Negros Oriental – Wastes and excess fluid are removed from your body by your kidneys. It also eliminates acid that is created by your body's cells and keep the levels of water, salts, and minerals in your blood—such as sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium—in a healthy range. But what happens when you only have one kidney? Solitary kidney means a condition in which a person has only one kidney instead of two. There are different causes that a person can have only one kidney such as birth defects, kidney being removed because of cancer or other diseases, and kidney donation to be transplanted to another person whose kidneys have failed.

Many people can live normal, fulfilling lives with only one kidney even though it requires monitoring as potential problem may develop in the long-term. Possible complications that may also happen includes increased risk of protein in the urine, hypertension, and decreased glomerular filtration rate which measures how fast your kidneys filter waste and extra fluid from your blood.

Eating a healthy and well-balanced meal is very essential to a person with a solitary kidney. Drinking enough water normally and drinking when thirsty is better than drinking too much water or becoming dehydrated. Limit intake of foods containing sodium, phosphorus, and protein to avoid it’s built up since it cannot be removed very well from the blood. Dietary restrictions are not commonly advised to the majority of people with single kidneys; however, it is also important to make your kidney happy and not to overwork it to prevent further complications.  //ND II Shaira Vita A. Calumpang, RND