What is metabolic syndrome?Metabolic syndrome refers to the presence of a cluster of risk factors specific for cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome greatly raises the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or all three. Show
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the cluster of metabolic factors involved includes:
The NHLBI and AHA recommend a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome when a person has 3 or more of these factors. Most people who have metabolic syndrome have insulin resistance. The body makes insulin to move glucose (sugar) into cells for use as energy. Obesity, commonly found in people with metabolic syndrome, makes it more difficult for cells in the body to respond to insulin. If the body can’t make enough insulin to override the resistance, the blood sugar level increases, causing type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome may be a start of the development of type 2 diabetes. Because the population of the U.S. is aging, and because metabolic syndrome is more likely the older you are, the American Heart Association (AHA) has estimated that metabolic syndrome soon will become the main risk factor for cardiovascular disease, ahead of cigarette smoking. Experts also think that increasing rates of obesity are related to the increasing rates of metabolic syndrome. What causes metabolic syndrome?Experts don't fully understand what causes metabolic syndrome. Several factors are interconnected. Obesity plus a sedentary lifestyle contributes to risk factors for metabolic syndrome. These include high cholesterol, insulin resistance, and high blood pressure. These risk factors may lead to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Because metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance are closely tied, many healthcare providers believe that insulin resistance may be a cause of metabolic syndrome. But they have not found a direct link between the two conditions. Others believe that hormone changes caused by chronic stress lead to abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, and higher blood lipids (triglycerides and cholesterol). Other factors that may contribute to metabolic syndrome include genetic changes in a person's ability to break down fats (lipids) in the blood, older age, and problems in how body fat is distributed. Who is at risk for metabolic syndrome?Knowing your risk factors for any disease can help guide you to take the appropriate actions. This includes changing behaviors and being monitored by your healthcare provider for the disease. Risk factors most closely tied to metabolic syndrome include:
What are the symptoms of metabolic syndrome?Having high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and being overweight or obese may be signs of metabolic syndrome. People with insulin resistance may have acanthosis nigricans. This is darkened skin areas on the back of the neck, in the armpits, and under the breasts. In general, people do not have symptoms. The symptoms of metabolic syndrome may look like other health conditions. See your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. How is metabolic syndrome diagnosed?Expert organizations have developed criteria to diagnose metabolic syndrome. Criteria include:
Each organization has its own guidelines for using the above criteria to diagnose metabolic syndrome. How is metabolic syndrome treated?Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment for you based on:
Because metabolic syndrome increases the risk of developing more serious long-term (chronic) conditions, getting treatment is important. Without treatment, you may develop cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Other conditions that may develop as a result of metabolic syndrome include:
Here are the types of treatment that may be recommended for metabolic syndrome. Lifestyle managementTreatment usually involves lifestyle changes. This means losing weight, working with a dietitian to change your diet, and getting more exercise. Losing weight increases HDL ("good") cholesterol and lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides. Losing weight can also reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. Losing even a modest amount of weight can lower blood pressure and increase sensitivity to insulin. It can also reduce the amount of fat around your middle. Diet, behavioral counseling, and exercise lower risk factors more than diet by itself. Other lifestyle changes include quitting smoking and cutting back on the amount of alcohol you drink. DietChanges in diet are important in treating metabolic syndrome. According to the AHA, treating insulin resistance is the key to changing other risk factors. In general, the best way to treat insulin resistance is by losing weight and getting more physical activity. You can do this by doing the following:
ExerciseExercise helps people who are overweight or obese by helping to keep and add lean body mass, or muscle tissue, while losing fat. It also helps you lose weight faster than just following a healthy diet because muscle tissue burns calories faster.
MedicinePeople who have metabolic syndrome or are at risk for it may need to take medicine as treatment. This is especially true if diet and other lifestyle changes have not made a difference. Your doctor may prescribe medicine to help lower blood pressure, improve insulin metabolism, lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol, increase weight loss, or some combination of these. Weight-loss surgeryWeight-loss surgery (bariatric surgery) is an effective treatment for morbid obesity in people who have not been able to lose weight through diet, exercise, or medicine. It may also help people who are less obese but who have significant complications from their obesity.
What are the complications of metabolic syndrome?Metabolic syndrome greatly raises the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or all three. Can I prevent metabolic syndrome?The best way to prevent metabolic syndrome is to maintain a healthy weight, eat a healthy diet, and be physically active. Your diet should have little salt, sugars, solid fats, and refined grains. Living with metabolic syndromeMetabolic syndrome is a lifelong condition that will require changes in your lifestyle. If you already have heart disease or diabetes, follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for managing these conditions. Lifestyle changes involved in managing metabolic syndrome include:
Key points about metabolic syndrome
Next stepsTips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:
What is diabetes mellitus characterized by?Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
What are the metabolic disorders in diabetes mellitus?Diabetes mellitus-not so sweet
T2D is a metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction as a consequence of unsettled hyperglycemia[4,5].
Is diabetes mellitus characterized by abnormal fat metabolism?Introduction. Diabetes mellitus is best defined as a syndrome characterized by inappropriate fasting or postprandial hyperglycemia, and its metabolic consequences which include disturbed metabolism of protein and fat.
Why is diabetes mellitus called metabolic disorder?Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder, characterized by high blood glucose levels in the body caused by impairment of pancreatic β-cells leading to defects in insulin secretion, insulin resistance, or a combination of both these factors.
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