Kidney-heart connection is focus of upcoming HealthyLife seminar – Times Union

Dr. Loay Salman, chief of Albany Meds Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, in his office on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)

Dr. Loay Salman, chief of Albany Meds Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, in his office on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)

Photo: Lori Van Buren, Albany Times Union

Dr. Loay Salman, chief of Albany Meds Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, in his office on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)

Dr. Loay Salman, chief of Albany Meds Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, in his office on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)

Kidney-heart connection is focus of upcoming HealthyLife seminar

COLONIE If youve got kidney disease, its your heart you may have to worry about.

People with kidney disease are much more likely to die from heart disease than kidney problems, and the reason has to do with the delicate interplay between the organs.

One pumps oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout the body. The other filters that blood to remove waste and excess fluid, and releases hormones that help maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Start to mess with one and you affect the other. Its why people with heart disease are at increased risk for kidney disease and people with kidney disease are so susceptible to heart disease. The two even share some of the same risk factors, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the kidney-heart connection, doctors say.

An upcoming HealthyLife seminar, scheduled for 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Hearst Media Center in Colonie, will explore this connection in depth. Dr. Radmila Lyubarova, a clinical and noninvasive cardiologist at Albany Medical Center, and Dr. Loay Salman, chief of the hospitals division of nephrology and hypertension, will lead the talk.

All providers should be aware of this condition, said Salman, referring to disorders affecting the heart and kidneys known as cardiorenal syndrome. Once this condition is recognized, it is best to approach it as a team that includes all relevant specialties.

This would include a cardiologist, a nephrologist (kidney specialist), and ideally the patients primary care provider.

For people with heart failure, doctors will be on the lookout for the presence of diabetes, poorly controlled hypertension, a history of underlying kidney disease, or a long history of heart failure as signs the patient may be at risk of kidney disease.

We do certain blood and urine tests in order to evaluate kidney function and better assess if there is functional or structural damage to the kidneys, Salman said.

For those with kidney disease or reduced kidney function of any kind, doctors will be on the lookout for hypertension, hyperlipidemia (too much fat in the blood) and diabetes known risk factors for heart disease.

They will also beware of complications from chronic kidney disease, which occurs when someone experiences gradual loss of kidney function over months or years. These might include uremia (too much waste in the blood), anemia and increased inflammatory markers. All are signs someone is at risk of developing heart disease on top of their kidney disease.

Cardiorenal syndrome will be treated differently depending on its primary cause, Salman said.

When heart failure is the primary cause, doctors may look to protect the heart through the use of diuretics and certain blood pressure medications. A low-salt diet would also help.

When kidneys are the primary cause, doctors will look to control blood pressure, diabetes and lipids. They may put the patient on anti-platelet drugs that prevent arteries and stents from getting clogged, and instruct them to avoid certain medications that can hurt the kidneys.

We also ask the patient to stop smoking, limit alcohol intake, limit salt intake, have an active lifestyle, make healthy food choices and recommend diet restriction in certain conditions, Salman said.

Of course, such behavior is recommended to prevent kidney and heart disease in the first place. Regular visits to your doctor, an annual checkup that includes a blood pressure check, and regular heart health screenings are recommended as well.

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Kidney-heart connection is focus of upcoming HealthyLife seminar - Times Union