What is Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic Syndrome is characterized as people who have large waist measurements, high blood sugar levels, and high blood pressure readings. The people who have these three factors are considered to be at a higher risk of developing serious heart conditions and type II diabetes.

Who has Metabolic Syndrome?

More than one third of the population of the United States has metabolic syndrome. The syndrome seems to be equally spread out amongst the races, and the genders. This is an alarming number of people, but what is even more alarming is the fact that as people age there is an increased likelihood that they will develop metabolic syndrome. The number of cases of reported metabolic syndrome in people who are sixty years old or older, increases from thirty percent of the population to more than fifty percent of the population.

The Perfect Storm

Doctors describe metabolic syndrome as being the perfect storm. The three conditions of high blood pressure readings, high glucose levels in the blood, and high numbers of waist measurements, means that a big problem is about to occur, at any minute.
Having these three conditions is a big indicator of the heart conditions that are going to happen to the individual. Doctors know that patients with these three factors will eventually develop serious heart complications, and possibly die from a heart attack at a fairly young age.

What can be done?

Obesity and age are the key factors that add up to people having metabolic syndrome. People who battle obesity are far more likely to battle high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. People stop being as active as they age, and the lesser activity leads to weight gain, and the possibility of metabolic syndrome occurring.
People need to get up and get moving. Exercise is the key factor in weight reduction. Weight reduction decreases the high blood pressure readings, decrease the high blood sugar readings, and decreases your chances of cardiovascular disease because it keeps the blood flowing and the muscles strong.
Doctors must evaluate their patient’s risk of developing heart conditions due to their metabolic syndrome indicators and then recommend appropriate measures to correct the indicators.
Walking and low impact cardiovascular exercise appears to be one of the greatest measures that all patients can use to help reduce their weight, and reduce their chances of developing heart conditions.
Calorie and portion control can be implemented so that people can reduce their weight. Once the weight goes down then the blood pressure and blood sugar number will follow. Teaching people about proper nutritional choices that will allow them to stay full and satisfied, yet maintain a healthy weight should be type priority for all medical professionals.

What this means for the future

If people do not suddenly start to make changes in their lifestyles, and their weight problems, then the healthcare industry is about to be bombarded with people suffering from heart conditions. The baby boomers are all reaching ages where heart disease and diabetes are greater than normal risk so there is soon to be an increase in billable medical care costs.