Metabolic Syndrome: Taking Urgent Action
Our century can undoubtedly be called the century of metabolic disorders, which certainly affects health. It is the internal metabolism that has a very significant effect on the body as a whole. According to WHO, every third person on our planet has metabolic syndrome.
What is metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a complex problem of our health, and not a change in the functioning of one organ. Its essence lies in disorders of fat and carbohydrate metabolism, which affect the functioning of the whole organism. The problem includes several links – arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia (cholesterol metabolism disorder), liver steatosis, abdominal obesity, carbohydrate metabolism disorder (diabetes mellitus or glucose tolerance). It is not at all necessary for all of the above to be present at the same time in one person. But even the presence of one or two points in combination with excess weight is already a reason to take urgent measures.
In essence, metabolic syndrome is a single process of metabolic disorder in our body, which manifests itself in its own way in each organ. If you have risks of developing metabolic syndrome, it is very important to monitor not only the dynamics of weight, but also blood pressure, cholesterol levels, sugar and liver condition.
Why is metabolic syndrome dangerous?
Metabolic syndrome progresses without our intervention, worsening the health of the entire body as a whole. Morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular pathology are growing. Advanced steatosis is complicated by liver cirrhosis and decompensation of its function. Diabetes mellitus has an extremely negative effect on the entire body. If you do not intervene in time, the duration and quality of life of such a person noticeably decreases, which is why it is so important not to let the situation slide.
Control and prevention measures
The fight against metabolic syndrome should be started as early as possible to minimize long-term consequences. There are four main areas of work – body weight correction, nutrition optimization, physical activity and drug therapy.
1) Body weight
Weight correction should be smooth, without sudden jumps. It is advisable to lose weight by 3-4 kg per month, “without swings”. More intensive loss of fat reserves can be dangerous – oddly enough, but the liver stores fat in itself during rapid weight loss, and the kidneys can drop below normal levels. Therefore, smoothness is the key to success in weight loss.
Good results can be said if the patient has lost more than 10% of their initial body weight. For example, if the patient weighs 100 kg, losing more than 10 kg in a few months is considered good.
It is worth striving for the numbers of a normal waist, this is the final goal. For a woman, the optimal waist will be less than 80 cm, and for men – up to 94 cm.
2) Nutritional correction
In most cases, you can’t do without changing your diet. First of all, you should remove simple carbohydrates from your daily menu – bakery products, pastries, baked goods, all added sugar, sweets, cakes, etc. We also refuse refractory fats (lamb, pork, fatty beef, goose, duck, poultry skin, margarine, mayonnaise, etc.).
Fiber, especially fresh, on the contrary, will be very useful. It is worth eating at least 4-5 servings per day, some of which should be fresh, not thermally processed.
If we talk about fats, one of the most common mistakes of the patient is their total minimization, which is fundamentally wrong. The ban should be set only for harmful options. Vegetable fats, on the contrary, will be very useful (liquid vegetable oils, nuts, sunflower seeds, avocado, etc.).
3) Physical activity
Increasing physical activity will help improve the condition of the body with metabolic syndrome. It is important that the loads should be daily, ideally twice a day. Of course, sports activities should be agreed with your doctor and have no contraindications, given the presence of certain chronic diseases. Cardiovascular loads are useful. It is logical to assume that patients with metabolic syndrome are overweight, so doctors do not recommend running. Regular visits to the pool will be optimal – this way the musculoskeletal system will not suffer from overload. If there is no pool, brisk walking will do.
4) Drug therapy
In most cases, patients with metabolic syndrome require drug support. Ursosan group drugs based on ursodeoxycholic acid help reduce the severity of fatty infiltration in the liver. They remove excess fat from the hepatocyte (liver cell) and help slow down liver fibrosis. The duration of treatment is usually several months.
Thioctic acid (berlition, thiogamma, etc.) has a positive effect on the liver and the body as a whole in metabolic syndrome. It reduces insulin resistance, improves liver function, and has a positive effect on carbohydrate and fat metabolism.
Vitamin E in short courses of 200 mg per day has a positive effect on our liver, and Omega-3 courses also work. Metformin preparations help influence carbohydrate metabolism. They reduce insulin resistance, which is very important when sugar levels rise.
Correction of cholesterol metabolism disorders is carried out with various drugs – statins or fibrates are used most often. To select a drug, a blood test for the lipid spectrum is required.
Using various “fat-burning” drugs is definitely a mistake. Firstly, they can cause drug-induced liver damage, and secondly, only natural weight loss through diet optimization and increased physical activity will be beneficial for the body.
Metabolic syndrome is very common these days, but it is not a reason to do nothing. The sooner you start working, the better the result will be. Once you achieve it, it is important to continue monitoring your weight, nutrition, and physical activity.