How’s your CKM health? Steps to protect your heart, kidneys and metabolic system Your heart, kidneys and metabolic health are more connected than you might realize. These organs and systems work together to keep you healthy. For example: ● Your heart and vascular system circulate blood. ● Your kidneys filter waste. ● Your metabolic system creates and uses energy from food. If a problem develops in one of these systems, it can strain the others and lead to CKM (cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic) syndrome. What is CKM syndrome? CKM syndrome itself isn’t a disease. It’s a cluster of interconnected issues, including obesity, diabetes, and heart or kidney disease. These conditions often happen together and make each other worse. Excess weight, for example, can often trigger other risk factors for CKM syndrome, including: ● High blood pressure. ● Abnormal cholesterol levels. ● High blood sugar. ● Decreased kidney function. As CKM syndrome progresses, it can lead to heart failure, kidney failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation (abnormal heartbeats) and peripheral artery disease (poor circulation in the legs and feet). Regular checkups and tests can help find CKM health problems. Ask your doctor about how often you should be seen and screened. One small change can make a difference If you do have risk factors or CKM syndrome, you can take action. When you make even one lifestyle change, it can help many areas of your CKM health. For example: Get moving. Try starting with 10-minute walks. You can increase the duration over time. If you smoke, commit to quitting. Ask your doctor about medicines and support. Eat well. Include a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables; whole grains; lean proteins (like skinless chicken); plant protein (like beans); and fewer salty, fatty and sugary foods. Get a good night’s rest—at least seven to nine hours of nightly sleep. Watch your numbers. Ask your doctor what a healthy weight is for you. And learn your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol numbers. If they’re not where they should be, talk to your doctor about how to manage them. Try making even just one of these changes today for a healthier tomorrow! Source: American Heart Association What is a nephrologist? Kidney issues can be complex to deal with. You often need a diverse healthcare team—including nurses, dietitians, technicians and other specialists—to manage your condition. Leading this team is a nephrologist—a doctor who specializes in kidneys. What does a nephrologist do? Nephrologists specialize in diagnosing and treating kidney diseases. To do so, they often wear many hats. For instance, they: ● Interpret lab and imaging test results. ● Oversee dialysis treatments. ● Perform biopsies on the kidneys. ● Prevent, manage and treat kidney stones, masses and infections. But wait, there’s more! Nephrologists don’t just work on kidneys. They can help with many other conditions, too, like bladder issues or urinary tract problems. They even help with system-wide conditions like heart failure or inflamed blood vessels. Plus, before a kidney transplant, nephrologists help people manage chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Do you think you may need to see a nephrologist? Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and whether specialty care is right for you. Visit www.kerncountyhealth benefits.com or call the phone number on the back of your ID card to get a full list of contracted providers. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; American College of Physicians; National Cancer Institute; National Kidney Foundation
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