According to Doctor Nguyen Trung Hieu from the Center for Urology and Dialysis at Bach Mai Hospital, most patient concerns stem from a lack of information about the body's ability to adapt. When one kidney is lost, the remaining kidney undergoes compensatory hypertrophy, gradually increasing in size and the number of filtering units. Thanks to this mechanism, a healthy single kidney can take on nearly the entire function of both kidneys previously.
Doctor Hieu stated that the risk of kidney failure does not stem from having half the number of kidneys, but primarily from damage to the sole kidney due to illness or lifestyle habits. Clinical practice shows that most people with only one kidney continue to work and live normally. Many kidney donors maintain stable health for many years without complications.
Despite this excellent compensatory ability, individuals with a single kidney face higher risks if they have uncontrolled underlying medical conditions. Hypertension and diabetes are two leading causes of damage to renal blood vessels. Additionally, recurrent urinary tract infections or kidney stones become particularly dangerous when they affect the only remaining blood-filtering organ. A lack of regular medical monitoring also allows damage to progress silently, often only detected in its late stages.
To protect long-term kidney function, experts advise patients to immediately eliminate harmful habits. An excessively salty diet increases the burden of sodium excretion and causes hypertension, while prolonged high protein intake increases the filtering pressure on the glomeruli. Habits like drinking too little water or holding urine can easily lead to infections and stone formation. Crucially, the misuse of painkillers, unverified dietary supplements, smoking, or alcohol consumption directly causes toxicity and damages kidney cells.
People should undergo regular health check-ups, including functional tests and ultrasounds, at least every six months to screen for abnormalities early. Adopting a scientific diet rich in green vegetables, eating blandly, drinking enough water, and effectively controlling blood pressure and blood sugar are key to managing this condition.
"With proper care and adherence to medical advice, the remaining kidney can fully support a patient throughout their life," Doctor Hieu emphasized.
Le Nga
