Today marks the beginning of a multi-part article series I’ve written concerning one of society’s biggest health issues. The target is “metabolic syndrome,” which is a cluster of symptoms that puts you at great risk of suffering a heart problem. Individually, they are dangerous and collectively that danger escalates considerably. Today is an introduction to a doctor’s advice on fighting the syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome consists of the following: obesity; prehypertension (on the cusp of high blood pressure); prediabetes (on the cusp of diabetes); abnormal lipids (too much fat in the blood); and insulin resistance (the body can’t move glucose into cells easily, eventually leading to diabetes).
In 1990, approximately 50 million Americans had metabolic syndrome. By 2000, the number increased to over 64 million. There are many reasons, and underlying reasons, for this. But the two main factors that led to this increase in metabolic syndrome are: obesity rising to 30.5% from 22.5%; and the U.S. population aging.
Another alarming fact is that over one million U.S. adolescents have metabolic syndrome. This syndrome increases the risk of heart attacks or stroke twofold and the risk of type 2 diabetes fivefold.
What are the risk factors that increase your chances of developing metabolic syndrome?
– Age: 20 years old (less than 10% risk) versus 60 years old (40% risk)
– Race: Mexican Americans (31.9% risk), Caucasians (23.8% risk), African Americans (21.6% risk) other ethnic groups (20.3% risk)
– Obesity: Body mass index (BMI) over 25; apple-shaped body
– Diabetes History: Family history of diabetes or diabetes during pregnancy
– Others: High blood pressure, polycystic ovarian syndrome, heart disease, high cholesterol
According to the guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program and the American Heart Association, the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is made if someone has three out of the following five abnormalities:
1. Obesity: This specifically focuses on your midsection. For men, this is having a waist circumference greater than 40 inches. For women, it is 35 inches.
2. High triglycerides: Greater or equal to 150 mg/dL while fasting.
3. Low HDL cholesterol: For men, less than 40 mg/dL; for women, less than 50 mg/dL.
4. Prehypertension: Greater than or equal to 130 over 85.
5. Prediabetes: Having blood glucose levels greater than or equal to 100 mg/dL.
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