Can You Drink With One Kidney

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Reviewed for Medical & Clinical Accuracy by Dr. Joseph N. Ranieris D.O.

Dr. Joseph Ranieri D.O. earned his BS in Pharmacy at Temple University School of Pharmacy in 1981 and His Doctorate Degree in Osteopathic Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1991. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Board of Preventive Medicine Addiction Certification.

Cancer Affecting Both Kidneys

Rarely, people get cancer in both kidneys. Once youve had cancer in one kidney, there is a slightly increased chance of getting cancer in the other kidney.

You can have both kidneys removed if necessary. But your surgeon will try to remove only the tumours and leave enough working kidney tissue to keep you healthy.

Can You Drink Alcohol With One Kidney

Can you drink alcohol? Technically yes. But, does it increase your risk of life-threatening issues? Also yes. So, even though you can drink alcohol, it is not a good idea.

Alcohol affects all of your bodys organs. However, the effects of alcohol on one kidney lead to multiple issues. Although drinking one to two drinks a day typically wont be an issue, if you have one kidney, it will.

When you drink, you will generally urinate more. But, your kidney is not filtering any blood. So, alcohol is still in your blood. This effect of alcohol on kidneys leads to an imbalance in fluids and electrolytes. As a result, you may become dehydrated.

When your body doesnt have enough fluids, you cant function right. The cells in your organs, including your kidneys, cant function properly. This causes damage to the kidneys. For this reason, if you have one kidney and drink alcohol, it can be life-threatening.

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How Does Eating Diet And Nutrition Affect A Solitary Kidney

If you have a solitary kidney, you do not need to eat a special diet. However, you can keep your kidneys healthy by staying well hydrated, not taking too much salt, and not gaining excessive weight. If you have reduced kidney function, you may need to make changes to your diet to slow your kidney disease progression. Work with your health care professional or a registered dietitian to develop a meal plan that includes foods you enjoy eating while maintaining your kidney health.

Potatoes And Sweet Potatoes

Potatoes and sweet potatoes are potassium-rich vegetables.

Just one medium-sized baked potato contains 610 mg of potassium, whereas one average-sized baked sweet potato contains 541 mg of potassium .

Fortunately, some high potassium foods, including potatoes and sweet potatoes, can be soaked or leached to reduce their potassium contents.

Cutting potatoes into small, thin pieces and boiling them for at least 10 minutes can reduce the potassium content by about 50% .

Potatoes that are soaked in water for at least 4 hours before cooking are proven to have an even lower potassium content than those not soaked before cooking .

This method is known as potassium leaching or the double-cook method.

Although double cooking potatoes lowers the potassium content, its important to remember that their potassium content isnt eliminated by this method.

Considerable amounts of potassium can still be present in double-cooked potatoes, so its best to practice portion control to keep potassium levels in check.

SUMMARY

Potatoes and sweet potatoes are high potassium vegetables. Boiling or double cooking potatoes can decrease their potassium content by about 50%.

Tomatoes are another high potassium fruit that may not fit the guidelines of a renal diet.

They can be served raw or stewed and are often used to make sauces.

Just 1 cup of tomato sauce can contain upwards of 900 mg of potassium .

Unfortunately for those on a renal diet, tomatoes are commonly used in many dishes.

SUMMARY

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Alcohol And Kidney Diseases

Care for your Kidneys series

It has been assessed by the World Health Organisation that an individual consumes about 6.2 litres of alcohol per year. An average Indian male drinker over 15-years-old consumes 33 litres of alcohol a year while the average for women is 11 litres, according to a study by the WHO. One-third of males and one-fourth of females in India who have made it a part of their lives say, in surveys, that it causes problems to their physical health, finances and household responsibilities.

Drinking alcohol can affect many parts of your body, including your kidneys. A little alcoholone or two drinks now and thenusually has no serious effects. But drinking too much can harm your health. It can also worsen kidney disease.

How does alcohol harm the kidneys?

Your kidneys filter harmful substances from your blood. One of these substances is alcohol. Alcohol can cause changes in the function of the kidneys and make them less able to filter your blood. In addition to filtering blood, your kidneys do many other important jobs. One of these jobs is keeping the right amount of water in your body. Alcohol affects the ability of your kidneys to do this. When alcohol dehydrates the body, the drying effect can affect the normal function of cells and organs, including the kidneys.

How much alcohol is too much?

When experts talk about one drink, they are talking about one 12-ounce bottle of beer, one glass of wine , or one shot of “hard liquor.”

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Can You Drink With A Kidney

Consuming an occasional glass or 2 of an alcoholic beverage usually wont cause harmful effects to individuals with full kidney function. Even a small amount of alcohol could have an impact on the kidneys.

