METABOLIC SYNDROME
METABOLIC SYNDROME - What do these two words mean?
METABOLIC SYNDROME is a collection of a number of factors that collectively (three or more) can become a problem. They include high blood pressure (Hypertension) high blood sugar, cholesterol that is higher than accepted guidelines, high triglyceride levels, plus excess body fat especially around the waist.
Putting some of these conditions together makes a person a likely candidate for diabetes, heart disease, heart attack or a stroke
The term "Metabolic Syndrome" has only evolved around the last eleven years, previously it was referred to as Syndrome X. It was medical research that concluded that a collection of factors could contribute to diabetes and heart disease. Metabolic Syndrome is described as a cluster of conditions, primarily linked to people who are overweight or obese and have a sedentary lifestyle.
These are some of the symptoms:
- Non-Alcoholic Fatty Disease (Covered separately in Members Section)
- Brown folds of skin around the neck and/or shoulders
- High Blood Pressure
- Low HDL Cholesterol
- High Triglyceride Levels
- High Fasting Glucose Levels
- Central Obesity, In men often referred to as Apple Shape
- Central Obesity, in women often referred to as Pear Shaped
- Fatigue
- Insulin Resistance
As people age, the risk of developing a metabolic syndrome increases.
What are the causes of this condition?
Medical consensus tells us that obesity is a major contributor to this syndrome. A waist line more than 38” (96.2cm) in men, and a waist line of more than 32” (81.28cm) in women is considered one of the factors. Obesity, which can be prevented and reversed affects around 2.2 Billion people, worldwide, meaning around one in every three people are obese (the current world population is around 7.5 Billion).
These statistics are now a serious concern to governments and public health authorities. In the UK the NHS spend around £7 Billion on ill health related to overweight and obesity. In the US it’s estimated $195 Billion is the cost related to obese related illnesses. More on obesity in the Members Section.
What is insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance is part of the metabolic syndrome which can be a cause of developing heart and other diseases. It’s a condition when the bodies cells fail to respond to one of the bodies hormones called insulin.
The body’s cells then become resistant to insulin which leads to high blood sugar levels and the possibility of developing type 2 diabetes.Note 24 Read more about insulin and how type 2 diabetes can possibly be reversed. This an ongoing subject dedicated to the members section.
Kidney Disease
Kidney Disease is also one of the contributing factors to elevated blood pressure It’s possible that some medication taken for hypertension may have an influence on blood sugar. Should blood sugar become uncontrolled, there is a possibility of damage to around a million nephrons in both kidneys, which in part are responsible for filtering blood through the kidneys. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause damage to the arteries that deliver blood to the kidneys.
There is a condition called Renal Hypertension, also referred to as renovascular hypertension. This is when blood pressure increases due to a blockage or partial blockage of the renal arteries and branches. Renal arteries are two branches from the abdominal aorta that supply blood to the right and left kidney.
Any kidney or blood pressure condition is one of the cluster of conditions of the metabolic syndrome. Like all causes of high blood pressure, kidney disease needs to be treated. There are medications available to control this condition, and a chat with your Doctor or Health Professional should be able to answer this question.
This chart depicts a ‘Merry go Round’ that is self-explanatory.
One thing’s for sure, it’s a roundabout you need to jump off.
Each of the subjects depicted needs a lot of explaining.
The Members Section will provide more detailed information.
Diabetes
Diabetes is another factor that can cause high blood pressure. Having either type 1 or type 2 diabetes increases the chances of developing other cardiovascular diseases, and possible narrowing of the arteries, which could lead to atherosclerosis. By keeping blood sugar levels to accepted levels helps to avoid or reduce future health problems. (Millimoles are units of measurement used in chemistry denoting amounts of molecules and atoms).
For reference, accepted blood sugar levels for a person without diabetes before eating a meal should be around 4 to 5.9mmol/L. For persons with type 1 and type 2 diabetes it should be 4 to 7 mmol/L.
It’s worth remembering that tablets that are prescribed to manage hypertension may influence blood sugar levels.
Abnormal Cholesterol readings can be one of the cluster of conditions that is part of a metabolic syndrome
What is Cholesterol? It’s a type of fat made in the liver; you need cholesterol to help organs in your body grow. It flows through the blood stream in small molecules of fat-covered protein called lipoproteins. Cholesterol also comes from our diet, eggs, butter, cheese, meat, milk and fish, there are many more sources.
The body needs cholesterol, however like other things in life we need to get the balance right, not too much, not too little.
More about Cholesterol
Cholesterol is referred to as LDL (Low density lipoprotein, sometimes called the ‘Bad Cholesterol’ and HDL (High Density lipoprotein) often called the ‘Good Cholesterol’.
Diet play an important part when it comes to lipoprotein, which has an effect on the LDL and HDL in your body.
High Density - "Good" Lipoproteins (HDL) has more protein than cholesterol.
Low Density - "Bad" Lipoprotein (LDL) has more cholesterol than protein.
Recommended levels of Cholesterol
What are recommended levels of Cholesterol? A healthy person would have a reading of 5mmol/L; I hear people say their cholesterol is 5.1 or 4.1, these results come from a blood test which in the UK, is measured as, millimoles per litre (mmol/L) - as mentioned above, millimoles are units of measurement used in chemistry, denoting amounts of molecules and atoms.
Current accepted cholesterol levels are listed below and measured in mmol/L.
5.0 and above is considered high for adults.
4.0 to 5.0 is considered good for healthy adults.
3.0 to 4.0 could be considered a good reading for a healthy adult; however for persons with other conditions it may be a requirement to maintain a cholesterol reading within this range.
For reference: In the UK cholesterol is measured in mmol/L however in America cholesterol is measured in mg/dl. A UK cholesterol reading of 5.1 would equal an American reading of 197mg/dl.
To convert UK (mmol/L) to American (mg/dl) MULTIPLY the mmol/L figure by 38.66.
To convert American (mg/dl) to UK (mmol/L DIVIDE the mg/dl figure. by 38.66.
Can cholesterol levels be too low?
Can Cholesterol levels be too low?
Yes, it can be too low, there are possible side effects causing depression, memory loss, confusion and not feeling well.
Can we live without Cholesterol?
The answer is 100% no, you cannot life without Cholesterol, you would die. Cholesterol is vital for your brain, your bones, your digestion, and your hormones.
As explained, when Cholesterol levels go wrong they become part of the metabolic syndrome.
As explained, when Cholesterol levels go wrong they become part of the metabolic syndrome.
WHAT ARE TRIGLYCERIDES?
