Donating a kidney to a dying person is a generous deed. But is donating kidney safe for the giver or will it lead to health complications in the future? Will you live as long as non-donors even after giving one of your kidneys to a close family member? If someone in your family is in dire need of a kidney, it is natural to have an urge to donate your kidney to save them. At the same time, you must be having many questions regarding the risks of the procedure and how it can impact you in the long run. So, in this article, we will tell you everything about kidney donation to help you decide if you should go ahead with it.
Living Kidney Donor Eligibility Criteria
Kidney transplant is highly effective in treating life-threatening renal diseases and it is better than dialysis. So, it is high in demand but the availability of healthy kidneys from dead donors is scarce. This has increased the importance of kidney donations from living donors. However, before you give your precious kidney to somebody, you must find out if you are a potential donor. Have a look at these kidney transplant qualifications:
1. Age restrictions
Age is not a big factor as what matters the most is how fit the donor age. So, a senior citizen, who is 65 years old, can donate his kidney if he does not have serious ailments. However, the minimum age limit for donating a kidney is 18 years to become an organ donor.
2. Health requirements
If is of utmost significance for the donor to have no serious illness and be in the pink of their health. For instance, people with medical conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, etc. should not donate. After examining the health history of the candidate, the evaluation team figures out if the donation can affect their health and lifespan.
3. Medical evaluation
Even if you appear healthy, you have to pass the medical evaluations before becoming a donor. Extensive psychological and medica evaluations are necessary to ensure a donor is mentally and physically fit. The process of evaluation includes various steps like physical examinations, imaging studies, consultations with multiple surgeons, and blood tests. The goal of the evaluation is to evaluate the donor’s health and identify risks and complications (if any).
4. Lifestyle considerations
Did you know that factors such as obesity, substance abuse, and smoking can impact an interested donor’s eligibility? That’s because these habits increase the risks during surgery and make recovery after donating a kidney more time-taking. So, donors should abstain from drinking alcohol and smoking as well as keep weight gain in check.
What Can Stop You from Donating Your Kidney?
Certain health conditions may stop you from donating your kidney. These include:
- diabetes
- kidney ailment
- mental health disorder
- cancer
- certain infections like HIV
- high BP
Is Donation One Kidney Safe?
Like other surgeries, the kidney transplant process is not devoid of risks. One of your kidneys will be removed through surgery and for that, you have to be admitted to a hospital. This type of surgery is called nephrectomy, and you will have to spend at least 48 hours at the hospital. Once the donation is complete, the doctor will advise you to rest at home until your single kidney expands in size and performs the functions of two kidneys.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, most donors recover completely within a month with no complications and so will you. The survival rate of donors is the same as people who never donated a kidney. This proves that you can lead a normal and healthy life even if you have donated one kidney to someone special. However, it is important to go for regular check-ups that include monitoring blood pressure and opting for kidney function tests.
Misconceptions Regarding Kidney Donation
Many people have the misconception that once they end up donating a kidney, the remaining kidney won’t be sufficient. As mentioned already, donating your kidney will not result in kidney failure or hamper your quality of life. Studies have proved that life expectancy of kidney donors does not vary from the life expectancy of the general population.
Benefits of Giving a Kidney
When you’re giving one kidney to a person, you are saving their life. Not everyone can take such a big step for the well-being of others. So, the sense of fulfillment that you feel will positively impact your life and the life of the recipient. And now you have also learned that living with one kidney won’t make your life difficult as long as you make healthy lifestyle choices.
To Sum Up
We may conclude by saying that thousands of lives are saved each year, thanks to living kidney donations. And now that you know everything about kidney donation, what are your thoughts about becoming a living donor and being the savior in someone’s life?
Frequently Asked Questions References
Q. Can a kidney donor live a normal life?
A: Yes, a kidney transplant donor can lead a long life devoid of health problems even after donating their kidney. While there can be some health-related risks of donating a kidney, most people don’t face any issues after organ donation.
Q. What are the side effects of donating a kidney?
A: Despite being a safe procedure, some people experience side effects after donating their kidney. Some such side effects after the donor surgery are bleeding from the site of surgery, high blood pressure, and infection. None of these are long-term problems and they will resolve soon.
