2024-02-17

How to Kidney and Heart disease interrelate

The intricate relationship between kidney disease and heart disease

The human body is composed of many organ systems that interact and complement one another. Unfortunately, this interconnection also means that diseases in one area can influence other parts of the body. Here, we explore the close relationship between kidney disease and heart disease with insights from medical experts at a leading hospital for kidney transplants in Kanpur.

The kidney performs the vital job of filtering waste from the blood while the heart pumps blood throughout the body. Declines in blood quality or flow can make someone vulnerable to both kidney and heart disease. As kidney transplant surgeons can attest, kidney patients face an elevated risk of heart disease compared to healthy individuals. The two major links between kidney and heart disease are diabetes and high blood pressure.

In diabetes, high blood sugar levels strain the kidneys and weaken their filtering ability over time. The heart also works harder to pump the thicker blood, raising the risk of heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure similarly taxes the kidneys and heart, setting up a vicious cycle where kidney damage leads to higher pressure which then accelerates kidney disease further. Many kidney patients visiting nephrologists discover they have developed concurrent heart issues.

Given the severe impact of these interconnected diseases, prevention is critical. Healthy lifestyle changes to diet and exercise can go a long way toward avoiding these conditions. For those already diagnosed, medications can help control blood pressure while various tests assess the extent of damage. In end stage kidney failure, kidney transplant may emerge as the best path forward. While the link between kidney and heart disease poses serious health risks, awareness and early action can mitigate these threats.