Metabolic syndrome and obesity - consequences for the body in metabolic syndrome

This is a pre-clinical stage that is not an independent disease and is a combination of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases:

• obesity;
• insulin resistance (insensitivity to the hormone insulin);
• arterial hypertension (persistently high blood pressure);
• hyperuricemia (increased uric acid levels in the blood);
• atherogenic dyslipidemia (impaired lipid balance in the blood serum).

The connection between these conditions and the risk of developing heart disease has long been known. Back in 1988, G. Reaven was the first to combine the factors already known at that time into the so-called "syndrome X". Today, it is known that these risk factors negatively affect the progression of atherosclerosis, the main "locomotive" that ensures leadership in morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases in industrialized countries.

Why is this happening?

Hypertension syndrome against the background of excess body weight is often secondary, that is, its consequence. It is known that excess body weight can contribute to an increase in blood pressure up to 10 mm Hg. Considering that excess weight often reaches 30-40 kg, there is every chance of having a stable increase in blood pressure.

Metabolic syndrome in children is a separate topic, since for a child's body these diseases in combination pose an even greater threat than for an adult. They lead to the early development of pathologies that are considered diseases of the second half of life.

Without proper treatment or prevention, by the age of thirty, these children will have a threat not only to their health, but also to their lives.

Metabolic syndrome and diabetes

There is a strong connection between these two diseases. Diabetes mellitus develops when there is not enough insulin in the body, which disrupts the absorption of glucose by cells. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by increased blood glucose and insulin.

Most likely, this is a genetically determined disorder of insulin receptor sensitivity, due to which there is a compensatory increase in the production of the hormone by the islet apparatus of the pancreas, which leads to an increase in insulin concentration.

Metabolic syndrome and obesity

In a healthy body, insulin transports glucose from the bloodstream to blood cells. With metabolic syndrome, the cell is not susceptible to this hormone and it accumulates in the blood along with glucose. The more of them there are, the more they are transported to cells that normally respond to insulin. Most often, these are fat cells. As a result, adipose tissue grows, body weight increases, obesity develops, the lipid profile changes - the ratio of good and bad lipids increases.

This leads to the formation of blood clots, since the biochemical mechanisms of coagulation change.

What to do with metabolic syndrome?

Today, the conceptual understanding of metabolic syndrome is its reversibility. Timely diagnosis of this condition allows identifying the patient at the level of risk factors. By working further with each of these factors, there is a real opportunity to reduce cardiovascular risk.

However, in addition to seeing a doctor, there is something you can do yourself to prevent or slow down the development of metabolic syndrome.

With metabolic disorders, you need to eat right - this will help prevent obesity.

• Give preference to foods low in carbohydrates.
• Limit your consumption of flour and sweets, alcohol and fast food.

Do not overeat, try to eat often, but little by little, so that the body does not have the desire to put nutrients in reserve. This will help reduce the amount of fat in the abdominal area and reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Lead an active lifestyle:

• move more;
• do exercises;
• do sports as much as your health allows.

Physical exercise burns excess calories, prevents the growth of fat cells and normalizes metabolism, supporting the metabolic process in the body. It also stimulates blood circulation, making cells more sensitive to insulin.

This can be achieved with the help of a massage, for which you do not even need to go to a specialist. It is enough to massage your legs yourself, especially if they are tired or, conversely, have been in a static position for a long time.

Do not forget that responsibility for your health and the health of your children lies primarily with you. Take care of it today!