How long can you survive on one kidney? 

The human kidney has just one primary goal: to metabolize wastes in the body. However, the body doesn’t utilize both kidneys to the maximum. As long as one kidney is fully functional, the individual will survive. 

Unlike the pair of human lungs which cannot function alone without a fatality, the kidney is different. 

If you decide to remove one of your kidneys, a surgical process called nephrectomy which is actually more common than you think, know that your body will continue functioning normally without death. 

In comparison with the lungs, for healthy daily living, only 50 percent utilization of the lung is needed, since the body uses about one-third of it daily. 

However, when deciding to remove a kidney, it is necessary to make sure that the kidney left behind is functioning perfectly to ensure survival. 

So can humans survive on a single kidney? The succinct answer is yes, as long as the proper functionality of the other kidney is certain, then losing one kidney will not significantly affect normal life. 

On a lighter note, there has been documented but hard-to-believe cases of individuals selling their kidneys for trivial possessions like an iPhone. We wouldn’t recommend this. Why? 

Because unforeseen circumstances may arise where the lone kidney has a malfunction, the resulting cost to transplant may be far more expensive and could result in death. 

What are the consequences of removing a kidney? 

Once a nephrectomy is performed, the remaining kidney will compensate for the deficiency by enlarging and taking on the work of the original two kidneys.

Due to this, many believe that unilateral nephrectomy has no effect on the lifespan of the patient. 

However, studies and research have uncovered that the degree to which the retained kidney can compensate after surgery greatly varies among patients.

In fact, some elderly patients have been documented to have developed chronic renal insufficiency after surgery. 

Therefore, as well as the shape and function of the remaining kidney, close attention should be paid to the general condition of the kidney 

To reduce the amount of burden on the retained kidney after nephrectomy, patients should pay attention to the following:

1. If antibiotics are to be prescribed to patients, they must opt for drugs with low nephrotoxicity, which must be used after bacterial culture and drug susceptibility testing.
2. In the event of renal insufficiency, the dose and time of administration should be determined with reference to creatinine clearance. 
3. If there arises a need for blood transfusion, fresh blood should be transfused in small quantities over spread intervals. 
4. A kidney transplant or dialysis should be performed if the remaining renal function is severely damaged. 
5. Contrast agents should be utilized with caution. 
6. Treatment of comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, infection, etc., should be given close attention. 

How to avoid overwhelming your single kidney

To avoid aggravating the burden on the kidneys, after nephrectomy, patients should pay attention to the following:

1. Nephrectomy patients should have a light diet, avoid greasiness, do not eat fried foods, and limit the intake of high cholesterol foods such as animal offal, egg yolk, crab roe, fish roe, pig trotters, meat skin, chicken skin, etc. 
2. Intermittently eat calcium-rich foods such as milk, pork ribs soup, etc. to prevent osteoporosis.
3. The appropriate addition of vinegar when boiling soup can increase the dissolution and absorption of calcium. 
4. In addition, calcium supplementation should not be excessive, otherwise, it will increase the burden on the kidneys. 
5. Advocate small frequent meals, eat more green leafy vegetables, avoid eating gastrointestinal irritating foods such as coffee, tea, etc., and quit smoking and drinking. 
6. Eat less high-purine foods such as seafood, animal offal and so on. 
7. Be careful not to be overworked, pay attention to rest, and stay in a good mood.