It’s American Heart Month: Here’s the Heart-Urology Connection
There might be times, perhaps when your need to urinate changes, that your urology system might just be your heart’s biggest hero.
This is because your urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, shares a close operating relationship with your cardiovascular system (heart, veins, arteries, and blood). Medical scientists have been researching the correlation for years, and conclude that several urinary disorders might predict a related heart condition.
In Florida, where heart disease accounts for an estimated two out of 10 deaths, many people’s urology conditions – including erectile function – might be sounding the alarm bell.
February is a good time to learn more about this relationship. In addition to the heart-favorite holiday Valentine’s Day, February is also American Heart Month, and we’re here to supplement those healthy-heart resources with some education on the urinary system’s role in cardiovascular wellness.
Is Your Urinary System Trying to Tell You Something?
Your urinary and cardiovascular systems are connected, literally, through two arteries that run from the heart to the kidneys (renal arteries). These vessels supply blood with its nutrients and oxygen to the kidneys. The kidneys filter that blood, regulate blood pressure, and balance fluids. The kidneys then return the cleaned blood to your heart, over and over again.
All of this requires healthy circulation.
Along the urinary tract, the following five conditions might alert you of a lurking cardiovascular problem.
Kidney disease – Your kidneys are your heart’s life support system. Without them, your blood would carry too much waste, making the heart work harder. And if your heart struggles, your kidneys might not get enough oxygen and nourishment from the blood filtering through them. A disease in either organ, therefore, increases your chances of developing a disease on the other, the National Kidney Foundation states. Because of shared risk factors, including diabetes and obesity, doctors refer to the heart-kidney health link as cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. Read our blog, “6 Foods That are Good for the Kidneys.”
Kidney stones – After your kidneys filter minerals from your blood, they pass the excess particles off in urine and reabsorb the rest for your body. Should the kidneys not have enough fluid to carry the minerals out as urine, those minerals, including calcium, will bind and form painful crystals. Calcium buildup also can lead to heart disease and heart attacks, because patients who suffer from recurrent kidney stones might carry high deposits of calcium in their arteries, research suggests. Further, without enough fluid, your blood gets thick and sticky, and therefore harder for your heart to pump. Visit our kidney stone website for causes and prevention here.
Urinary tract infection (UTI) – Caused by bacteria entering the urethra, urinary tract infections are highly common, particularly among women. However, if they are recurrent, UTIs can boost the risk of cardiovascular disease, research suggests. This is due to inflammation, which is your body’s response to fight the infection. Sustained inflammation from frequent UTIs, which one in four women suffer, could damage arterial plaque so much that it ruptures and clots. In one report, UTIs raised the chance of stroke by more than threefold within 30 days of infection. UTIs tend to spread to the bladder, and can be critical if they reach the kidneys. Learn more about UTIs here.
Overactive bladder (OAB) – You have OAB when your bladder contracts involuntarily, prompting a hard-to-control need to urinate. A weak sphincter (bladder-muscle opening), enlarged prostate, or incorrect signals from nerves can cause this. But other conditions can contribute to OAB, such as obesity and smoking, which is how cardiovascular health becomes a risk factor, according to a report in Renal and Urology News. Other research shows 35% to 50% of heart failure patients also suffer from urinary incontinence and OAB. Note also that certain heart medications can make you pee more or affect bladder function. How OAB is diagnosed and treated.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) – More than half of men with ED have a history of cardiovascular disease, because both conditions result from weak circulation. The penis needs blood to become erect. If plaque buildup limits how much the arteries can open (endothelial dysfunction), then blood flow weakens. Type 2 diabetes also can cause ED, because high blood sugar can harm blood vessels and nerves. Our erectile dysfunction page explains treatments.
5 Tips for Healthy Heart and Urinary Systems
Good heart health and urinary health begin at home. Here’s what you can do:
- Think twice about sodium. Too much salt in your diet burdens your heart and kidneys because it accumulates in your blood and requires additional filtering. Salt also raises your calcium levels, contributing to the likelihood of stones.
- Keep hydrated for better-moving blood. Healthy amounts of water ensure your blood circulates easily and supports the muscles in you urinary system (and elsewhere). Aim for 11.5 cups (women) to 15.5 cups (men) a day.
- Move daily to boost circulation. Exercise, even a light activity like walking, aids circulation and therefore helps your heart and kidneys do their jobs. And because blood flow is necessary for an erection, exercise can help symptoms of ED.
- Add pelvic floor exercises. Kegel squeezes have proven effective in reducing symptoms of OAB, pelvic floor prolapse, and even ED. Squeeze your pelvic muscles as if holding in urine for a few seconds, then release, and repeat.
- Strive for heart-healthy weight. Talk to your doctor about a healthy weight and diet for your age and body type. While we associate being overweight with the risk of heart and kidney disease, being underweight can strain your heart as well.
Should you suspect you have any of the above urology conditions, you can request an appointment with one of Advanced Urology Institute’s top specialists here. Your heart might be trying to tell you something, but even if not, urinary issues can affect your overall wellness and quality of life.
To find a physician near you, visit our locations page.