Metabolic Syndrome Getting More Attention

05/28/08 Disease Basics

Metabolic syndrome has been dominating medical literature of late.

Metabolic syndrome is a combination of factors which lead to the build up of plaque in vessel walls resulting in heart disease, stroke, and other organ damage. It is also a leading factor in type 2 diabetes. More than 50 million Americans have  the syndrome; it is not to be taken lightly.

The characteristics individually do not make up the anomaly, but in combination they have high impact. The American Heart Association states if you have three or more of the following factors, you have metabolic syndrome:

• Abdominal obesity, also called belly fat
• High triglycerides
• Low HDL cholesterol
• High LDL cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Poor glucose tolerance ore insulin resistance, sometimes defined as “pre-diabetes”
• Two other abnormal blood tests which test for inflammation and clotting: C-reactive protein, and high fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor–1

High abdominal fat and insulin resistance are dominant factors in developing metabolic syndrome. Individuals may go all their lives being insulin resistant (or not being able to use insulin efficiently) but never develop diabetes.

The other significant influence on metabolic syndrome is inactivity. Aging, genetic predisposition, and hormonal imbalance add to the condition.

Sleep may also have an influence on metabolic syndrome, as reported in the May 2008 issue of Sleep. Researchers found that individuals who slept fewer than seven hours or more than eight hours had more belly fat than those who slept between seven and eight hours.

In an article in the April 28, 2008 Vascular Surgery, researchers demonstrated that intra-abdominal fat and increased size of the aorta. The aorta is the main blood supply to the body. An enlarged aorta can become an aneurism which may rupture, causing sudden death.

Neither of these studies prove anything until results can be duplicated, but the findings are certainly plausible enough to think about diet and exercise.

Corie Richter is a nurse and physician's assistant who started her career as a health educator. The survivor of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) and partially successful quadruple bypass surgery, she did not let her health challenges hamper her. Neither the limitations of spinal surgery nor of diabetes have deterred her from a mission of service. She now encourages others through writing and speaking engagements to master their disabilities through education and a proactive attitude.