Metabolic syndrome, or syndrome X, is characterized by numerous metabolic disorders that gradually destroy the body. If you are obese, the so-called abdominal, accompanied by type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders, you may also have syndrome X. It is estimated that this problem affects every fifth Pole. Find out what are the causes and symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome , or syndrome X, is characterized by numerousmetabolic disordersthat increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Even scientists are divided on the definition of the metabolic syndrome, but most doctors agree with the definition provided by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). According to her, the metabolic syndrome can be diagnosed in a person who has the so-called abdominal obesity (the waist circumference in a woman is equal to or greater than 88 cm, in a man equal to or greater than 102 cm), and moreover, she is related to at least two of the following criteria:

  • Blood triglyceride levels greater than or equal to 150 mg / dL (or treating dyslipidemia)
  • concentration of the so-called good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood - lower than 50 mg / dl in women, and lower than 40 mg / dl in men
  • blood pressure equal to or greater than 130/85 mm Hg (or treatment of hypertension)
  • Fasting blood glucose equal to or greater than 100 mg / dL (or treating type 2 diabetes)

Metabolic syndrome - epidemic

Although the first descriptions of the metabolic syndrome date back to the 17th century, it has only been for nearly 30 years that doctors have been examining it more closely. Because of a few reasons. First of all, the number of overweight and obese people who also suffer from type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis or hypertension is growing rapidly. Secondly, metabolic syndrome that is not diagnosed and untreated in a timely manner carries serious complications - including myocardial infarction and stroke. Third, finding the cause of this disease would facilitate treatment and allow for preventive measures. Research conducted in many countries allowed to draw the first conclusions. It turned out that the metabolic syndrome is more common in highly developed countries (eg the USA, Japan), where a he althy diet is not followed and little time is spent on the move. For example, in the USA, a bandmetabolic is found in approx. 32 percent. inhabitants, and in Japan - about 11 percent. In Poland, it concerns about 20 percent. population. Usually, the metabolic syndrome is slightly more common in women than in men. It is characteristic that the frequency of its appearance increases with age - the closer to the age of 60, the more diagnoses of this disease are.

Important

Obesity, the so-called abdominal is dangerous. Fat tissue accumulates around the waist, not only under the skin, but also in the internal organs of the abdominal cavity, in the arteries.

Metabolic syndrome - causes

Scientists are wondering why more and more people meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome? There are many theories on this subject. One of them relates to … the Stone Age. It says that we are encoded with the genotype of the primitive man, who lived according to the scheme: the period of satiety - the period of hunger. In times of satiety, he had enough to eat up, accumulating fat, and in times of hunger, he simply burned it. Thanks to this and physical activity, he was slim. We have such an excess of food that we live constantly in a period of satiety - our body is looking forward to the period of hunger, but it constantly stores up, because it is so coded. A lot of theories revolve around genetics. Everything points to the fact that there is indeed something to do - we can inherit a tendency to, for example, obesity. If our lifestyle is conducive to the development of obesity, we may develop it. On the other hand, the longer we suffer from obesity, the more likely the metabolic syndrome will appear. And the circle closes.

Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance

It is not entirely clear why obesity in the so-called abdominal disease is accompanied by diseases such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension. Most likely, it is about fat metabolism disorders in the body. They are mainly converted into energy. However, if there are too many of them, the products of fat metabolism are deposited not only in the form of folds, but also in skeletal muscles, heart, liver, pancreas … insulin resistance. This is because the cells in the body that get their energy for life from glucose cannot get it. They cannot, because glucose cannot get inside them until insulin (a hormone produced in the pancreas by beta cells) opens the "door" to the cells like a magic key. With obesity, the so-called abdominal for some reason - unfortunately, we do not know for what - the body's cells do not want to open with the insulin "key". And then there is a specific paradox: there is excess in the bloodglucose, and cells die of starvation due to a lack of glucose. Yes, incl. type 2 diabetes develops

You must do it

When medication is needed

If the metabolic syndrome has developed, simply changing your lifestyle may not be enough to deal with it. Then the specialist will select the appropriate drugs, for example:

  • measures supporting the treatment of overweight and obesity
  • preparations keeping blood glucose levels in check and increasing insulin sensitivity
  • drugs lowering the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides in the blood and increasing the concentration of good (HDL)
  • measures to lower and maintain proper blood pressure.
Important

Poradnikzdrowie.pl supports safe treatment and a dignified life of people suffering from obesity. This article does not contain discriminatory and stigmatizing content of people suffering from obesity.

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Category:

Obesity