Your kidneys perform many functions to keep you alive. They 1. filter waste and excess fluid from the blood 2. maintain the proper balance of minerals like sodium, phosphorus, calcium and potassium in the blood 3. help keep blood pressure in 4. hormones that keep blood and bones healthy Most people have two kidneys, one on each side of the spine in the back just below the rib cage. Each kidney is about the size of a fist and contains about 1 million nephrons. The nephrons are microscopic filter baskets that the transfer of waste between the blood and collecting ducts of the urinary system. A person can have only one kidney to one of three main reasons. A person can be born with one kidney, a condition known as renal agenesis. Renal dysplasia, other birth defects, the kidney is unable to function. Many dysplasia with renal agenesis or renal normal, healthy and only discover they have a kidney or a kidney to work when they have an X-ray, ultrasound or surgery for an independent state. Some people must have a kidney to treat cancer or other diseases or injuries. The operation to remove a kidney is called nephrectomy. A growing number of people who donate a kidney to be transplanted into a relative or friend that the kidneys have failed. Possible effects of solitary kidney: If you have only one kidney does not affect your health, changes may be so small and happen so slowly you will not notice them. For long periods of time, however, these changes may require additional steps or treatments. May change as a result of a single kidney include: Hypertension: The kidneys help maintain healthy blood pressure by controlling the amount of fluid flow through the bloodstream and make a hormone called renin working with other hormones, expand or contract blood vessels. Many people who lose or donate a kidney, found that blood pressure was slightly higher after several years. Proteinuria: Excess protein in urine, a condition known as proteinuria, may be a sign of kidney damage. People are often higher than normal protein in their urine after living with one kidney for several years. Reduced GFR: glomerular filtration rate (GFR) shows how well your kidneys remove wastes from the blood. People have a reduced GFR if they have only one kidney. You may have blood pressure, proteinuria and reduced GFR and feel good. Until these conditions are under control, is unlikely to affect their health and longevity. A series of appointments with the doctor to manage these conditions. Protecting the Kidneys: Monitoring Your doctor should monitor your kidney function by controlling your blood pressure and urine test and blood once a year. Normal blood pressure is considered 120/80 or less. If your blood pressure is over 140/90. People with kidney or renal disease should keep their blood pressure under 130/80. Controlling blood pressure is particularly important because blood pressure can damage the kidneys. Your doctor may use a special paper strip is immersed in a small cup of your urine for protein detection. The color of the dipstick indicates the presence or absence of proteins. A more sensitive test for proteinuria involves laboratory measurement and calculation of the protein-creatinine. A high proportion of protein / creatinine ratio (over 30 mg of albumin per 1 gram of creatinine) shows that the kidneys are leaking protein to be maintained in the blood. GFR measurement used to require an injection of a contrast as iothalamate into the bloodstream followed by collection of urine for 24 hours to see how much of the media is filtered by the kidneys at that time. In recent years, however, scientists have found they can estimate GFR person depending on the amount of creatinine in a blood sample. The new calculation uses the measurement of glomerular filtration rate and creatinine patient weight, age, and the values assigned to gender and race. Some medical laboratories may calculate GFR at the same time, measure and report creatinine values. If your GFR is below 60, which are considered to have chronic kidney disease. Control of blood pressure: If your blood pressure is above normal, your doctor must work to keep it below 130/80. Great care must be taken in the choice of antihypertensive drugs for people with a solitary kidney. Angiotensin converting (ACE) and antagonists of receptor blockers of inhibition (ARA) are two classes of blood pressure medicine to protect renal function and reduce proteinuria. However, these drugs May hurt someone with renal artery stenosis (SAR), which is the narrowing of the arteries that enter the kidneys. Diuretics can help control blood pressure by removing excess fluid in the body. Controlling your blood pressure may need a combination of two or more medications, in addition to changes in diet and activity level. Eat wisely Having one kidney does not mean you should follow a special diet. Just make healthy choices like fruits, vegetables, grains and low fat dairy products. Limit your daily salt intake (sodium) consumption of 2,000 milligrams or less if you have high blood pressure. Read the nutrition labels on packaged foods to learn how much sodium is in one serving and keeping a diary of sodium may help. Limit alcohol and caffeine too. Avoid high-protein diets. Protein is composed of waste that the kidneys must eliminate excess protein produces additional pressure on the kidneys. Eat moderate amounts of protein is always important for proper nutrition. A nutritionist can help you find the right amount of protein in your diet. Avoid injuries: Some doctors may advise patients with one kidney to avoid contact sports such as boxing, football and hockey. One study indicates that accidents from collisions of motor vehicles and bicycles are more prone to sports injuries which seriously affect the kidneys. In recent years, athletes with a single working kidney have been involved in competitive sports at the highest. Having only one kidney should not automatically exclude from participation in sport. Children should be encouraged to participate in a form of physical activity, even if contact sports are ruled out. Protective equipment such as padded vests worn under a uniform can make limited contact sports such as basketball or football safely. Doctors, parents and patients should consider the risks of any activity and decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Reference: HealthOnclick