Metabolic syndrome which is also known as syndrome x, insulin resistance syndrome is a group of health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol level, high blood sugar level, and abnormal abdominal fat together that attack the major body functions and cause type 2 diabetes, heart attack, and several other heart-related diseases.
A single health condition doesn't mean you have metabolic syndrome. The risk of having serious chronic diseases develops when you have more than one health condition. Changes in lifestyle can manage the complications of metabolic syndrome. The different health problems that metabolic syndrome can cause are:
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Certain cancers
- Coronary heart disease
- Sleep apnea
- PCOS
- Heart failure
- Erectile dysfunction
- Problems with the immunity system
- Problems with memory and thinking
- Organ damage
- Complications in pregnancy
Symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome
Several symptoms indicate the possibility of metabolic syndrome. If more than one condition develops together and affects the body, you should seek medical attention. Such symptoms are:
- Abnormal waistline or a pear-shaped body
- Blurred vision which indicated high blood sugar
- High blood pressure affects the blood vessels and the heart
- Tiredness and fatigue indicate high blood sugar level
- Increased blood sugar levels lead to clotting of the blood and affect the blood vessels.
- Feeling dehydrated and having frequent urges to urinate indicates a high blood sugar level
- Increased level of blood triglycerides also increases the level of bad cholesterol in the body
- Darkened or black patches on the armpit, under the breast, or on the back of the neck
- Decreased level of good cholesterol
Causes of Metabolic Syndrome
There is no one condition that can cause metabolic syndrome, it is a cluster of many heart conditions that cause concern such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease. Some of the causes of metabolic syndrome are:
- Obesity: having fat in the abdomen and nowhere else in the body is known as abdominal obesity which increases the risk of metabolic syndrome.
- Unhealthy lifestyle: eating excessively processed food and not giving the body the desired amount of nutrients and probiotics can cause metabolic syndrome. Also, a stagnant lifestyle with no physical activities affects our bodies negatively.
- Insulin resistance: In people with insulin resistance, insulin, a hormone that helps the body produce energy by using glucose from the food we eat, is unable to work efficiently. Thus, despite producing a huge amount of insulin in the body, it doesn't help to reduce glucose levels which leads to diabetes. Insulin resistance is associated with obesity.
- Hormonal imbalance: one of the results of hormonal imbalance is polycystic ovary syndrome which can cause infertility. This is related to metabolic syndrome.
Treatment and Cure
Metabolic syndrome treatment targets lower the development or complications of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. You have to adopt lifestyle changes which would include a healthy diet and regular physical activities. Some people take medication and go through weight loss surgery to alleviate the complications of metabolic syndrome. Some of the lifestyle changes that act as a treatment are:
- Choose foods that are good for the heart: always try eating a Mediterranean-style diet which includes lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil. the diet includes no foods that are low in glycemic level and saturated fat.
- Attain and maintain a healthy weight: visit a doctor and find out your body mass index and whether it is suitable for your height. Also, check which part of the body carries the maximum weight or fat. Measure your waistline and check whether it's healthy or not. Once you understand your body information, maintain a healthy weight by eating well and exercising daily besides leading a healthy lifestyle.
- Regular physical activities: keeping the body active and in physical activity eradicates most of the health problems, obesity, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol. An exercise routine of 30 minutes can bring lots of change in your body as well as in your overall health.
- Maintain healthy sleep hygiene: set a certain time to go to bed and make it a habit of sleeping at the same time. Get an uninterrupted and stress-free sleep of 7-9 hours every day. Sleep gives the body the required time to repair internal damage and is good for heart health. Thus, sleep can fix the symptoms of metabolic syndrome.
- Avoid smoking: the amount of damage that smoking does to the body is more than any other source. Give up smoking to bring changes in your health conditions.
- Manage your mental health and stress: learn how to manage your stress and mental health. Stress can lead to complications of sickle cell disease. Your mental and physical health are the two sides of the coin that should be taken care of.
- Weight loss medication and surgery: if you are suffering from obesity and metabolic syndrome, medication and surgery are the answer to losing excess weight. In such cases, medication for weight loss reduces the appetite to eat and also makes the body extract less fat from the food we eat. Surgery for weight loss might have some complications but it is effective to help you eat less by reducing the size of the stomach.
- Medications for metabolic syndrome: if the metabolic syndrome is progressing and following lifestyle changes is not working, you may need to take medications to lower your blood pressure, blood sugar level, and control blood triglyceride, and increase good cholesterol levels along with maintaining a good lifestyle. By taking medications, you can also control the risks of stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes.
Conclusion
When your metabolic health is hampered, it creates the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The cluster of medical conditions that affect metabolic health can be managed and prevented through healthy lifestyle changes, diet, and exercise. It is recommended to seek medical attention when the lifestyle changes are not working, people with metabolic syndrome have to follow a metabolic syndrome treatment plan and remain under the supervision of a doctor for follow-ups to prevent complications.
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