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.
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.
