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Prevalence Of Metabolic Syndrome

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Metabolic syndrome is the recent designation of a number of metabolic conditions that appear on the surface to be unrelated but occur in such a way that leads many physicians and scientists to speculate that there may be an underlying undiscovered disorder that is causing the problems. While the manifestations of metabolic syndrome may be quite diverse, most authorities believe that they are all based on some form of metabolic syndrome insulin resistance. Since the disorder has not been rigorously categorized and defined, it is impossible to say how many people suffer from it. However, some health care professionals have estimated that between twenty and twenty five percent of American adults suffer from some form of the disease. The widespread predominance of the condition combined with its relatively obscure nature have led many to refer to the disorder as "syndrome x".

While many healthcare professionals suspect that metabolic syndrome is simply a manifestation of some other as of yet undiscovered underlying illness, until the time comes that the mystery background illness is isolated and treatments are developed, physicians must treat metabolic syndrome symptomatically. The disorder typically consists of obesity of the central region (a "spare tire" or "beer belly"), low levels of HDL cholesterol, high blood triglyceride levels, insulin resistance (the inability of the body to properly utilize insulin to metabolize sugars), high fibrinogen levels, elevated blood pressure (hypertension), and several other similar metabolic disorders. All of these disorders are related in some way to insulin resistance, so many experts believe that syndrome x is related in some way to the body's inability to properly utilize insulin.

Since metabolic syndrome manifests itself as a conglomeration of disorders, there is no single test available to detect whether or not one suffers from the condition. One is generally believed to suffer from the illness if he or she exhibits symptoms of a number of the associated disorders. While guidelines vary, most physicians attempt to diagnose the condition using a combination of central obesity, triglyceride levels, HDL cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and level of insulin resistance.

The various disorders associated with syndrome x all have their own preferred treatment methods, and treating all of them with medications could be quite dangerous since it would require a high level of pharmaceutical use. However, all of the associated disorders share the fact that they can be treated or controlled (at least in mild to moderate cases) by increasing the amount of exercise received and carefully monitoring the diet. Since a diet and exercise regimen is the only treatment that can treat all of the associated disorders, it is by far the most common recommendation by physicians to patients who seem to be suffering from metabolic syndrome.

Prevalence Of Metabolic Syndrome

In recent years, scientists have found that some of the complications of obesity, which include diabetes, hypertension, insulin resistance, and heart disease, were more clearly related to the central distribution of fat (excessive fat tissue in the abdominal region), than to overall level of obesity.

This central location of fat and the release of fatty acids and cytokines (powerful chemical substances secreted by cells) from the enlarged fat cells in this area, provide the major agents that define the Metabolic Syndrome.

What is the Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic Syndrome, also called the dysmetabolic syndrome or Syndrome X, is a collection of factors that individually are risks for cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death in the United States. Some of these factors that can be included in the syndrome are

•hyperinsulinemia

•hypertension

•abnormal blood lipids

•increased coagulant state (abnormal blood

clotting)

•and other clinical features

What causes Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic Syndrome is caused from a genetic predisposition that involves insulin resistance and environmental factors, such as obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) through the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III), has provided criteria for diagnosing the presence of the Metabolic Syndrome. At least 3 of the criteria listed below must be present for a diagnosis:

Clinical Features of the Metabolic Syndrome:

Abdominal obesity (waist circumference):

Men: greater than 102 cm (40 in)

Women: greater than 88 cm (35 in)

HDL cholesterol:

Men: less than 50 mg/dL

Women: less than 60 mg/dL

Triglycerides: greater than or equal to 150 mg/dL

Fasting glucose: greater than 110 mg/dL

Blood Pressure(SBP/DBP): greater than or equal to 130/85 mmHg

What are the Risk Factors for the Metabolic Syndrome?

The most likely risk factors observed are abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, decreased HDL cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure. Once elevated fasting blood glucose is observed, then the likelihood of having diabetes is greatly increased, therefore, intervention prior to the observance of elevated fasting blood glucose is desired.

As mentioned above, Metabolic Syndrome is closely linked to insulin resistance. According to the American Heart Association, one group of such people are those with diabetes who have a defect in insulin action and can’t maintain a proper level of glucose in their blood. Another is people, mainly those with high blood pressure, who are nondiabetic and insulin-resistant, but who compensate by secreting large amounts of insulin. This condition is known as hyperinsulinemia. A third group is heart attack survivors who, unlike hypertensives, have hyperinsulinemia without having abnormal glucose levels.

How Prevalent is Metabolic Syndrome?

The prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome is 25% in United States adults, and this increases with advancing age, increasing BMI and certain ethnicities, but overall, the individuals with Metabolic Syndrome are more alike than dissimilar across these groups. Metabolic Syndrome is a high cardiovascular risk state that is probably higher than the sum of it’s components.

How is Metabolic Syndrome Treated and/or Prevented?

Therapies aimed at reducing insulin resistance, is the main treatment for the Metabolic Syndrome. WEIGHT LOSS of approximately 10% has been shown to significantly decrease insulin resistance, and it should be the primary target of intervention due to its ripple effect in other areas, including hypertension, increased triglycerides, decreased LDL, and decreased insulin resistance. The secondary target of intervention is EXERCISE, due to its ripple effects of decreased weight (improved insulin resistance), decreased blood glucose, decreased triglycerides, increased HDL and decreased blood pressure.

Other steps of treatment of the Metabolic Syndrome

•Monitor blood glucose, lipoproteins and blood

pressure

•Treat diabetes and hyperlipidemia

•Choose drug therapy for hypertensive people with

care—different agents have different effects on

insulin sensitivity

With the rate of obesity increasing at such an alarming rate, metabolic syndrome will be one of our nation’s greatest challenges of the 21st century. It’s imperative that we prevent or defer the progression of this disease, and reduce the associated risk factors, as described above.

References

American Heart Association

Bray G., Champagne, C. Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome:

Implications for Dietetics Practitioners.

J of the Am Dietetic Association. 2004; 104 (1):86-89.

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Cheryl Winter, M.S., R.D., R.N. is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Registered Nurse and ACSM Fitness Instructor. Cheryl is owner and operator of HealthSteps Rx, Inc. at http://www.HealthStepsRx.com a wellness organization that will help you Build a Better Life…One Step at a Time.

Learn all about HealthSteps Rx, Inc. Weight Management Program via TeleClasses, without leaving your home or office: http://www.healthstepsrx.com/services/online/steppower.htm

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Both Dustin Cannon & Cheryl Winter, M.s., R.d., R.n. are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Dustin Cannon has sinced written about articles on various topics from Work From Home, Marketing and Baby Shower. Dustin Cannon is owner of JustArticlesVIP.com and writes on a variety of subjects. To learn more about this topic Dustin recommends you visit: . Dustin Cannon's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.

Cheryl Winter, M.s., R.d., R.n. has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lose Weight, Health. Cheryl Winter, M.S., R.D., R.N. is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Registered Nurse and ACSM Fitness Instructor. Cheryl is owner and operator of HealthSteps Rx, Inc. at http://www.HealthStepsRx.com a wellness organization that will help you Build a B. Cheryl Winter, M.s., R.d., R.n.'s top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.

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