We All Have Two Of Certain Organs Like Kidneys And Lungs But Why Not Multiple Hearts Livers Or Brains
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About 550 million years ago, a flatworm called an acoel was the first organism to evolve with bilateral symmetry. Bilateralism is the tendency of some lifeforms to be symmetrical, and many organisms on Earth today, especially vertebrates, seem to have inherited this kind of symmetry.
If you were to classify animals by their symmetry, you would have asymmetrical , radial , and bilateral. If you drew a line down the middle of bilaterally symmetrical organisms you’d see a pretty close mirror image. Although scientists don’t know exactly why bilateral symmetry became so common, there are some hypotheses. Some speculate a bilateral body can move more easily because the appendages are mirrored, or perhaps they support a central nervous system with a central spinal cord. It’s just one of those things we don’t know. Since animals with bilateral symmetry have been evolving for 500 million years, it’s safe to assume there’s a good reason for it.
Don’t forget: every Monday, we answer one of your questions. This week, someone named “Dern Sure” wanted to know why we have two of some organs but only one of others. If you have a burning science question, be sure to leave it in the comments section below, and it may end up being a future episode of DNews!
Needing An Extra Kidney
Sometimes our kidneys stop working. When this happens our blood cannot be cleaned and we can get very sick. The only way to stay alive is to be attached to a big machine that cleans your blood for you, or have a kidney transplant.
This happened to me when my kidneys stopped working properly. My dad gave me one of his kidneys. Thanks, Dad.
There are two people involved in a kidney transplant: a donor who is going to give their kidney, and a recipient who will receive the kidney.
After the new kidney is put into the recipient, both the donor and recipient only have one kidney that works properly. Both the donor and the recipient can live long happy lives with only one kidney. They just have to take extra care that they eat healthily and exercise to stay fit. One person living in Australia has been using a transplanted kidney for 45 years!
So, while your body works best when all of your organs are inside you and working properly, scientists still dont exactly know why we have two kidneys. However, it is good to know that we have a few spare parts that we can live without.
And if youre an adult reading this, its good to make sure you are registered as an organ donor and also chat to your family so they know you want to donate. You may one day save a life.
Stage 5gfr Of 15 Ml/min Or Less
Patients at Stage 5 have chronic CKD. They have a GFR of 15 mL/min or less and have End Stage Renal Disease .The kidneys have lost almost all ability to function effectively at this stage. They will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live.
Our kidney specialists can work with you to provide individualized evaluation and treatment, taking into consideration your GFR and other factors. To learn more or schedule an appointment at one of our clinics call 412-802-3043 or toll free 1-800-533-UPMC .
You should discuss this result with your kidney specialist.
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Myth: Kidney Disease Is Very Rare
FACT: Chronic kidney disease is one of the leading causes of death, globally. According to the World Health Organization, the estimated prevalence of chronic kidney disease worldwide is 8-16 per cent in adults above 30 years of age. Stressful lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits contribute to increased incidence of diabetes, hypertension and obesity thus increasing the kidney disease risk.
What Do Kidneys Do
One of the main jobs of the kidneys is to filter the waste out of the blood. How does the waste get in your blood? Well, your blood delivers nutrients to your body. Chemical reactions in the cells of your body break down the nutrients. Some of the waste is the result of these chemical reactions. Some is just stuff your body doesn’t need because it already has enough. The waste has to go somewhere this is where the kidneys come in.
First, blood is carried into the kidneys by the renal artery . The average person has 1 to 1½ gallons of blood circulating through his or her body. The kidneys filter that blood about 40 times a day! More than 1 million tiny filters inside the kidneys remove the waste. These filters, called nephrons , are so small you can see them only with a high-powered microscope.
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What Organs Can You Live Without
ByRachael Rettnerpublished 14 March 13
Newly elected Pope Francis had part of a lung removed as a teenager, according to the Vatican, but it shouldn’t be a significant health issue for him now, experts say.
The pontiff, 76, had part his lung removed to treat an infection he had about 40 years ago, according to NBC News. At that time, it was more common to treat infections, such as tuberculosis, this way because antibiotics were not widely used.
People can survive even if an entire lung is removed. When one lung is removed, the remaining lung inflates to take up some of the extra space. Living with one lung doesn’t usually affect everyday tasks or life expectancy, though a person with one lung wouldn’t be able to exercise as strenuously as a healthy person with two lungs, said Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
Although you’d probably like to keep all your organs if you can, here are others you can live without:
Kidney: As you’re probably aware, humans have two kidneys, but need only one to survive. People may be born with just one kidney, or have one removed after injury or for a donation. In general, people with one kidney have few or no health problems, and have a normal life expectancy, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Technically, people can live with no kidneys, but require dialysis.
Pass it on: People can live without a number of organs.
