Quiz time: Get to know your kidneys

Quiz time: Get to know your kidneys

One of the most important organs in your body is your kidneys.  If your kidneys were to fail, you would know about it rather quickly as they do many vital jobs we cannot live without. 

But, how well do you know your kidneys?  Do you know what jobs they do, what size they are or even where they are located?  Let’s take a quiz testing your knowledge on your kidneys.

1.  What’s the number one job of your kidneys?

      a. Get rid of waste

      b. Keep you hydrated

      c. Control your temperature

Answer – A. Your kidneys are a very busy organ.  Not only do they remove waste and extra fluids from your body but they also keep your salt and potassium levels in check, produce hormones that make red blood cells and keep your blood pressure under control.

2. How big are your kidneys?

     a. The size of a kidney bean

     b. The size of a fist

     c. The size of a football

      Answer – B.  Your kidneys are the size of a fist.

3.  How many kidneys does a person have?

     a. One

     b. Two

     c. Three

Answer – B. The majority of people will be born with two kidneys. However there is a condition called kidney dysplasia, which causes a person to be born with two kidneys, but only one of them works. A person may also be born with just one kidney, a condition called renal agenesis. If a person is missing one kidney, the one kidney they do have can grow larger to become nearly the size of two kidneys. Most people born with just one working kidney can lead normal, healthy lives.

4. Where are the kidneys located?

     a. Near the armpits but near the front of the heart

     b. In the back, behind the lungs

     c. In the front, above the stomach

     d. In the back, just below the rib cage

Answer – D. Kidneys are bean-shaped organs sitting opposite of each other, one on the left side of the body and the other on the right side.

5. About how much blood do they filter each day?

     a. 1 gallon

     b. 50 quarts

     c. 200 quarts

Answer – C. Your kidneys sift through enough blood to fill a large bathtub every day. After your body takes what it needs, they turn the waste and extra water into urine – about 2 quarts a day.

6.  Which of these is a sign something might be wrong with your kidneys?

     a. Urinating a lot

     b. Constipation

     c. A barky cough

Answer – A. If a person has kidney disease, they may not have any symptoms in the beginning.  But as the disease progresses, a change in bathroom habits such as urinating more than usual, could signal a problem.  Other symptoms associated with kidney disease can include tiredness, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, and swollen hands or feet and dry, itchy skin.

7.  What happens if your kidneys fail?

     a. Your need to go on dialysis

     b. You need a kidney transplant

     c. Nothing, your kidneys are like your tonsils or appendix

     d. A and/or B

Answer – D.  When your kidneys are unable to filter your blood, your body fills up with wastes, fluids, and toxins. You will either need a new kidney or go on dialysis. Dialysis is when a machine acts as an artificial kidney, cleaning your blood.  You will either have to go to dialysis a few times a week or daily. A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure to place a healthy kidney from a live or deceased donor into a person whose kidneys no longer function properly.

8. A common cause of kidney disease is:

     a. Diabetes

     b. High blood pressure

     c. Both

Answer – C. Both diabetes and high blood pressure can damage your kidneys. If your diabetes is out of control (too much blood sugar) this can harm them.  High blood pressure can hurt small blood vessels in your kidneys.

9.  A donated kidney can come from:

     a. A living person

     b. Someone who has just died

     c. Both

Answer – C.  Living donors are healthy people who have chosen to give away a kidney to help someone. This may be a relative, friend, or a complete stranger.  People can also sign up to be a donor so their kidneys can be used after their death.

10.  Someone is added to the kidney transplant waiting list:

     a. Every 14 minutes

     b. Every 14 hours

     c. Every 14 days

Answer – A.  Over 3,000 patients are added to the kidney waiting list each month and 13 people die each day while waiting for a kidney transplant. More people wait for a kidney than all other organs, including the heart and liver, combined. The latest stats show more than 120,000 people are now on the kidney transplant waiting list. It can be a long wait because supply is low. On average, it takes about 3.6 years to get a new kidney and can vary depending on health, compatibility, and availability of organs.