What is Metabolic Syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a set of risk factors that occur together, which increases the likelihood of an individual getting heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These risk factors include:
- High blood pressure.
- High blood sugar.
- Excess body fat in the waist.
- High levels of triglycerides.
- Low levels of HDL (good cholesterol).
The presence of any one of these risk factors does not mean the person has metabolic syndrome, but it does increase the risk of some severe illness. The other names used for metabolic syndrome are Insulin resistance syndrome, American syndrome, and Syndrome X. It is a prevalent disease, and more than 23 % of adults in the US have metabolic syndrome.
When these risk factors occur together, they can cause problems in blood vessels of the heart and can lead to heart attacks and strokes. They also increase the chances of diabetes. But, this syndrome can be controlled by drastic lifestyle changes.
What are the Causes?
The conditions that can cause metabolic syndrome are:
- Insulin Resistance - Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, which helps the body use sugar as energy. When this insulin does not regulate the glucose levels properly, the body keeps producing more insulin, which is called insulin resistance. This eventually leads to type 2 diabetes.
- Obesity - People who are obese and have excess fat deposition around the waist area are more susceptible to develop metabolic syndrome.
- Sedentary Lifestyle - Not getting enough physical activity.
- Unhealthy Diet - Consuming foods that are high in calories and fat content.
- Hormonal Imbalance - Women with hormonal problems like PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) have been found to develop metabolic syndrome.
- Other Conditions - Other conditions like fatty liver, sleep apnea, and smoking increase the risk of metabolic syndrome.
How is Metabolic Syndrome Diagnosed?
To diagnose metabolic syndrome, your doctor might check the circumference of your waist, and he or she may tell you to perform the following tests:
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Blood pressure.
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Cholesterol levels.
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Fasting triglyceride levels.
If your test shows abnormal levels in three of the above tests, it indicates metabolic syndrome.
What is the Treatment for Metabolic Syndrome?
The treatment options are:
1)Regular Exercise - Get at least 30 minutes of exercise like jogging, brisk walking, or running every day. Apart from exercise, keep yourself as active as possible, for example, take the steps instead of the lift or walk to the market instead of driving.
2)Weight loss - If you have insulin resistance, losing up to 10 % of your body weight can reduce the risk of diabetes and hypertension. If you are not able to lose weight even after trying everything, consider weight loss medications or surgery.
3)Eat Healthily - Include more vegetables, fruits, protein, and high-fiber food in your diet, and avoid sweet beverages, alcohol, salt, and trans or saturated fat containing food.
4)Quit Smoking - Quitting smoking reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
5)Medication - If lifestyle changes are not sufficient, your doctor might give you antihypertensives, statins, and antidiabetic medicines to reduce your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
What are the Risk Factors?
The risk factors as defined by the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute are:
You should have at least three of these risk factors to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.
What are the Complications of Metabolic Syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome can cause chronic complications like:
- Atherosclerosis (hardening of blood vessels).
- Diabetes.
- Cardiovascular disease.
- Kidney disease.
- Heart attack.
- Neuropathy.
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver.
How to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome?
Follow these tips to prevent metabolic syndrome:
- Exercise and weight loss can help you keep your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and waist circumference under check.
- Consume food rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grain.
- Avoid processed food and sugary beverages.
- Keep yourself physically active.
- Get regular physical examinations.
- Stop smoking.
It is crucial to diagnose this condition early to prevent chronic health complications. If you have already been diagnosed with this condition, then go for regular checkups so that your doctor can monitor and prevent problems like heart attack and stroke.
