Diagnosis And Treatment Of Metabolic Syndrome
In our times it is increasingly common to suffer from circulatory and coronary diseases, as well as to suffer from diabetes mellitus. But did you know that the set of risk factors is considered a syndrome? In this article we will be talking about the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic syndrome.
What is metabolic syndrome?
The metabolic syndrome, also called syndrome X, Reaven syndrome or insulin resistance syndrome, is the group of risk factors that coincide in the same patient.
In this way, the person is at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease and diabetes.
The metabolic syndrome was described relatively recently, in 1988. And in fact it was not until 1998 that the WHO defined it. Although its exact cause is unknown, these are some of the elements that can cause its appearance:
- Genetic factors
- Insulin resistance
- Obesity (especially in the central area of the body)
- Aging
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Poor diet
- Chronic low-grade inflammation
Formerly, this syndrome affected people 60 years of age and older, but currently in Spain 31% of those over 35 years of age suffer from it, according to a study published in the Spanish Journal of Cardiology.
How is metabolic syndrome diagnosed?
According to the World Health Organization ( WHO) a person will be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if they meet 3 or more of the following criteria:
1-Blood pressure higher than 130/85 mm Hg or is already being treated as hypertensive.
2-Fasting blood sugar levels of 100 to 125 mg / dl (5.6 to 7 mmol / L)
3-Dyslipidemia: triglycerides greater than 150 mg / dl and / or HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) less than 50 mg / dl in women and less than 40 mg / dl in men, or taking drugs for dyslipidemia.
4- Central obesity or presence of fat in the abdominal region. To define this criterion, the waist circumference is used, which can be greater than 88 cm in women and 102 cm in men.
Low 5-HDL cholesterol, 40 mg / dl (1 mmol / L) in men and 50 mg / dl (1.3 mmol / L) in women.
If the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is confirmed it is important to begin treatment immediately to avoid serious health complications.
Do you want to know what to do? Well, here we will expose the most common treatments although in reality these will be established by the specialist who treats you.
Treatment of metabolic syndrome
A healthy life is the best treatment to control metabolic syndrome and its risks:
- Reduce at least 10% of excess weight in the next 6 to 12 months.
- Increase your physical activity. Between 30 and 60 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise, 4 or more days a week.
- Stop smoking.
- Eat a healthy diet : increase the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. In addition, limit the consumption of sugar, salt, alcohol and fat.
This way you can control your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Likewise, each symptom should be treated individually, such as hypertension and dyslipidaemia, with the pharmacological treatment indicated by the doctor.
Another recommendation is to reduce stress. Performing physical exercise can also help us at this point, although there are more options. It is important to monitor both our physical health and our emotional health.
Remember, metabolic syndrome is gaining prominence due to our unhealthy lifestyles. However, with a little effort we may be able to control it and, in turn, avoid its consequences.
