You Are One Connected Body. Your Heart, Brain, Kidneys and Metabolic Health are One System.

The whole body is connected and works together like a team. Your heart, kidneys, and the way the body creates, stores and uses energy (metabolic health) have different jobs, but together they affect your overall health. Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health, or CKM health, is a new concept that explains how your heart, kidneys, and energy systems are interconnected and work together.


American Heart Association Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health Initiative logo

CKM health is about your overall health and taking action early to prevent a heart attack, heart failure or stroke. The American Heart Association is leading the way in helping people understand and manage their overall health by focusing on the whole person, not just one disease at a time.  

Knowing about the body’s interconnectivity means people can:

  • spot health problems earlier
  • take steps to stay healthier longer
  • make smart choices about food, exercise, and checkups
  • avoid more serious problems later, like heart attacks, stroke or kidney failure

Understand the Connection

Think of your health like a team effort. These five key health factors are all connected:

Take Action Now

Schedule a checkup of your heart, kidney and metabolic health

Since high blood pressure and early stages of kidney disease and diabetes often don’t have symptoms, regular screening is necessary to be aware of your risk. Unsure about what to ask? We can help. Your voice matters in your health care. Research shows that people who ask questions during clinic visits may have better health outcomes compared with those who don’t.

Make one small change



When you make a healthy change it affects all areas of your health. You can make small changes today for better overall health tomorrow.

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