What Is Cardiometabolic Disease?

Cardiometabolic disease refers to a group of health conditions that include heart attack, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Taken together, the conditions associated with cardiometabolic disease are the leading cause of death in Western nations. Approximately 31% of all global deaths are associated with cardiometabolic disease, and 75% of these occur in low- and middle- income communities.

The impact of cardiometabolic disease is far-reaching. According to research by the pharmaceutical company Merck:

• 9 million people worldwide die of cardiovascular disease each year
• 537 million adults worldwide have diabetes

Common Risk Factors of Cardiometabolic Disease

There are a variety of factors that increase your risk of cardiometabolic disease. Most of these comprise a grouping of risk factors referred to as metabolic syndrome and include:

• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar levels
• High levels of triglycerides in the blood
• Excess body fat around the waist
• Low levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol in the blood.

Other cardiometabolic disease risk factors include:

• Genetic predisposition
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Elevated stress levels
• Poor diet

According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, only 6.8% of Americans have optimal cardiometabolic health, as defined by:

• Normal blood sugar levels (without the need for medication to manage blood sugar)
• Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference in the normal range
• Normal blood pressure (without the need for medication to manage blood pressure levels)
• Normal cholesterol levels (without the need for medication to manage cholesterol)

What Are the Symptoms and Test Findings of Cardiometabolic Disease?

The symptoms and test findings of cardiometabolic disease often vary based on which body systems are impacted. You may experience a combination of:

• Inflammation
• Insulin resistance
• Impaired glucose tolerance
• Chest pain
• Changes in urine output
• High blood pressure

If you develop any of these symptoms or test findings or if you exhibit several of the metabolic syndrome risk factors listed above, it’s critical to go for a comprehensive medical assessment. If left untreated, cardiometabolic disease can result in devastating health consequences, many of which can potentially be fatal.

Diagnosing Cardiometabolic Disease

Diagnosis of this condition involves undergoing cardiometabolic testing, which is conducted by analyzing your blood. This bloodwork goes beyond providing basic health information and instead offers a deep dive into your current cardiovascular and metabolic health by evaluating your BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, blood glucose levels and inflammation markers.

You may be a good candidate for cardiometabolic testing if you:

• Are over the age of 45
• Have a family history of heart disease, stroke or diabetes
• Experience hormone imbalances
• Are significantly overweight
• Have a sedentary lifestyle
• Eat an unhealthy diet
• Smoke
• Drink heavily
• Have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, hypothyroidism or polycystic ovary syndrome

Preventive Measures to Reduce Your Risk of Cardiometabolic Syndrome

Fortunately, there are a variety of lifestyle changes you can make to improve your cardiometabolic health. If your diagnostic testing reveals that you’re at an elevated risk of developing cardiometabolic disease, you can take the following steps to lower your risk:

• Lose weight
• Eat a healthier diet
• Increase your weekly exercise
• Quit smoking
• Reduce alcohol consumption
• Reduce stress levels

In addition, hormone therapy may be recommended if hormone imbalances are found to contribute to your elevated risk of cardiometabolic disease. You may also be prescribed certain medications to manage conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol which may increase your risk of cardiometabolic disease.

South Denver Cardiology Can Help You Optimize Your Cardiometabolic Health

The team at South Denver Cardiology Associates will work closely with you to identify the right lifestyle modifications to optimize your cardiometabolic health. Our preventive cardiology clinic offers comprehensive diagnostic testing to determine the specific factors elevating your risk of cardiometabolic disease. Based on your test results, we’ll develop a customized plan to place you on the path to better heart health.

This may include:

• Nutritional consulting to help you establish healthier eating habits
• Creating an individualized exercise program at our medical fitness gym
• Utilizing our weight loss clinic to establish and maintain a heart healthy weight that eliminates excessive fat around the abdominal region

Contact us today to schedule an appointment at South Denver Cardiology Associates, serving the South Denver area and Littleton.

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South Denver Cardiology

Randy Cupps Graduated from Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado, in 1983 with a degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology. Randy started his medical career in 1980 as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) working on an ambulance and in an emergency room. He then joined South Denver Cardiology in 1986 when it was South Denver Cardiac Rehabilitation as an Exercise Physiologist conducting a wide variety of Graded Exercise Testing on a diverse patient population. Randy continues to keep his EMT current, and he is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. In 2012 Randy acquired the role of business development, marketing, and physician relations manager at SDCA.

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