Consider the Possibility of Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic Syndrome: What is it?
Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders (a “constellation of abnormalities”) that increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is also known as metabolic syndrome x, syndrome x, insulin resistance syndrome, Reaven’s syndrome, and CHAOS.
Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the United States is estimated to be as high as 25% of the population, and prevalence increases with age. In the US, 44% of people over 50 years of age have metabolic syndrome. Most people who have metabolic syndrome are older, obese (with most of their fat in the abdominal area), sedentary, at an increased risk for clotting, and also have a degree of insulin resistance. All of the factors are interrelated:
- Obesity + sedentary lifestyle –> insulin resistance
- Insulin resistance –> increased bad cholesterol, increased triglycerides, and decreased good cholesterol
- Insulin resistance –> increased insulin levels
- Excess insulin –> sodium retention which leads to higher blood pressure
People with metabolic syndrome are:
- Two times as likely to die from heart attack or stroke
- Three times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke
- At five times greater risk of developing diabetes
If metabolic syndrome is left untreated, complications from the diseases associated with the untreated metabolic syndrome can develop in as few as fifteen years.
Next: What causes it?
How is it diagnosed?
How is it treated?
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