The heart, which functions to pump blood through the body, and the kidneys, which function to filter waste products from the blood, depend upon one another to keep the circulatory system performing effectively. Although these two vital organs do not reside near each other, they share a cause-and-effect relationship. Conditions that affect the heart and its ability to pump sufficient blood can result in congestive heart failure, which can cause kidney failure. In addition, conditions that affect the ability of the kidneys to function can cause congestive heart failure.
High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure, the measure of the force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels, affects both the heart and the kidneys. High blood pressure, a condition known as hypertension, damages the blood vessels throughout the body.
When blood vessels in the kidneys become damaged, the kidneys stop removing waste products and excess fluid from the blood. The excess fluid in the blood increases the volume of blood, therefore increasing blood pressure further, resulting in a vicious cycle. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney failure, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Congestive heart failure, the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the demands of the body, usually develops over time due to conditions that weaken the heart, according to MayoClinic.com. High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. As the heart works harder, the muscle becomes enlarged, eventually leading to congestive heart failure.
Diabetes
Diabetes describes a disease that occurs when the body fails to produce enough of the hormone known as insulin, therefore resulting in a chronic elevated level of sugar, or glucose, in the blood. Patients with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association. The presence of sugar in the blood increases blood pressure and levels of certain lipids including triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein, also known as bad cholesterol. Together, all these factors contribute to heart disease that can lead to congestive heart failure.
Diabetes, the most common cause of kidney failure, damages the blood vessels and nerves in the body, including those in the kidneys, therefore affecting the ability of the kidneys to function. In the early stages, the kidneys continue to function, but the damage allows proteins to leak from the blood to the urine. Over time, the kidney function drops, resulting in kidney failure.
Function
Because congestive heart failure reduces the amount of blood flowing to the body, the kidneys compensate by constricting the blood vessels to allow salts and water to remain in the blood. The increased blood volume only adds to the strain on the heart, therefore causing the heart failure to worsen. The resulting reduced blood volume interferes with kidney function, leading to kidney failure.
Kidney failure means the kidneys cannot remove excess fluids and salts from the blood. The resulting increased volume of blood increases blood pressure and causes the heart to work harder. Therefore, over time, kidney failure can cause congestive heart failure.