How much alcohol is too much for a person to drink depends on a number of factors, including the persons age, gender, body mass index , blood pressure, diabetes, and other health conditions. For example, a woman who is overweight or obese may need to limit her alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day.

A person with diabetes should limit his or her consumption to less than 200 milligrams of blood sugar per 24-hour period.

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What Is Pomegranate Juice

Pomegranate or pom juice comes from pomegranates. The pomegranate is a fruit-producing deciduous shrub or small tree in the Lythraceae family.

Pomegranates are native to southeastern Europe and Asia. After being cultured in Spain, its believed that pomegranates were brought to Mexico and California in the 16th century by missionaries.

One large pomegranate typically makes somewhere between one-fourth and one-half cup of juice. Just like the seeds of the fruit itself, fresh pomegranate juice made from the seeds is impressively nutritious.

Just one cup of pomegranate juice contains about:

• 134 calories

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Clinical And Demographic Variables

All participants received lab tests and completed questionnaires on past personal medical history and health-related behaviors with the assistance of trained volunteers. The questions asking about drinking status read in the past 6 months, how often did you drink: did not drink, drank occasionally, or drank frequently? Based on this question, the participants were classified into non-drinkers, occasional drinkers, or frequent drinkers, accordingly. Questions and criteria to define cigarette smokers and BN chewers were similar. The demographic and clinical survey recorded age, sex, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, BN chewing, personal medical history , systolic blood pressure , diastolic blood pressure , SCr, total cholesterol , triglycerides , uric acid , fasting blood glucose , alanine aminotransferase , hemoglobin , white blood cell count, and urinalysis . Height and weight were used to calculate body mass index and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula was used to calculate eGFR .

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What Are The Symptoms Of Solitary Kidney

In general, people born with kidney agenesis or kidney dysplasia show no symptoms, lead full healthy lives, and may never discover they have a solitary kidney. Some people discover they have a solitary kidney by chance after having an x-ray, an ultrasound, or surgery for an unrelated condition or injury. A minority of people develop progressive loss of kidney function, and they can develop symptoms associated with chronic kidney disease.

A small percentage of babies born with kidney agenesis have other birth defects, such as an absent , an absent or smaller-than-normal bladder, an absent or smaller-than-normal uterus, a smaller-than-normal lung, club feet, or a hole in the heart wall separating the two lower heart chambers.5

Considerations When Drinking Alcohol With Chronic Kidney Disease

Watch your fluid intake When living with kidney disease, you must be mindful of how much fluid you consume since your kidneys are not able to remove excess fluid from your blood as well as fully functioning kidneys. Drinking too much fluid can lead to fluid overload and cause serious health concerns. Alcohol is a liquid and needs to be factored into your daily fluid intake. However, alcohol is also a diuretic which causes your body to remove fluid at a faster rate from your body, leaving you dehydrated if you dont drink enough water.2 This is an added challenge for people with kidney disease who have to limit their fluid intake. If you do choose to have an occasional glass or two of alcohol, make sure to factor that into your daily fluid intake so you dont exceed your daily allowance.

Be mindful of your medications When living with kidney disease, your doctor may prescribe certain medications to help you manage your health. You may also be taking medications for other health conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Since alcohol can impact specific medications you are taking, it is important to be careful not to mix the two. Talk to your doctor to understand the impact alcohol has on the medications youre taking.

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Can You Drink Alcohol With Only One Kidney

Many of your bodys organs are affected by alcohol including your kidneys. Drinking in moderation usually wont harm your kidneys.

Alcohol increases the amount of urine you produce but reduces your kidneys ability to filter blood. This disrupts the fluid and electrolyte balance in your body, and you become dehydrated.

Without enough fluid in your body, the cells in your organs, including your kidneys, cant function properly. Eventually it may cause permanent damage.

Your liver is also important for maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance. Liver damage from excessive alcohol interferes with this balance, making it even harder for your kidneys to work correctly.

The risk of kidney damage is even higher for heavy drinkers who also smoke.

Alcohol has this effect whether you have one or two kidneys, but it may lead to kidney failure more quickly when you only have one functioning kidney.

Can You Drink Alcohol After Removing A Kidney

If you drink alcohol regularly, you may be at risk for other complications during and after your surgery. They include bleeding, infections, heart problems, and a longer recovery time. Alcohol is a common part of surgery, but its important to talk to your surgeon about the benefits and risks of drinking during your procedure.

Your surgeon may recommend that you limit your alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day for the first few days after surgery and then gradually increase your intake over the next few weeks. You may also need to avoid alcohol for a few hours before surgery to help reduce the risk of blood clots. If you have any concerns about your drinking habits, talk with your doctor.

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Alcohol Risks: A Body Out Of Balance

Heavy drinking also has an indirect effect on kidney health. The body is a big domino set, says Dr. Bobart. If you have one part of your body thats not in balance, it can cause problems in many other parts of the body.

