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Metabolic Syndrome – Increased Risk For Heart AttackMetabolic syndrome is a group of symptoms occurring together that promote the development of coronary artery disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. It is believed by some scientists to be a genetic disorder, but there are other underlying factors that predispose to the disease such as poor diet and a lack of physical exercise.
Risk Factors The disease is generally indicated by a cluster of at least three of the five following signs: • Abdominal obesity – indicated by a 40 inch or greater waist in men and a waist of 35 inches or greater in women • A high fasting blood glucose of at least 100 mg/dL • High serum triglycerides of at least 150 mg/dL • Low HDL serum cholesterol – for men less than 40 mg/dL and for women less than 50 mg/dL • An elevated blood pressure – a systolic value of 130 mm Hg or higher and a diastolic value of 85 mm Hg or higher. These risk factors taken individually may not seem serious but taken as a group and with 3 of 5 of these factors present the risks for developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes increases. So far those that have been identified with this syndrome have been identified as those at the greatest risk for a heart attack. Dietary and Lifestyle Changes • Eat a healthy diet • Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight • Increase physical activity • Monitor blood glucose, lipoproteins, and blood pressure • Treat diabetes • Use drug therapy to treat hypertension
Next: For other information on nutrition some great references are: • Nutrition – Fourth Edition by Paul Insel, Don Ross, Kimberley McMahon, and Melissa Bernstein
Chronic Disease
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