\n

Monitoring your kidney health is key to living a life that is not affected by the absence of a kidney. Follow the tips above to minimize the likelihood of complications, but keep in mind that kidney issues can occur even when you make all of the right decisions for your health. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you notice any signs of kidney damage or failure, prompt treatment is necessary. Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your urine or changes in how often you urinate. You should also contact your doctor if you notice swelling in your hands, feet, or face or see an increase in your blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kidney Specialist<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you are concerned about your kidney health, contact the <\/span>widely recognized nephrologist<\/span><\/a>, Dr. Gura, and his team today and schedule an appointment.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Your kidneys are integral to your overall health. They are responsible for filtering waste products from the blood and producing a hormone that leads to the production of red blood cells. Most people are born with two kidneys, though this is not always the case. Due to the importance of these organs, you may wonder, … Leer m\u00e1s<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4219,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[16,17],"class_list":["post-4218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kidney-health","tag-kidney-faqs","tag-kidney-function","resize-featured-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drgura.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drgura.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drgura.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drgura.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drgura.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4218"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/drgura.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4221,"href":"https:\/\/drgura.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4218\/revisions\/4221"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drgura.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drgura.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drgura.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drgura.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}