What Are The Types Of Living Kidney Donation
There are two kinds of living kidney donation:
Living related : Donation from parents and sibling.
Living unrelated: Donation from friends or from person who isnt related by blood to the recipient.
Different types of kidney donation include:
- Directed: You choose who gets your donated kidney.
- Paired kidney exchange: Organ transplants work best when the donor and recipient have the same blood type or tissue type. If you and the recipient arent a compatible match, you can donate your kidney to someone else who is a match. In return, a family member or friend of the recipient donates a kidney to your loved one.
- Nondirected or altruistic: You dont know the person who gets the donated kidney. Instead, you choose to help someone unconditionally.
What Are The Kidneys And What Do They Do
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. Every day, the two kidneys filter about 120 to 150 quarts of blood to produce about 1 to 2 quarts of urine, composed of wastes and extra fluid. Children produce less urine than adults and the amount produced depends on their age. The kidneys work around the clock; a person does not control what they do. Ureters are the thin tubes of muscleone on each side of the bladderthat carry urine from each of the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder stores urine until the person finds an appropriate time and place to urinate. Read more about the urinary tract.
Kidneys work at the microscopic level. The kidney is not one large filter. Each kidney is made up of about a million filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron filters a small amount of blood. The nephron includes a filter, called the glomerulus, and a tubule. The nephrons work through a two-step process. The glomerulus lets fluid and waste products pass through it; however, it prevents blood cells and large molecules, mostly proteins, from passing. The filtered fluid then passes through the tubule, which sends needed minerals back to the bloodstream and removes wastes. The final product becomes urine.
Are Dietary Changes Needed
In general, people with one;healthy kidney dont need special diets. However, its always good to:
- have a healthy well-balanced diet
- reduce your salt intake
Dietary restrictions arent usually necessary for people who have received a transplanted kidney but its still worth following a healthy diet and watching your salt intake. However, you will probably be advised to avoid fresh grapefruit or grapefruit juice because they can interfere with certain medications. If you are advised by your kidney consultant to make specific changes to your diet, ask to be referred to the renal dietitian and follow their advice.
For more information about diet and kidney disease take a look at our dietary hints and tips.
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Eat 1/2 Teaspoon Of Baking Soda Daily And This Happens To Your Kidneys
The kidneys are small, only about the size of a fist, but they perform vital functions that play a role in overall health. Each day, the kidneys filter about 120-150 quarts of blood, to produce 1-2 quarts of urine, filtering waste and extra fluid out of the body. The kidneys prevent the buildup of waste in the body, keep electrolyte levels stable, and make hormones that regulate blood pressure, make blood cells, and maintain strong bones.
Many factors can lead to kidney damage, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, a disease called glomerulonephritis, which damages the kidneys filtering units, infections, kidney stones, and overuse of some over-the-counter pain killers. Repairing the kidneys after damage just may lie in a common household item: baking soda.
Living With One Functioning Kidney
Our kidneys perform many functions that are vital to good health, but it is not unusual to have only one kidney to do the work of two.
- Many people are born with a single kidney.
- Some people have to have one kidney surgically removed because they may have developed an obstruction or a tumour or sustained a severe traumatic injury after an accident.
- Some people may have received a kidney from a living or deceased donor , after their own kidneys have failed.
- Others may have donated one of their kidneys to a loved one or another person with kidney failure .
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Benefits Of A Kidney Transplant
Most people would prefer to get a kidney transplant rather than be on dialysis for the rest of their life. Kidney dialysis involves having dialysis several times per week, and spending several hours each time connected to a dialysis machine.
Patients who undergo kidney transplant surgery are likely to enjoy the following benefits:
- Better quality of life
- More control over your daily activities
- More freedom due to not being bound to dialysis schedules
- Lower risk of death thanks to the healthy kidney
- Improved strength, stamina, and energy
- Fewer dietary restrictions
- A more normal fluid intake
- A possible reversal of anemia
How Is Chronic Kidney Disease Detected
Early detection and treatment of chronic kidney disease are the keys to keeping kidney disease from progressing to kidney failure. Some simple tests can be done to detect early kidney disease. They are:
It is especially important that people who have an increased risk for chronic kidney disease have these tests. You may have an increased risk for kidney disease if you:
- are older
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Choosing A Treatment For Kidney Failure
In this section:
As your kidney disease gets worse, your health care provider may talk with you about preparing for kidney failure. Talking early with your provider about your treatment optionsand making a choice before you need any one of these treatmentshelps you take charge of your care. Treatment will help you feel better and live longer.
