Metabolic Syndrome

• Definition
· Metabolic Syndrome is the condition made up of the group of symptoms:
· high blood triglyceride levels
· low HDL cholesterol (low “good cholesterol”) level
· high blood glucose (blood sugar)
· high blood pressure
· central obesity (large waist/abdomen girth)

• Overview
· Metabolic Syndrome was first defined by the World Health Organization in 1998.

· Metabolic Syndrome is associated with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (risk of heart attack) and development of diabetes.

· Metabolic Syndrome results from a defect in the function of the hormone insulin which leads to:
· increasing insulin levels
· high blood glucose levels
· excessive free fatty acids levels
· and high blood pressure

• Symptoms
· Metabolic Syndrome symptoms:
· hyperglycemia
· large waist size
· weight gain
· high blood pressure

• Complications
· Risk of developing diabetes and heart disease

• Treatment
· Lifestyle changes:
· diet
· exercise
· medication when appropriate for control of cholesterol levels
· triglycerides
· blood pressure

References
Eckel RH et al: The metabolic syndrome. Lancet 365:1415, 2005 [PMID: 15836891]

Posted on September 24, 2008

One Response to “Metabolic Syndrome”

  1. Health and Wellness: Medicues Diet Soda Associated with Development of Diabetes says:
    February 23, 2009 at 6:50 am

    [...] Diabetes Care; drinking diet soda everyday was associated with the development of Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome. · The study authors report that the study participants who drank diet soda at least everyday had [...]

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