‘Metabolic’ in the medical world can be translated into the processes involved in the body’s normal functioning.
Metabolic Syndrome [MSyn], formerly known as Syndrome X, is not considered a chronic condition in sense, but more known as the collection of risk factors that are known to increase the risk for an individual to develop:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Mellitus [T2DM]
- Chronic Kidney Disease [CKD].
HOW COMMON IS METABOLIC SYNDROME
MSyn is becoming quickly becoming a common diagnosis in a doctor’s surgery, globally. One study, The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, which was released in 2000, discovered that 19% of Australians, over the age of 25 years, had the risk factors for MSyn. From a more global sense, according to the International Diabetes Federation [IDF], its thought to be around 20-25% of the world population have MSyn, when diagnosed with MSyn, the individuals are twice as likely to suffer from a fatal myocardial incident [ie. Heart attack/Stroke] and three times as likely to have a serious myocardial incident, compared to a healthy population.
People with MSyn are also 5 times as likely to be diagnosed with T2DM, adding to the 230 million already diagnosed population.
RISK FACTORS
These risks factor can either be traits, other conditions and/or habits that increase the individual’s chance of developing a chronic condition [ie. Heart Disease]. There 5 main risk factors [as seen below] to be considered when diagnosing someone with MSyn. The manifestation of 3 of the 5 risk factors is required for a diagnosis. It also requires waist circumference to measured, comparing norms to specific ethnic and nation specific populations.
Risk Factors [IDF 2006] | Description | Cut-off points [IDF 2006] |
Central Obesity | Adipose tissue [Fat] that surrounds organs within in abdomen. | Waist circumference |
Increased Triglycerides levels | Triglycerides: Type of fat molecule which accounts for 95% of all dietary fats. | >1.7 mmol/L |
Reduced HDL Cholesterol | HDL: ‘High-Density Lipoprotein’, is a type of protein that absorbs cholesterol and carries it to the Liver to be ‘flushed away’ | M: < 1.00 mmol/L F: < 1. 3 mm. ol/L |
Increased Resting Blood Pressure [BP] | Blood pressure: Is the pressure of blood exerted on the walls of the arteries as the heart continues to pump blood around the body. | Systolic BP: >130mmHg Diastolic BP: >85mmHg |
Increased Fast Plasma Glucose | Fast Plasma Glucose: Glucose levels measured after a period of fasting/not eating for 8-10 hrs before the test. | >5.5mmol/L |
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGISTS CAN HELP YOU GET MOVING
Exercise Physiologists can help individuals with a range of health conditions by creating personalised exercise programs including onsite gym and home based activity options.
REFERENCES
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- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/metabolic-syndrome
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