Metabolic syndrome is a disease that encompasses a cluster of various other conditions, including hypertension, abdominal obesity, impaired fasting glucose and abnormal lipid profiles. This disease is becoming more and more prevalent in the United States. A January 2002 article in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" indicated that metabolic syndrome is prevalent in up to 25 percent of the United States population.
Abdominal Obesity
Abdominal obesity is one of the biggest factors related to diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. The increase in abdominal obesity is highly correlated with lack of physical activity and poor dietary habits. In the 2005 "Journal of Obesity Research, researchers indicated that a sedentary lifestyle that included a majority of time spent watching TV, playing video games and using computers contributed significantly to increased weight gain. This increased weight gain is a strong determinant of developing metabolic syndrome.
High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure over 130/90 meets the criteria for one of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. High blood pressure causes the heart to work harder than it should. This causes increased damage to the heart in the form of plaque buildup. Additionally, in 2007 the "Journal of Hypertension" indicated that high blood pressure extends beyond metabolic syndrome in that it can also lead to non-metabolic syndrome conditions such as kidney failure.
Lipid Profiles
Unhealthy levels of serum cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) contribute significantly as a cause of metabolic syndrome. HDL levels below 40 for men and below 50 for women are particularly dangerous. HDLs are plaque-clearing substances, so a lowered level of these means that the body is more susceptible to plaque buildup in the heart. Additionally, total serum cholesterol over 200 and LDL over 130 are major causes of metabolic syndrome.
References
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome among US Adults: Findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; E. Ford, W. Giles and W. Dietz; January 2002
- "Obesity Research"; Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity and the Metabolic Syndrome among U.S. Adults; E. Ford, et. al. 2005
- "Journal of Hypertension"; Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension; Guidelines Committee; 2007
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