Millions of people worry about heart disease, but many don’t realize that serious heart risks often begin elsewhere in the body.
Conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease can quietly damage the heart over time, and a large number of people don’t even know they have them.
New data from the American Heart Association’s 2026 statistics update shows that nearly one in four U.S. adults with diabetes are unaware of their condition.
Chronic kidney disease is even more underdiagnosed.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as nine out of ten adults with kidney disease don’t know they have it.
Because these illnesses often develop slowly and without obvious symptoms, people may feel healthy while hidden damage is already happening.
Doctors now use the term cardiovascular-renal-metabolic syndrome, or CRM syndrome, to describe the strong connection between heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity.
These conditions share many of the same risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, excess body weight, and reduced kidney function.
Having one of these problems significantly raises the chance of developing the others.
Kidney disease is a key piece of the puzzle that often goes unnoticed.
Experts say screening for kidney problems needs improvement, especially for people with diabetes or high blood pressure. Two simple tests can check kidney health: a urine test that looks for protein leakage and a blood test that measures how well the kidneys filter waste.
Many patients never receive both tests, leaving kidney disease undetected until it becomes serious.
Dr. Stacey Rosen of the American Heart Association stresses the importance of looking at overall health instead of focusing on a single condition. Understanding how these diseases are linked can help people and their doctors prevent complications through lifestyle changes and proper treatment. The greatest dangers of CRM syndrome are heart attacks and strokes, which can lead to disability or death. Encouragingly, the Association estimates that about 80 percent of heart attacks and strokes are preventable.
The latest report also highlights how common the risk factors have become. About half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, one in three has high cholesterol, and more than half have prediabetes or diabetes. Many also have excess abdominal weight, which increases strain on the heart and metabolism. Roughly one in seven adults has kidney disease.
Regular health checkups can catch these problems early, even before symptoms appear. Doctors typically measure blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, body weight, waist size, and kidney function to assess risk. These results can be combined to estimate a person’s chances of developing heart disease in the coming years.
The good news is that CRM syndrome can often be prevented or managed. Healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough sleep, and avoiding smoking can improve heart, kidney, and metabolic health at the same time.
Experts emphasize that protecting your heart isn’t just about the heart itself. Paying attention to blood sugar, kidney health, and overall metabolism may be one of the most powerful ways to stay healthy and avoid serious disease in the future.
Source: American Heart Association.