Understanding the treatment you choose and getting used to the idea that you need this treatment takes time. Each type of treatment has pros and cons. Your choice of treatment will have a big effect on your daily life. By learning about the differences among treatment options, you can choose the one that will be best for you. The more you know about the types of treatment, the better prepared you may be to make a choice.
Why Do We Have Two Kidneys
Brooke Huuskes – Lecturer in Human Anatomy, Physiology Anatomy & Microbiology, La Trobe University
This piece is part of the The Conversation’s Curious Kids series for children.
Why do we have two kidneys when we can live with only one? Question from the students of Ms Morris Grade 5 class, Ringwood North Primary School, Victoria.
This is a really great question. The answer is scientists are not completely sure but we do have some theories. That is often the case with science.
Most of the animals you see above ground on Earth today, including humans, are the same on both sides. We have two eyes, two ears, and even two nostrils. Scientists gave this a fancy name called bilateral symmetry.
If you look in the mirror and draw an imaginary line down the middle of your reflection you will see that you have an arm and a leg on each side. If you had goggles that let you see your insides, you would see that you also have a kidney and a lung on each side too.
But it wasnt always like this. And some;animals still only have one kidney.
Around 500 million years ago, our long-lost relatives that were living in the ocean decided to leave the water to walk and live on land.
This was a very important moment in our history because on land, animals could change to grow a very complicated body with all of the important organs that are inside you, including two kidneys.
Two kidneys better than one?
Growing up with one kidney
Needing an extra kidney
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Pros And Cons Of Kidney Transplant
Kidney transplant is a surgical procedure or treatment choice aimed for patients suffering from kidney diseases. A donated kidney will be placed inside the abdomen of the patients and will do the works of the failed kidneys. The kidneys of the patient will not be removed during transplant operation not unless theres a condition that requires it. Facing a kidney transplant is a very serious matter; it is an issue of life and death. Thus, people should be aware about the different factors when it comes to kidney transplant especially in terms of its advantages and disadvantages.
Treatments For Kidney Failure
The two treatments for kidney failure are kidney transplantation and dialysis. Two different types of dialysis can be done – hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
To learn more about each type of treatment, see “Choosing a Treatment for Kidney Failure” in the A-to-Z Guide.
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What Happens After A Ct Scan
If contrast media was used during your procedure, you may be monitoredfor a period of time for any side effects or reactions to the contrastmedia, such as itching, swelling, rash, or difficulty breathing.
If you notice any pain, redness, and/or swelling at the IV site afteryou return home following your procedure, you should notify your doctoras this could indicate an infection or other type of reaction.
Otherwise, there is no special type of care required after a CT scan ofthe kidney. You may resume your usual diet and activities unless yourdoctor advises you differently.
Your doctor may give you additional or alternate instructions after theprocedure, depending on your particular situation.
How To Use Kidney Beans
The important thing to know about kidney beans is, Do NOT eat them raw! Consider this a thumb rule. The outer skin of kidney beans is said to contain toxins, which can be removed by cooking them for an adequate time.31
The dark red beans have a firm glossy outer layer and are more suitable for dishes that take some time to cook, like soups and appetizers. The light red and the white kidney beans have almost the same kind of texture with mostly a thin outer layer. These can be used with easy-to-make dishes like salads.
However, in general, kidney beans are used in well-cooked dishes as they soak up all the flavor and spices from the dishes. You can soak the beans overnight, drain, and then cook. Or you can boil them and cool for about an hour before cooking.
As long as you remember the thumb rule, feel free to experiment! And do let us know how it worked out for you!
