If you have the Metabolic Syndrome, you are at greater risk of many life-threatening illnesses. SETMA's healthcare providers can tell you if you have the Metabolic Syndrome any and every time you are seen in the clinic. They can give you information about it and can tell you how to treat it. You will not be surprised that the treatment does not start with pills but with: Losing weight, Exercise, Stopping Smoking.
What is metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a collection of health risks that increase your chance of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The condition is also known by other names including Syndrome X, insulin resistance syndrome, and dysmetabolic syndrome. You are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if you have three or more of the following:
- A waistline of 40 inches or more for men and 35 inches or more for women (measured across the belly)
- A blood pressure of 130/85 mm Hg or higher
- A triglyceride level above 150 mg/dl
- A fasting blood glucose (sugar) level greater than 100 mg/dl
- A high density lipoprotein level (HDL) less than 40 mg/dl (men) or under 50 mg/dl (women)
Who typically has metabolic syndrome?
According to the American Heart Association, three groups of people often have metabolic syndrome:
- People with diabetes who cannot maintain a proper level of glucose (glucose intolerance)
- People without diabetes who have high blood pressure and who also secrete large amounts of insulin (hyperinsulinemia) to maintain blood glucose levels
- Heart attack survivors who have hyperinsulinemia without glucose intolerance
According to a national health survey, more than one in five Americans has metabolic syndrome. The number of people with metabolic syndrome increases with age, affecting more than 40 percent of people in their 60s and 70s.
What are the symptoms of metabolic syndrome?
Usually, there are no immediate physical symptoms; the syndrome's associated medical problems develop over time. If you are unsure if you have metabolic syndrome, see your health care provider. He or she will be able to make the diagnosis by ordering the necessary tests.
What causes metabolic syndrome?
The exact cause of metabolic syndrome is not known. Most researchers believe it is caused by a combination of your genetic makeup and lifestyle choices-including the types of food you eat and your level of physical activity.
If you have metabolic syndrome, your body experiences a series of biochemical changes. Over time, these changes lead to the development of one or more associated medical conditions. The sequence begins when insulin, a hormone excreted from your pancreas, loses its ability to make your body's cells absorb glucose from the blood-your body uses glucose for energy. When this happens, glucose levels remain high after you eat. Your pancreas, sensing a high glucose level in your blood, continues to excrete insulin. Loss of insulin production may be genetic or secondary to high fat levels with fatty deposits in the pancreas.
If I have metabolic syndrome, what health problems might develop?
Consistently high levels of insulin and glucose are linked to many harmful changes to the body, including:
- Damage to the lining of coronary and other arteries, a key step toward the development of heart disease or stroke
- Changes in the kidneys' ability to remove salt, leading to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke
- An increase in triglyceride levels, resulting in an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease
- An increased risk of blood clot formation, which can block arteries and cause heart attacks and strokes
- A slowing of insulin production, which can signal the start of type 2 diabetes, a disease that can increase your risk for a heart attack or stroke and may damage your eyes, nerves or kidneys
How do I prevent or reverse metabolic syndrome?
Since physical inactivity and excess weight are the main underlying contributors to the development metabolic syndrome, getting more exercise and losing weight can help reduce or prevent the complications associated with this condition. Your doctor may also prescribe medications to manage some of your underlying problems. Some of the ways you can reduce your risk include:
- Lose weight--Moderate weight loss, in the range of 5 percent to 10 percent of body weight, can help restore your body's ability to recognize insulin and greatly reduce the chance that the syndrome will evolve into a more serious illness.
- Exercise--Increased activity alone can improve your insulin levels. A brisk 30-minute walk a day can result in a weight loss, improved blood pressure, improved cholesterol levels and a reduced risk of developing diabetes.
- Consider dietary changes--Maintain a diet that keeps carbohydrates to no more than 50 percent of total calories. Eat foods defined as complex carbohydrates, such as whole grain bread (instead of white), brown rice (instead of white), and sugars that are unrefined (instead of refined; for example cookies, crackers). Increase your fiber consumption by eating legumes (for example, beans), whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Reduce your intake of red meats and poultry. As much as 30 percent to 45 percent of your daily calories can come from fat, but consume healthy fats, such as those in canola oil, olive oil, flaxseed oil and nuts.
- Limit alcohol intake--Consume no more than one drink a day for women or two drinks for men.
SETMA's Metabolism Clinic and the Metabolic Syndrome Section is especially equipped to address your risk of developing the metabolic syndrome, whether you have it and what to do about it. In the health game, joining the team is the winning move. Join SETMA's Metabolism healthcare team and immediately begin to win the battle with illness. |
