Metabolic Syndrome

The term "metabolic syndrome" dates back to at least the late 1950s, but came into common usage in the late 1970s to describe various associations of risk factors with diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Factors Of Metabolic Syndrome

The factors are different in both men and woman and include the 'apple shaped' waistline, high blood pressure and high 'lousy' (LDL) cholesterol levels. Believed to be primarily caused by lifestyle choices, metabolic syndrome is generally treated in a combination of manners, but always includes an increase in activity and a change in diet. Various medications may be used to control blood pressure and increase good cholesterol (HDL) levels.

The things that make you more likely to develop metabolic syndrome include:

• insulin resistance
• abdominal obesity
• age
• lack of exercise
• hormone imbalances
• family history of Type 2 Diabetes
• weight gain associated with foods with saturated and trans fats and sugar

Smoking, eating fatty foods and a lack of exercise are commonly blamed for this syndrome as is aging. Since we can do little about getting older, then the only option for prevention is to eat a healthier diet, quit smoking (if you're a smoker) and get at least thirty minutes of exercise daily which is said to decrease the risk of metabolic syndrome.

Getting Help With Metabolic Syndrome

If you have any of the risk factors that make it likely for you to develop metabolic syndrome, it would be in your best interest to work closely with your health care professional to discuss your options for controlling your risk factors as failure to do so can create health issues including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels (which can contribute to coronary artery disease). Metabolic syndrome is generally identified by the presence of three or more of these components:

• Central obesity as measured by waist circumference:
• Men -- Greater than or equal to 40 inches
• Women -- Greater than or equal to 35 inches
• Fasting blood triglycerides greater than or equal to 150 mg/dL
• Blood HDL cholesterol:
• Men -- Less than 40 mg/dL
• Women -- Less than 50 mg/dL
• Blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/85 mmHg
• Fasting glucose greater than or equal to 100 mg/d

Generally people who suffer from Type 2 diabetes have metabolic disorder and in these cases it is believed that they should manage metabolic disorder by

• Routinely monitor body weight (especially the index for central obesity), blood glucose, lipoproteins and blood pressure
• Treat individual risk factors (hyperlipidemia, hypertension and high blood glucose) according to established guidelines
• Carefully choose anti-hypertensive drugs because different agents have different effects on insulin sensitivity.