Treatment of metabolic syndrome, a group of disorders of the metabolism, should be directed at prevention. It may be possible to prevent metabolic syndrome in some cases if lifestyle advice is followed.
Since abdominal obesity, physical inactivity and the western diet of refined foods and saturated fats are underlying risk factors for each of the features of metabolic syndrome; it follows that exercise, a healthy diet and moderate weight loss should be first-line therapies. Metabolic syndrome can be divided into two main groups; non-drug or lifestyle and drug treatments.
Lifestyle changes
Smoking cessation - If you smoke, you should stop. Talk to your pharmacist about the benefits of quitting. Smoking and the different methods available to help you quit.
Dietary changes - Alcohol consumption should be reduced to no more than two drinks per day. You should follow a healthy diet, low in refined sugars and saturated fats and high in dietary fibre. A consult from a dietician may be beneficial. Salt intake should also be reduced.
Exercise - Thirty to forty-five minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity per day (such as taking a brisk walk, gardening, or raking leaves) on most days of the week is adequate. The benefits you'll get out of exercise include decreased blood pressure, weight and insulin resistance, an improved cholesterol level and a lower risk of getting diabetes.
If lifestyle changes do not achieve the desired result, medication is initiated to treat each of the complications of the syndrome.
Drug Treatments
Weight loss - Drug treatment can include weight loss agents such as sibutramine or orlistat.
Cholesterol - A class of medications called statins will raise HDL and lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. Some of the statins interact with grapefruit juice and you may need to avoid this combination. Another class of drugs called fibrates can also help reduce triglycerides. They are often combined with statins to boost their effects.
Hypertension - A class of drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyrne inhibitors (ACEls) are the drugs of choice for reducing your blood pressure. In addition to lowering blood pressure, ACEls increase insulin sensitivity and slow the progression of kidney disease. Other drugs exist (such as water pills) that can also be used to help lower your blood pressure.
Blood Sugar - If your doctor diagnoses you with diabetes, he or she may prescribe a drug called metformin to help control your blood sugar.
There is no evidence to support the use of herbal medication to treat metabolic syndrome. However, there is evidence to suggest that some herbals may interact with certain medications. Check with your pharmacist before taking any herbal preparations. Consult your pharmacist for more information about metabolic syndrome or visit these websites: www.mayoclinic.com!invoke.dm?id=DS00522
www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/metabolic.html
Metabolic is a group of disorders of the metabolism that significantly Increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Treatment of metabolic syndrome, as well as education about it, may prevent these complications. It is estimated that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Canada is approximately 25 per cent.
You have metabolic syndrome if you have three or more of the following risk factors:
- Waist circumference over 102 cm (40") in men or over 88 cm (35") in women
- Triglyceride (a type of fat) level of at least 1.7 mmol/L
- HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) level less than 1.0 mmol/L in men and less than 1.3 in women
- Blood pressure of 130/85 mmHg or higher
- Elevated toasting glucose (blood sugar) level over 6 mmol/L (insulin resistance)
Being overweight (body mass index > 25) can also contribute to metabolic syndrome. Your body mass index (BMI} can be easily calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared: BMI = weight (kg)/height2(m).
Your triglyceride levels can be raised by physical inactivity, being overweight, smoking, heavy drinking, and diets containing a lot of carbohydrates (sugars).
Factors which can contribute to lowering your HDL cholesterol levels include high triglyceride levels, obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, very high carbohydrate intake, type 2 diabetes, certain drugs, and genetic factors. Low levels of HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) increase your risk of heart disease.
High blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease. People with diabetes or kidney disease should aim to keep their blood pressure below 130/80 mm Hg. Forty-three percent of people with hypertension are not even aware that they have it.
Insulin resistance occurs when cells stop reacting normally to a hormone called insulin. As insulin resistance gets worse, the risk of heart disease increases. Insulin resistance is due to genetics, lack of exercise, obesity, and a diet high in refined sugars and saturated fats and low in dietary fibre.
