Metabolic Syndrome (cont.)
Summary
The term "metabolic syndrome" is a way of identifying individuals at high
risk for the development of heart disease and diabetes. Intuitively we all know
that obesity, high cholesterol, and hypertension are bad omens. We also know
that insulin resistance precedes type 2 diabetes, and can itself be an important
condition meriting treatment. Everyone reading this article knows someone who is
overweight, hypertensive, or has cholesterol levels that are "a little high." It
may be a brother, sister, parent, neighbor, or even yourself.
For the physician, while the actual definition of "metabolic syndrome" may
vary, the known clustering that occurs means that adults with any major
cardiovascular risk should be evaluated for the presence of other risk factors.
Patients at risk should receive education and counseling on lifestyle
modification, and all risk factors for heart disease should be treated
aggressively.
For the patient, the main point to understand is that it is important to treat the risk factors as bad
things, before worse things happen. And while these changes can be addressed at
a doctor's office, the other 99.999% of the time, they need to be addressed in
the real world. We need to start having healthier food options readily available. We need to have
time during the day to take a walk.
The final take home message is:
- Find a walk buddy.
- Take a walk during your work break, even if it is
just around the building.
- Go to a health food store.
- Evaluate what you feed your kids.
- Urge children to go outside and play.
It all adds up. Preventing metabolic syndrome really
means having a healthy
lifestyle.
Previous contributing medical editor,
Barbara
K. Hecht, Ph.D.
Last Editorial Review: 6/3/2008
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