Health Tip: Living With One Kidney

How to lead a normal life

(HealthDay News) -- About one of every 750 people lives with only one kidney, leaving one of the body-cleansing organs to do the work of two.

Some people are born with a single kidney, while in other cases, one of the organs may be removed due to illness.

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) says most people with a single normal kidney have few or no problems, particularly in the first few years.

Nonetheless, many doctors believe that people with a single kidney, particularly from birth or during early childhood, should be monitored closely. Some people in this category may have a slightly increased chance of developing abnormal amounts of protein in the urine within 25 years, the NKF says.

Special diets usually aren't necessary, the foundation says, though it advises people with a single kidney to speak with their doctor. A urinalysis and blood pressure check should be done yearly, and kidney function should be checked every few years or more often if an abnormal urinalysis or blood pressure is found.

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