ANEMIA, HEART DISEASE AND CKD

Hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, CKD and anemia have much in common. In fact, it can be difficult to determine where, exactly, one ends and the other begins. Sometimes one disease can be both a cause and consequence of another disease. But the good news is that if you do something to decrease the risk factors for one disease, you decrease your risk for the other diseases as well.

Millions of people globally suffer from anemia. All anemias, not just anemia associated with CKD, can have an impact on other medical conditions. Anemia can affect the ability of the heart to function and, thereby, increase the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular failure. Once anemia accompanies heart disease in a patient, things only get worse for the already overworked heart. When the blood is depleted of oxygen, the heart must work harder to pump more blood to try to meet the increased need. If the anemia becomes chronic, the heart is even more overworked, and this can cause an irregular heart rhythm. That can throw the heart's electrical rhythm off balance, which in turn can lead to a heart attack. Without medical intervention, the cycle continues, the situation worsens, and permanent damage occurs.

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