The Tubule Returns Needed Substances To Your Blood And Removes Wastes
A blood vessel runs alongside the tubule. As the filtered fluid moves along the tubule, the blood vessel reabsorbs almost all of the water, along with minerals and nutrients your body needs. The tubule helps remove excess acid from the blood. The remaining fluid and wastes in the tubule become urine.
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What If I Was Born With Only One Working Kidney
In general, most people with a single, healthy kidney have few problems. However, some long term problems have been seen in some people.
In some people who were born with a single kidney, or had a kidney removed during childhood, there is a chance of some slight loss in kidney function later in life. This usually takes 25 years or more to happen. There may also be a chance of having high blood pressure later in life. However, the loss in kidney function is usually very mild, and life span is normal. Most people with one kidney live healthy, normal lives with few problems.
In other words, one healthy kidney can work as well as two.
Albuminuria: The Urine Albumin: Creatinine Ratio
A simple urine test called the urine Albumin:Creatinine ratio is also performed to look for signs that protein is leaking into the urine . This is an important sign of kidney damage. The ACR is used to calculate the A stage of CKD .
There are three recognised stages of albuminuria:
- A1 normal to mildly increased urine protein levels
- A2 moderately increased urine protein levels
- A3 severely increased urine protein levels
Combining your ACR ratio with your eGFR can help doctors try to predict whether your kidney disease is likely to progress and whether you are more likely to develop complications such as heart and circulatory problems. Other factors are also taken into account, e.g. age. In general, the higher the A stage, the more likely it is that you will benefit from blood pressure-lowering treatment.
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Pcr Assay And Calibration
Pcr levels were measured in a single laboratory on a Hitachi 7600 analyzer using the Jaffeâs kinetic method, which was described elsewhere . To ensure that our Pcr values were calibrated equally to the MDRD study, we randomly selected 57 fresh-frozen plasma samples from our specimens and analyzed them in both our laboratory and the Cleveland Clinic Laboratory. The Pcr value that was measured by our laboratory can be calibrated to the Pcr value that was measured by the Cleveland Clinic Laboratory, which used a CX3 analyzer , using a linear regression equation: CX3 Pcr = â15.91 + 1.32 à Hitachi Pcr .
Drinking Alcohol Affects Your Kidneys
Drinking alcohol affects many parts of your body, including your kidneys. A little alcoholone or two drinks now and thenusually has no serious effects. However, excessive drinkingmore than four drinks dailycan affect your health and worsen kidney disease. When experts talk about one drink, they are talking about one 12ounce bottle of beer, one glass of wine, or one ounce of hard liquor.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that most American adults drink alcohol. Too often, some of these regular drinkers have more than five drinks at one time. In fact, about a quarter of drinkers reported they had done this on at least one day in the past year. Binge drinking has harmful effects on the kidney that can even lead to acute kidney failure. A sudden drop in kidney function is called acute kidney failure. This often goes away after a time, but it can occasionally lead to lasting kidney damage.
Even without binge drinking, regularly drinking too much too often can also damage the kidneys. The damage occurs more slowly. Regular heavy drinking has been found to double the risk chronic kidney disease, which does not go away over time. Even higher risk of kidney problems has been found for heavy drinkers who also smoke. Smokers who are heavy drinkers have about five times the chance of developing CKD than people who dont smoke or drink alcohol to excess.
Improve, sustain, and extend even more kidney patient lives in 2022 with your special holiday gift.
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After all, it isnt every day that you hear about a diet that encourages you to eat tasty, fatty cuts of meat.
Since dietary fats have been unfairly demonized for the past few decades, some people are worried that keto may affect your internal organs.
Specifically, theres controversy about the keto-kidney connection.
So is the low carb, high fat lifestyle bad for your kidneys?
Read on to see the two sides of the debate.
In this article, were going to talk about:
What Are The Treatment Options For Kidney Failure
If you have kidney failure , you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live. There is no cure for ESRD, but many people live long lives while on dialysis or after having a kidney transplant.
There are just a few options for treating kidney failure, including kidney transplant and several types of dialysis. Your doctor can help you figure out which treatment is best for you. Learn more about the treatment options for kidney failure.
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The Ketogenic Diet Can Improve Kidney Function In Diabetics
Diabetic nephropathy is a condition that occurs as a result of damaged kidneys due to diabetes. It is characterized damage to your glomeruli, the small units within the kidney where blood is filtered.
In short, diabetic nephropathy means your kidneys arent able to filter your blood properly.
Studies have shown that a properly formulated ketogenic diet can help reverse diabetic nephropathy.
Keto can improve this condition due to two main reasons:
The Relationship Between High Protein Diets And Chronic Kidney Disease
The previous studies show that high-protein diets do not have a negative impact in people who have normal kidney function.
