One less kidney has little effect on healthy people, but more effect on patients with chronic kidney disease.
Kidney is the organ to excrete all kinds of metabolic wastes and excess water, usually the compensatory ability is strong, a single kidney can meet the basic needs of the human body, if the body is healthy and the remaining kidneys are functioning normally, it does not have much effect on normal people.
However, for patients with chronic kidney disease or renal insufficiency, the impact is greater, the patient’s remaining kidneys can not fully meet the needs of the human body, which may result in a variety of metabolic wastes and water gathered in the body, the burden of the remaining kidneys will increase, kidney function will gradually decline, and may even lead to uremia.
Patients with one kidney usually try to minimize the exposure to drugs that can damage the kidneys, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, proton pump inhibitors, Chinese medicines containing aristolochic acid ingredients or Chinese medicines and prescriptions from unknown sources, so as not to aggravate the damage to the kidneys.
Patients with one less kidney may also have other effects on the body. When a patient loses a kidney, it is recommended to visit regular hospitals regularly and standardize the treatment under the doctor’s guidance.