Fast Facts About Your Kidneys

Interesting Facts About The Kidneys

Your kidneys are responsible for many functions throughout the body. In light of National Kidney Month, the health experts at Ridgecrest Regional Hospital are here to share some fast facts about how much work these vital organs do to keep you healthy!

You Only Need 1 Kidney to Live

While most people have two kidneys, you only need one functioning kidney to lead a healthy life. Whether you only have one kidney or one functioning kidney, you may need to follow more strict precautions when looking after your renal health.

Some of the many reasons you may have one functioning kidney include:

• Being born with one kidney.
• Having had one removed due to injury or disease.
• You’ve donated a kidney to someone else.
• You have two, but only one is functioning.

Your Kidneys Pump More than 50 Gallons of Blood Daily

Your kidneys may be small, but they do quite a bit of work! The kidneys are responsible for removing waste and excess liquid from the body by filtering them out from your blood. Your kidneys filter through about 52 gallons (200 liters) of blood throughout a given day!

They Regulate Your Body’s Salt Content

Along with filtering out waste from your blood, your kidneys also help regulate your body’s sodium levels. However, it is important to keep in mind that it is possible to take in more salt than your kidneys can safely remove from your body. While salt is essential for your body to function properly, excess amounts can be damaging to your body, leading to heart disease, stroke, and even kidney failure.

Primary Care in Ridgecrest, California

At Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, our team of highly trained and experienced internal and family medicine physicians is dedicated to providing services to patients of all ages in Ridgecrest and surrounding areas.

To learn more about our primary care services or schedule an appointment, visit our website or give us a call at (760) 446-3551 (Mon-Fri 8 AM-4:30 PM).