When the American Heart Association recently identified a new medical condition that includes a mix of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity that can develop simultaneously and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, it got the attention of a lot of people.
Dr. Jaime Tavárez, an internal medicine specialist at Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, is one of them. “This isn’t something to take lightly,” he says. “It applies to people of all ages.”
In fact, awareness of this new condition, called cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, may help physicians recognize individuals who are at high risk for dying from heart disease at younger ages. In addition to cardiovascular disease (“C”) and kidney disease (“K”), this disorder factors in the impact of type 2 diabetes and obesity, which are known as metabolic conditions (“M”).
There are ways to prevent your odds of developing CKM, according to Tavárez. He says maintaining a healthy BMI (body mass index) is key. “A normal BMI is 25,” he says. “If it’s 26-to-29, you’re overweight, and 30 or more means you’re obese. A woman’s waist shouldn’t exceed 88 centimeters (34-to-35 inches) and a man’s, 102 centimeters (40 inches).”
There are numerous calculators online to determine your BMI, which is an expression of your weight compared to your height.
Dr. Tavárez also advises, “You should have your primary care doctor check your blood sugar.
It should be less than 100; anything higher than 101 is a risk factor [for CKM].”
According to Medical News Today, one third of adults in the United States has three or more risk factors for chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders and kidney disease. CKM affects most major organs in the body, including the heart, brain, kidney and liver. But the biggest impact is on the cardiovascular system, affecting blood vessels and heart muscle function, the rate of fatty buildup in arteries, electrical impulses in the heart and more.
The American Kidney Fund outlines the four stages of CKM:
- Stage 0: No CKM risk factors. At this stage, your focus is on preventing CKM. There is no need for treatment.
- Stage 1: At this stage, you may have too much body fat, especially around the belly and blood sugar levels that are higher than normal (but not high enough to have a diagnosis of type-2 diabetes).
- Stage 2: At this stage, you may have type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high levels of fat in your blood (high cholesterol) and kidney disease.
- Stage 3: At this stage, you may have no clear signs or symptoms of heart problems, but your heart and blood vessels are starting to deteriorate.
- Stage 4: At this stage, you feel and show signs of heart problems. You may have had a heart attack, stroke or heart failure. This stage has two substages: people with and without kidney failure.
Everyday Health, which produces online newsletters that deliver content on health information and medical research, says that lifestyle changes need to be a priority to prevent and treat CKM Syndrome.
A heart-healthy lifestyle can include a diet rich in whole foods, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, nuts and seeds. It can also involve getting at least 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise like running, or 150 minutes of moderate exercise like walking briskly. Other lifestyle habits can help, too, such as getting at least seven hours of sleep a night and avoiding tobacco.
Tavárez agrees that healthy eating, appropriate exercise, and not smoking are important steps when trying to avoid – or treat – CKM Syndrome. “It’s an investment we make in ourselves,” he says.
While the new AHA advisory only addresses care for adults, studies suggest CKM syndrome is progressive and can start in childhood. Therefore, the advisory agrees with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for health tests in children. They recommend that starting at age 3, children should have regular weight and blood pressure tests, as well as mental and behavioral health tests yearly.
Jaime Tavárez, MD, is board-certified in Internal Medicine. He earned his medical degree from Universidad of Autonoma de Guadalajara and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Saint Vincent Medical Center in New York City. He was the teaching attending physician at New York Downtown Hospital and associate professor in medicine with Cornell Medical College. Dr. Tavárez has been recognized for delivery of quality care by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. His office is located at Health First Medical Group-Gateway, 1223 Gateway Dr,, Suite 1B, Melbourne. The phone number is 321-312-3323.
