The metabolic syndrome consists of an accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors, characterized by greater abdominal fat accumulation, resistance to the action of insulin, low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides, arterial hypertension and a pro-inflammatory state and pro-coagulant.
It is estimated that currently 25% of the American population older than 20 years suffers from this syndrome. The importance in the recognition lies mainly in its relationship to cardiovascular pathology, since it confers an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke.
What is the cause of the metabolic syndrome?
The researchers believe that the metabolic syndrome is a genetic disease. In people suffering from diseases characterized by insulin resistance, such as diabetes and hyperinsulinemia, the chances of having metabolic syndrome are greater. Diabetes is a disease in which the body can not produce or respond well to the hormone insulin. Hyperinsulinemia is a disease in which large amounts of insulin are pumped into the bloodstream.
What are the signs of the metabolic syndrome?
Patients with metabolic syndrome do not feel any symptoms. But there are signs that can tell doctors a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. The doctors will look for a combination of the following factors:
- Central obesity, that is, an excess of fat in the abdominal area.
- Difficulty in digesting a type of sugar called "glucose" (glucose intolerance). Patients with metabolic syndrome usually have hyperinsulinemia or type 2 diabetes.
- Elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad cholesterol") and triglycerides in the blood.
- Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "Good cholesterol") in the blood.
- High blood pressure (hypertension).
How is the metabolic syndrome diagnosed?
Doctors can check the levels of HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, the blood pressure and body weight, which are warning signs of the metabolic syndrome. Blood tests can also be performed to measure glucose and insulin levels in the blood.
Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when a person has at least 3 of the following characteristics:
- Greater accumulation of fat at the abdominal level
- ] Resistance to the action of insulin
- Low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides
- High blood pressure
- A pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant state.
Commonly, patients have no symptoms and feel healthy. Their finding is established through a clinical examination where dark spots on the skin, at the level of the neck and umbilical-abdominal axillary folds are investigated, in addition to the evaluation of a physical examination where the waist is measured to establish the amount of fat abdominal.
What is your treatment?
To combat this syndrome, the main thing is to change the lifestyle in order to reduce cardiovascular risk and not suffer from diabetes. The most important thing is to modify the diet, decreasing the intake of saturated or animal fats along with sugars, and increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables. But in addition, this must be accompanied by physical exercise, with the objective that the patient lose weight and reduce their body mass index. It is also possible to use drugs for their treatment, but this will depend on each patient and what pathologies are present.
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