The kindey heart connection

You Are One Connected Body. Your Heart, Brain, Kidneys and Metabolic Health are One System.

The whole body is connected and works together like a team. Your heart, kidneys, and the way the body creates, stores and uses energy (metabolic health) have different jobs, but together they affect your overall health. Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health, or CKM health, is a new concept that explains how your heart, kidneys, and energy systems are interconnected and work together.

Think of your health like a team effort. If your cardiovascular-kidney metabolic health is strong, focus on maintaining your health behaviors and the five connected factors listed here. If you have problems with any one of the connected health factors, you may be at risk for CKM syndrome. You can improve your CKM health by monitoring these factors and making healthy choices.

CKM syndrome stands for Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic syndrome. It’s a health condition that includes heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity.

These might seem like separate issues, but they’re actually closely connected. When one system is affected, it can make the others worse — creating a cycle that puts your health at serious risk.

Why It Matters

When these systems (heart, kidneys and metabolism) aren’t working properly, it can lead to a multi-system disorder — meaning more than one part of the body is not working properly. This can cause serious conditions like:

• Heart failure
• Irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation)
• Heart attacks and clogged arteries
• Stroke
• Poor circulation in the legs and feet (peripheral artery disease)

The Long-Term Impact

If not managed, CKM syndrome can lead to:

• Worsening health
• Kidney failure
• Disability
• And even early death

The earlier CKM syndrome is recognized, the more can be done to prevent or slow down the damage. Lifestyle changes, medications and coordinated care from your healthcare team can make a real difference.

(American Heart Association: 

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic-syndrome)

We at Kidney Disease & Transplant Solutions (KDTS) Houston treat patients with a holistic approach, ensuring a view of how key organs are impacting each other. 

We will help you understand the key connections between your blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, and kidney function so you can make the key changes that lead to a healthy life.