When your kidney, heart, and metabolism are being affected at the same time, it is known as cardiovascular kidney metabolic syndrome, also known as CKM syndrome. As we all know heart, kidney, and metabolism of our body are all connected, and work together to function the body properly. It directly means, if any one of them is diseased, then it affects the other organs too.
They work in a cycle, and medical researchers have observed it closely, so that they treat all of them together instead of operating separately. Knowing the basic functionality of this syndrome is very important, as it is very common nowadays. It is mostly seen in patients who are obese or suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure. However, early detection and planned treatment can prevent major complications in the future. We will get to know about signs, medical tests, lifestyle changes, and preventive measures through this blog.
What is Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Syndrome?
The basic functionality of CKM is as follows:
- The main reason for this syndrome is issues that occur in the kidney, metabolism, and heart, all together.
- CKM syndrome includes some common health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney diseases, obesity, and heart disease.
- All of these conditions reflect similar causes, like damage to blood vessels, issues in the processing of sugar and fat by the body, and inflammation.
- The severity of the syndrome is measured on a scale of 0-4 by doctors, which helps them in planning the treatment for each individual.
- The main objective is to treat the major problem, which automatically improves others, as they are all connected.
How these Body Systems are Connected?
As we discussed earlier, all of these organs are connected in a cycle. We will understand how they are connected and work together.
- The thin and small blood vessels can be damaged due to high blood sugar levels. In the long term, this could be detrimental to the organs, particularly the heart.
- Extra belly fat often releases the inflammation-causing chemicals, which makes your body resist insulin and creates a harmful environment for the heart and kidneys.
- A diseased or damaged kidney can’t control the high blood pressure, and the tissue of the kidney is also being damaged due to this, which keeps getting worse day by day.
- If not detected or treated properly, the issue in this system can cause you heart strokes, heart failure, or kidney failure.
5 Stages of Cardiorenal Metabolic Syndrome
There are 5 stages of this syndrome for people to take some preventive measures.
- Stage 0: Those with high cholesterol, low or high blood pressure, and prediabetes. Also, those with a genetic history of these diseases lie in Stage 0.
- Stage 1: Normal healthy individuals who have no risk are classed as Stage 1. But they have to stick to their balanced diet plan and do exercises regularly.
- Stage 2: Stage 2 encompasses others who are obese or fat around the middle with no health problems, but have gone beyond the risks. So they have to start doing healthier things, even if the steps they take may not forestall disease for years. In this stage, you can experience early signs of heart failure or other heart disease.
- Stage 3: Stage 3 includes people who have kidney disease, diabetes, or heart problems but no significant events such as a heart attack or stroke.
- Stage 4: And most important by far, stage 4 includes people with nonfunctioning kidneys, severe heart disease, and had heart attacks previously. This phase is the Crisis Stage for CKM.
Common Warning Signs of CKM Syndrome
There are several common signs to identify the chances of this syndrome:
- Swelling in the feet and legs, especially at night before sleeping.
- Breath shortening occurs while walking, jogging, or going upstairs.
- Gaining weight around the belly and can’t lose it even after doing exercise and a good diet.
- Frequent urge to urinate, more urge at midnight.
- Unable to manage the blood sugar, even after taking medicines.
- Urge to drink water frequently, feeling thirsty all the time.
- Feeling sleepy and tired all day.
- Experiencing stress, discomfort, or pain during any activity that requires physical involvement.
Some Important Medical Tests
Some important medical tests are necessary to identify this syndrome:
- To check diabetes or pre diabetes, a blood sugar test is necessary.
- The KFT test is used to check whether the kidneys are functioning properly or not.
- Urinal test to check the other functions related to the kidneys.
- A cholesterol panel to measure the good and bad cholesterol.
- Readings of blood pressure taken at different times.
- Stress test and heart test to measure the heart’s functioning.
Medical Treatments for CKM Syndrome
There are several medications and treatments to treat this syndrome:
- Medicines like metformin, inhibitors help in lowering the blood sugar levels.
- Calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs regulate the blood flow and lower the stress on the heart.
- Drugs to lower the bad cholesterol level, like Statins, reduce the chance of heart attacks.
- Certain water pills and diuretics help in reducing swelling, lowering the BP, and eliminating excess fluid present in the body.
- When exercise and diet are not resulting in weight reduction, there are some medications available for weight loss, too.
- For a failing kidney or for blocked arteries, dialysis may be needed.
Preventions for Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Syndrome
There are multiple ways you can prevent this syndrome:
- Having a healthy diet and routine exercise can help in preventing the syndrome from or progressing to more advanced stages.
- Early detection of this syndrome can help in better planning for treatment with positive outcomes. Early treatment can help avoid the risk of heart attack and kidney failure.
- A little change towards a healthy lifestyle has a big impact on health in the long term.
- Regular health checkups can easily detect the problem in the early phase.
- Genetically, this syndrome can be transferred to the next generation. So get a checkup if any of your blood relatives are diabetic, heart patients, or having issues with their kidneys.
Conclusion
Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Syndrome means your kidney, heart, and metabolism work together, and if any one of them is diseased, it affects the other two too. As same as maintaining one of them, keeping all of them good eventually. If you’re suffering from it or whether you’re just preventing it, the cautious measure is the same. Stay active, eat healthy, and take many more precautions. Although this syndrome takes time to care for and patients need to be patient over this period.