Metabolic Syndrome/Syndrome X

In reality, metabolic syndrome and syndrome X are the same. Both have the same symptoms, with one difference. Syndrome X has one added condition, which is angina, a condition that causes chest pains. In metabolic syndrome there are five areas of concern and syndrome X has the same five areas plus the added sixth. The signs, symptoms and risk factors involved are as follows:

An increase in weight, especially around the abdominal area. At risk are men with a waist 40 or above inches. Women with a waist above 35 or above inches.
If your blood pressure is 135/85 mmHg or higher.
If your fasting blood glucose is 110mg/dl or higher, that can cause insulin resistance.
If your plasma triglicerides is 150 mg/dl
If your fasting HDL (good cholesterol) is lower than 40 mg/dl in men and 50 mg/dl in women.

As mentioned above, the 6^th risk sign for syndrome X is angina (pains in chest).

Those individuals who have a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol should be very aware of the possibility that they have or are prone to metabolic syndrome and should be checked by their healthcare provider.

Anyone with 3 of the above signs or symptoms is seriously at risk for future health risks. These are the signs that eventually lead to heart disease, stroke, or kidney disease. There are of course ancillary diseases that will become offshoots of these diseases, making the individual at risk for other diseases.

Examples of these ancillary diseases are:

Heart disease: Can lead to arteriosclerosis, pulmonary complications, kidney disease, heart bypass and Alzheimer’s disease.
High blood pressure: Can lead to stroke and paralysis.
Diabetes: The precursor of type 2 Diabetes is insulin resistance. The body normally manufactures insulin in the pancreas. It is used to transport sugar gotten from the food we eat to our muscles where it is used as fuel to supply the body’s energy needs. In insulin resistance the body does not recognize that the insulin is being produced and the result is, the body keeps on manufacturing an over-abundance of insulin. This results in an inflammatory condition of the arteries leading to such major problems as blindness or amputation.
High cholesterol: Can lead to atherosclerosis, whereby there is a build-up of fatty plaque in the arteries. Clogging of arteries that supply blood to the heart can lead to heart disease, heart bypass, and heart attack, Clogging of the arteries in the extremities can cause intermittent claudication, reducing the circulation and causing pain on walking. When arteries that supply the kidneys with blood become clogged, the result is impacting of the kidney function, and results in kidney disease.
High triglicerides: These are blood fats that act together with cholesterol and can cause the same conditions as those above in the high cholesterol conditions.

Any of the above ancillary conditions in turn can and usually does lead to many, many more conditions that can eventually cause life threatening diseases and conditions. Therefore, it is imperative that anyone displaying at least three of the above conditions sees their healthcare provider and be checked out, and have a diagnosis made. Treatment may have to be instituted when examination, blood tests, etc., show that the patient is at risk.

There are two other risks that are extremely important, even if they are not included in the metabolic syndrome/syndrome X categories. These are the risks I’m sure we are all aware of, but they do bear repeating.

SMOKING: For those who smoke, stopping is a must. There has been enough publicity to know that smoking leads to cancer, heart disease and circulatory problems. It also leads to insulin resistance making you prone to type-2 diabetes.
ALCOHOL: Heavy drinkers are prone to liver disease and many other diseases, such as heart disease, circulatory problems, type-2 diabetes and many other ancillary problems.

Alcohol is okay when used in moderation and can prove beneficial to ones’ health. Men should only drink 2 glasses of wine daily. Women should only drink one glass of wine daily. Men can metabolize alcohol at a greater rate than women, and that is why the ratio is 2 to 1.

It is incumbent upon each and every one of us to be aware of their physical condition. Should they become cognizant of any of the above symptoms, they must follow-up and bring this to the attention of their healthcare provider. They should also be aware of any changes that seem to affect the body in ways that haven’t been apparent before. Checking their blood pressure on a regular basis is almost mandatory. Blood pressure values of 135/85 mg/dl are now considered pre-hypertensive.

There are instruments that are available to each and every one of us. The wrist and the arm blood pressure units are very inexpensive and available to all. Blood pressure is a condition that will not alert the individual that this problem exits. Up to half of the population can be pre-hypertensive and not know it. Ethnic origins can be a risk factor in the metabolic syndrome/syndrome X factors.

Age is not a barrier for improvement of the metabolic syndrome/syndrome X factors. Living a sedentary lifestyle is the worst enemy for the individual who has it. Improvement is possible at any age starting with the diet. Losing those extra pounds is at the top of the list. Eating properly by including 5 fruits and at least 4 vegetables is a must. Red meat should be eaten only once or twice a month. Eat fish and chicken instead. Cut out saturated fats and reduce the portions you eat. A portion of fruits and vegetables are equal to one cup. A portion of fish, chicken or meat should be approximately the size of your hand.

In conjunction with diet improvement, the next step is to do away with your sedentary lifestyle. Finding and instituting an exercise program that you can live with is a must. Not only a must, but also a requirement. There are many suggestions you will hear about on exercising. Some will say, at least an hour 3 times weekly, or one half hour 5 times weekly. This goes on and on, with nothing definitive settled.

I have found that an exercise program that will give you a non-impact, total body workout that can be done in 15 to 20 minutes on a daily basis will totally help your physical condition. In addition, start moving more. Walk to near by shops, banks, etc., instead of driving. Walk and up down stairs whenever it is possible. If you live on a high floor, take the elevator up to the floor below and then walk up the rest of the way. Increase this slowly until reaching your limit. Reverse this procedure for going down. Do not sit for long periods at a time. Get up and move around, don’t stagnant. DONT BE A “COUCH POTATO”!