Drinking heavily can increase the risk of high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, for example. Both of those conditions are the mostcommon causes of chronic kidney disease in the United States.

Chronic alcohol use is also a major cause of liver disease. When your liver isnt functioning well, it can impair blood flow to your kidneys. Liver disease can have significant impacts on the kidneys, says Dr. Bobart.

How Does Alcohol Affect Your Kidneys

The effects of alcohol on your kidneys can lead to many health issues. Find out how treatment for alcohol misuse at Discovery Institute can reduce the risk of kidney disease.

Reviewed by Dr. Joseph N. Ranieris D.O.

New Jersey Drug & Alcohol Rehab / Alcohol Rehab / How Does Alcohol Affect Your Kidneys?

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We all know that drinking too much alcohol is bad for our health. But, this is especially true for alcohol and your kidneys. Having a few drinks now and then wont typically affect your health. However, misusing alcohol and alcohol use disorder can affect the kidneys and lead to kidney disease. If you are struggling with AUD, treatment at Discovery Institute can help you.

• Treating Alcohol Use Disorder at Discovery Institute

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Whats It Like To Live With One Kidney

Most people have two kidneys, but some only have one. There are three main reasons why this could be:

A person is born with only one kidney.

About one in 750 people is born with only one kidney. The medical term for this condition, which is more common in men than women, is renal agenesis. Usually its the left kidney that is missing. Because it is possible to be healthy with one kidney, some people dont find out they have one missing until its discovered on an X-ray or sonogram.

A kidney has been removed due to health problems.

A nephrectomy the surgical removal of a kidney can be necessary if a kidney has been damaged by cancer or another disease, or injured in an accident.

A person donates a kidney.

Every year, thousands of people donate one of their kidneys to someone in need of a healthy one. The recipient is often a blood relative or someone whos close to the donor, such as a spouse or friend. Approximately 87,000 kidneys from living donors were donated from 1988-2008.

What precautions should people take if they have one kidney?

Much of the advice that applies to living with one kidney goes for everybody: eat right, exercise, sustain a healthy weight, stay hydrated and get regular doctor checkups. However, there are special precautions that should be taken by someone living with a single kidney:

What happens if the kidney starts to fail?

Symptoms of kidney failure include:

Alcohol Dehydration One Kidney

The levels of water in the human body are regulated by the kidneys. Since an alcohol drinker with only one kidney will impose twice the workload onto that organ, this can severely affect the internal regulatory system. The end result is a greater chance of dehydration in drinkers with only one functioning kidney. This will impact the other organs and tissues in the body, and it can even cause secondary damage.

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Foods To Eat Or Avoid If You Have Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease can be either long-term or chronic, but it is possible to live a normal life with the disease. One of the best things you can do to help manage your disease and keep it from progressing is to eat a healthy, balanced diet.

For those with chronic kidney disease, a low-protein diet is recommended, but for someone on dialysis, a high-protein diet is best. Depending on your individual needs, your physician may also recommend limiting additional fluids, minerals or electrolytes. Here are 10 foods to eat or avoid if you have kidney disease:

Foods to Eat

Foods to Avoid

Kidney disease or not, what you eat and drink affects your health. Maintaining a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet is key to controlling your blood pressure and blood sugar. High blood pressure and diabetes are two of the leading causes of kidney disease, as well as many other conditions including heart disease, heart attacks and stroke.

A kidney-healthy diet isnt so much about eliminating a ton of foods entirely, but more about portion control and finding the right balance of protein, fats and carbohydrates to ensure you are consuming enough calories and nutrients.

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How Much Water Should A Person With Chronic Kidney Disease Drink

The internet is inundated with articles on how much water people should drink. Both healthcare professionals and non-healthcare individuals offer a range of opinions without any scientific facts. For the longest time, the dogma has been that all healthy humans should drink lots of water every day.

The popular advice to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day originated not from primary research, but from the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board in 1945, which recommended daily water intake of 2.5 liters per day and stated that the majority of this intake could come from food sources.

Unfortunately no one has challenged this dogma, until recently.

There is no question that water is necessary for humans. Water is essential for the maintenance of blood pressure, ensuring the circulation of blood cells, need for cellular function and metabolism and playing a vital role in the excretion of toxins and waste products via the kidney. The intake and output of water in the human body is intricately controlled by a hormone called antidiuretic hormone.

This hormone will become activated when the person is thirsty. If the person drinks too much fluids, the hormone will be inhibited so that the excess water is excreted by the kidneys. The hormone also plays a vital role in the activation and inhibition of the thirst center in the brain.

Further, drinking water helps lower the risk of kidney stones and prevents constipation.

The latest study

Polycystic Kidney Disease

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