Metabolic Syndrome - 5 Ways You Can Prevent it

The word metabolism is the manner in which food is processed and used by the body. Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions, which are caused due to altered metabolism. They increase the chance of developing chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity in a person.

When a person has one of these, it puts them at a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome. However, lifestyle changes can help the onset of metabolic syndrome and reduce the gravity of the situation.

Factors that put you at risk of contracting a metabolic syndrome

There are 5 major risk factors, which can indicate if a person would develop a metabolic syndrome.

1. Increased blood sugar: If the fasting blood sugar is consistently high, it could be the early indication of diabetes.

2. Increased blood pressure: When the heart constantly exerts pressure to pump blood through the arteries, it can be damaging in the long run.

3. Excessive fat around the waistline: Fat around the belly (pear shaped body) is more harmful than fat around the hips. This abdominal obesity is an indicator of metabolic syndrome.

4. Abnormal cholesterol level: There are good and bad cholesterols (HDL and LDL respectively). When the HDL level is low, the chances of the heart to build plaque are increased, which can lead to heart failure, stroke, etc.

5. High level of triglyceride: Increased triglyceride levels also put one at a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

Complications: Some of the complications of having a metabolic syndrome include hypertension, diabetes, stroke, heart failure and fatty liver. It is a complicated and vicious cycle where there is increased pressure on all the vital organs, but they are unable to perform to their optimal levels. There is a narrowing of the blood vessels due to the plaque accumulation, which slows blood flow to all organs leading to the sluggishness of the whole system.

Prevention

While the bad news is that metabolic syndrome is on the rise with changing lifestyles, the good news is that with some planning and effort, it can be prevented and severity reduced. It requires discipline, commitment, and dedication.

1. Diet: Eating healthy with more of whole grains, less of red meat, loads of fresh fruits and vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids, and a heart-healthy diet can go a long way in managing the metabolism.

2. Exercise: Regular moderate exercise can help avoid accumulation of fat and burn the extra calories consumed.

3. Smoking: One should quit smoking, as it can help in many ways and helps in managing the body’s metabolism is one of them.

4. Alcohol: Avoid consuming excessive alcohol as it helps in managing body’s metabolism.

5. Stress management: Finding good ways to manage stress (be it music, meditation, yoga, or exercise) can help control harmful ways of stress management like drinking alcohol and smoking. 

If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a doctor and ask a free question.