Metabolic syndrome – causes, symptoms & therapy

Metabolic syndrome is a conglomeration of several disorders: high blood pressure , high blood sugar , excess body fat around the hips, and abnormal blood cholesterol levels.

Combined, these conditions increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes . Just having one of these conditions does not mean a person has Metabolic Syndrome, however, each individual symptom also increases the health risk. A change in lifestyle is an urgent prerequisite for healing in all cases.

causes

Metabolic syndrome is directly related to metabolism, possibly even to a symptom called insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels.The digestive system breaks down food into sugars (fructose and glucose ). The body takes the glucose into the cells, which need it as a source of energy. This is done with the help of insulin.

People with insulin resistance have cells that don’t respond normally to insulin, making it harder for glucose to get into cells. As a result, the body begins to release more and more insulin, which can lead to high blood levels and diabetes.

But even if the insulin levels are not yet sufficient for a diagnosed diabetes, high insulin levels damage the organs in the long run. Kidney activity is hampered, leading to increased blood pressure. This, in turn, has a bad effect on the heart. One injury leads to the next.

symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of metabolic syndrome:

• high blood pressure

• overweight

• high blood sugar level

• high cholesterol

Since several diseases are included in the metabolic syndrome, the symptoms are also made up of those from different conditions. Obesity, which is considered relevant for metabolic syndrome, begins with a hip circumference of 102 centimeters for a man and 89 centimeters for a woman. For a corresponding high blood pressure, the systolic limit is set at 130 mm Hg and the diastolic limit at 85 mm Hg. The increased blood sugar level becomes relevant for the metabolic syndrome from a value of 100 mg/dL. Cholesterol levels become alarming from a value of 150 mg/dL. With all of these symptoms, if a patient already has one, the likelihood of another is significantly increased.

Diagnose

While doctors don’t typically look for a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, the term is likely to apply when there are three or more symptoms associated with the syndrome. An increased body fat percentage is measured, for example, by measuring the hip circumference, which should not exceed 102 centimeters for a man and 89 centimeters for a woman. Elevated triglyceride (bad) cholesterol levels of 150 mg/dL or low HDL cholesterol levels of 40 mg/dL in a man and 50 mg/dL in a woman are another symptom. Also included are increased blood pressure from 130 mm Hg systolic and 85 mm Hg diastolic, as well as increased blood sugar levels, from 100 mg/dL.

treatment and therapy

The treatment of the metabolic syndrome usually includes a consistent change in lifestyle. Additional medication can also help. Getting more exercise, quitting smoking and losing weight reduces blood pressure and improves cholesterol and blood sugar levels.This approach is the key to improving health. More precisely: Doctors recommend that everyone should exercise at least 30 minutes a day; light workout or brisk walk. Losing as little as 5 to 10 percent of body weight can significantly improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels, thereby reducing the risk of diabetes.

A Mediterranean diet is recommended to improve blood pressure. These include eating lots of vegetables and reducing unhealthy fats to a healthy limit. Fruit, fish and whole grains are also recommended. Such a change in diet not only has a direct and positive effect on the body, but in most cases it also leads to weight loss in overweight . Smoking also increases the insulin level in the blood and hinders the metabolism. Quitting is strongly recommended.

prevention

No matter how many of the symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome a patient may or may not have, the best way to avoid each disease is to establish and maintain a generally healthy lifestyle. This includes a healthy diet high in vegetables, low in sugar and salt, more fish, and less red meat and fat. It is also recommended that you exercise every day and have regular check-ups with your doctor.