References
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Growing Up With One Kidney
It is true, you can live with only one kidney. Some people are born with only one because the other one did not grow properly. Other times, the two kidneys touch each other when they are first growing and join together, making one kidney shaped like a horseshoe. People with these types of kidneys have to be very careful because they might get sick more easily than someone who has two kidneys.
Help With Kidney Stones
Kidney beans are said to help with curing kidney stones probably because of their low sodium content and the dietary fiber levels.2829
And since the beans help treat diabetes, they might also prevent you from succumbing to kidney stones as the two conditions can be interrelated, especially if you have a history of kidney stones.30
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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.
What Are The Benefits Of Living Kidney Donation
It can take up to three to five years for someone on the kidney transplant waitlist to get a kidney from a deceased donor. During this time, theyre on dialysis. Sometimes, a persons health declines, making them ineligible for a transplant. A living donor can cut this wait time.
People who receive a kidney from a living donor reap other benefits:
- Less risk of rejection: A kidney from a family member is often a better genetic match than a kidney from a stranger. As a result, theres less risk of organ rejection.
- Longer organ life: Living donor kidneys can last 15 to 20 years. Kidneys from deceased donors function for about 10 to 15 years.
- Faster function: A kidney from a living donor begins working quickly after transplantation because its out of the body for a short time. Some people who get kidneys from deceased donors may need dialysis until the transplanted kidney starts to work.
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Strengthen The Digestive System
Some believe that kidney beans might help with constipation and improved digestion.;Dry beans, in general, contain a high amount of dietary fiber that may help retain water in stool and relieve you of constipation.2425 And since the fibers take a long time to digest, drinking more water after eating the beans might give your digestion a push.
A word of caution: Regulated insoluble fiber intake is associated with reduced constipation symptoms. But the fibers in kidney beans might aggravate these, especially in those with the irritable bowel syndrome. There have also been instances of kidney-bean-induced diarrhea, flatulence, and bloating.26
What Are The Basics About Peritoneal Dialysis
You do peritoneal dialysis at home. Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of your belly to filter wastes and extra fluid from your body. This lining, called the peritoneum, surrounds your abdominal cavity and replaces part of your kidney function.
Youll need to have minor surgery a few weeks before you start peritoneal dialysis. A doctor will place a soft tube, called a catheter, in your belly. The catheter stays in your belly permanently. When you start peritoneal dialysis, youll empty a kind of salty water, called dialysis solution, from a plastic bag through the catheter into your belly. When the bag is empty, you can disconnect your catheter from the bag so you can move around and do your normal activities. While the dialysis solution is inside your belly, it soaks up wastes and extra fluid from your body. After a few hours, you drain the used dialysis solution through another tube into a drain bag. You can throw away the used dialysis solution, now filled with wastes and extra fluid, in a toilet or tub. Then you start over with a fresh bag of dialysis solution. The process of emptying the used dialysis solution and refilling your belly with fresh solution is called an exchange.
You can choose which type of peritoneal dialysis will best fit your life.
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What Happens During A Ct Scan
CT scans may be performed on an outpatient basis or as part of yourstay in a hospital. Procedures may vary depending on your condition andyour physician’s practices.
Generally, a CT scan follows this process:
You may be asked to change into a patient gown. If so, a gown will be provided for you. A locked will be provided to secure all personal belongings. Please remove all piercings and leave all jewelry and valuables at home.
If you are to have a procedure done with contrast, an intravenous line will be started in the hand or arm for injection of the contrast media. For oral contrast, you will be given a liquid contrast preparation to swallow. In some situations, the contrast may be given rectally.
You will lie on a scan table that slides into a large, circular opening of the scanning machine. Pillows and straps may be used to prevent movement during the procedure.
The technologist will be in another room where the scanner controls are located. However, you will be in constant sight of the technologist through a window. Speakers inside the scanner will enable the technologist to communicate with and hear you. You may have a call button so that you can let the technologist know if you have any problems during the procedure. The technologist will be watching you at all times and will be in constant communication.
As the scanner begins to rotate around you, X-rays will pass through the body for short amounts of time. You will hear clicking sounds, which are normal.