World Kidney Day 2017: The dos and don'ts of living with one kidney

You can live a healthy and productive life even with one kidney. But follow these precautions.

The kidneys aren t called the Master Chemists of the human body for nothing. They perform multiple crucial functions to keep the body in check. Imagine living without them. The human body would turn into an enormous dumping ground without these twin organs that work round the clock to keep the waste products out.

But we have all heard stories of people living with one kidney. We somehow imagine them to be living compromised lives, but our bodies are more resilient than we give them credit for. There are many real-life testimonials of individuals with one kidney saying that their life is no different than before. Today, on 9th March 2017, World Kidney Day, Dr Rushi Deshpande Consultant in Nephrology and Renal Transplantation at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai sheds light on the topic.

Why do some people have to live with just one kidney?

There are three reasons according to Dr Deshpande.

If they are born without a kidney (renal agenesis) or when only one of their two kidneys works (kidney dysplasia).

If the person has donated one kidney.

If the person has undergone nephrectomy or removal of a kidney due to injury, renal failure or cancer.

In the first two cases, the person can live a productive life without any major complications. There are 20-year-long studies that have tracked the lives of kidney donors and those living with just one functional kidney. They all have been living healthy lives unless they have underlying health problems like hypertension, infections or diabetes, stresses Dr Deshpande.

But unfortunately, the same cannot be said about those who underwent nephrectomy on account of health problems. There is always a looming fear of kidney failure, so they have to take some precautions to ensure that their existing kidney stays healthy. Read: Can kidney diseases be cured?

Keep your blood pressure in check

Dr Deshpande says that there is a false belief that the heart is responsible for blood pressure problems. Hypertension is a kidney disease and not a cardiac disease, he states. Blood flow to the kidneys gets limited when the arteries that deliver blood to the kidneys become narrow. The kidney will mistake it for dehydration and produce a hormone that hordes sodium and water. This puts a lot of pressure on the blood vessels, causing high BP. This causes a vicious cycle, and the kidneys don t receive enough oxygen, causing kidney failure. Keeping your blood pressure in check is imperative to maintain the health of your surviving kidney. Before you begin a course of medicine for BP, tell your physician that you have only one kidney. That way, he or she can prescribe the best medicine that is kidney-friendly.

Test your GFR efficiency

The Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) is a measurement of how well your kidneys are performing their excretory functions. People with one kidney should regularly monitor their GFR and watch out for any reduction in its reading. Although people with single kidneys have a reduced GFR, Dr Deshpande says they shouldn t worry even if the filtration rate is between 50 and 60. But they should see to it that it doesn t fall any lower. But in times of stress, our kidneys can also fall back on their renal reserves, an emergency excretory capacity that kickstarts when the body senses a falling GFR," adds Dr Deshpande.

Monitor protein intake

People living with one kidney should control the levels of protein in the blood. A condition called Proteinuria, where there are abnormal levels of protein in the blood is quite common in such cases. It usually a sign that points to improper working of the kidney. "If the patient's GRF is below 60, they should control their protein intake," says the doctor.

Maintain good kidney health

A proper diet and exercise are a given. Consuming more kidney-friendly food and drinking enough water is imperative for maintaining the health of the surviving kidneys. Read: Yoga asanas for maintaining good kidney health. Read: Fruits for good kidney health.

Words of advice for those going for nephrectomy

Doctor Deshpande says that one shouldn't worry about the prospects of living with one kidney. "You should forget fear," he reiterates. People often go on to live productive lives even with one kidney.

Get yourself checked at least once a year. "The minimum you can do is take a blood and urine test to check the kidney function," he concludes.

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