Reduced protein consumption may only be beneficial in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.
Following a low carbohydrate, adequate protein, high fat diet, can help prevent cardiovascular disease in people with chronic kidney disease.
Since ketosis and protein are not to blame for kidney problems, heres what actually harms your kidneys:
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Keto Improves Cholesterol Profiles
All cholesterol is not created equal.
High-density lipoprotein also known as good cholesterol is a health marker that many physicians look at to determine the health of their patients, especially those who have chronic kidney disease. An elevation in this type of cholesterol isnt bad for your heart.
However, LDL aka bad cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease.
Researchers are now finding that HDL cholesterol and saturated fat shouldnt be to blame for heart disease.
On the other hand, LDL particle size is a more important biomarker to monitor.
One study found that lipid profiles did not predict mortality whereas smaller, LDL particles were linked to a 55% increase in the risk of mortality.
LDL particle size is affected by carbohydrate intake. Abundant carbohydrate consumption triggers the release of LDL.
Meanwhile, a low carb keto diet reduces LDL cholesterol which improves kidney function.
Studies have proven that a low carb, high protein diet can decrease the rate of mortality in people with chronic kidney disease by decreasing LDL, HDL and insulin levels.
Stages Of Kidney Disease In Children And Adults Ages 2+
Stage 1
Kidney damage with normal or increased GFR
eGFR â90 or above and other signs of kidney damage present
Stage 2
Kidney damage with mild decrease GFR
eGFR â60-89 and other signs of kidney damage present
Stage 3a
Mild to moderate decrease GFR
eGFR â 45-59
Moderate to severe decrease GFR
eGFR â 45-59
Stage 5
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Watch Out For Signs Of Kidney Disease
A person with kidney disease has progressive loss of function of their kidneys. Kidney disease is sometimes called a silent disease because it often doesnt cause symptoms until the disease has progressed significantly. Its not uncommon for people to have lost up to 90% of their kidney function before experiencing symptoms of kidney disease.
Keep an eye out for the below signs and symptoms of kidney disease, and if you have any concerns, see your doctor.
Signs of reduced kidney function can include:
- high blood pressure
- change in how often you need to go to the toilet and how much urine you produce
- changes to your urine for example frothy or foaming urine
- blood in your urine
- increased puffiness around your legs, ankles or eyes
- pain in the kidney area
- tiredness and fatigue
Can Dialysis Keep You Alive If Your Kidney Are Removed
There are two types of dialysis peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis. In the former, your blood is actually cleaned inside the body, by injecting a fluid into the abdominal cavity that will absorb waste products in the blood. This liquid can then be removed, along with the toxins. The more intensive and common form is hemodialysis, in which the blood is removed from the body, filtered, and then returned to the body. This process can take hours to complete, and must be done 2-3 times per week.
Depending on the intricacies of your hemodialysis treatment, you may be able to perform it at home, but this often requires more frequent filtering. Essentially, it is possible to live without your kidneys, but the need for dialysis is a life-changing medical condition that you will need for the rest of your life. Dialysis can often be used for years or decades, and is the only option for many people who are waiting for a healthy kidney. While some people do eventually get a kidney through donor programs, the lists are quite long, with thousands of people waiting for a life-saving organ.
Our best advice is to keep your kidneys healthy, and if you think there is a problem with one of your internal organs, get it checked immediately, so you can either have peace of mind, or access to early medical care. Your kidneys may only be the size of your fists, but they are incredibly important to life as we know it!
Test your knowledge about kidneys and what happens if you dont have them
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How Do My Kidneys Work
Each of your kidneys is made up of about a million filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron includes a filter, called the glomerulus, and a tubule. The nephrons work through a two-step process: the glomerulus filters your blood, and the tubule returns needed substances to your blood and removes wastes.
Protecting Your Single Kidney From Injury
If you have a single kidney, injuring it can be a big problem because there isnt another one to compensate. If the injury is severe and your kidney stops working completely, you would need dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.
To avoid this, its very important to protect your single kidney from injury. Avoid contact sports that could lead to kidney injury. These include:
- boxing
- bungee jumping
- skydiving
Over the long term, unless your kidney gets injured, loss of function in your single kidney is usually very mild and unnoticeable.
Most people with a single kidney dont need to follow a special diet, but like people with two kidneys, you should eat a healthy balanced diet.
Staying normally hydrated and drinking when thirsty is better than overhydration or dehydration.
If you have a single kidney because you had a transplant or if you have kidney disease, you may need to limit the amount of sodium, phosphorous, and protein in your diet. This is because your kidney cant remove them from your blood very well, so they build up.
You may also have to limit the amount of fluids you drink.
Talk to your healthcare provider about your nutritional needs and dietary restrictions.
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