Trying to capture all of the different threads that weave itself into heart disease is darn well near impossible. So many different health issues exist that play into the disease including the genetics ties. There is one particular medical condition that has ties with a variety of cardiac problems called metabolic syndrome or metabolic syndrome X.

This metabolic syndrome is actually a collection of heart disease risk factors grouped together as a result of your body’s resistance to insulin, which occurs when your body does react as it should to insulin. People with metabolic syndrome are at greater risk for heart disease and could fall to the sudden death syndrome.

Threatening components of metabolic syndrome include not only the resistance to insulin but also hypertension (aka high blood pressure), obesity, lipid deformities, problems with blood clotting and more. A doctor will slap the metabolic syndrome tag on you if you have at least three of these factors present in your body:

1. High triglyceride level at least 150 mg/dl or more
2. Higher than average blood pressure but not quite in the hypertensive stage
3. Thick waist circumference
4. High glucose levels even during times of fasting
5. Low readings for high density lipid cholesterol (HDL), the good cholesterol

Why metabolic syndrome is a problem

Your body’s resistance to insulin is the main issue with metabolic syndrome and as it attempts to compensate for the shortfall your body ends up producing too much insulin. When this happens it can produce a build-up of abnormalities on the metabolic level and could even segue to diabetes-type 2. Diabetes can affect the heart and cause complications.

Families that already have diabetes in the family, particular cases stemming from obesity and lack of exercise, tend to develop metabolic syndrome. The good news is you can stem the damage from your poor lifestyle habits and change them. While you may still end up with insulin issues or heart disease, you will be healthier than before if you incorporate exercise. Losing weight is a big part of reducing your heart disease risk that is tied with the metabolic syndrome.

Treatment for metabolic syndrome varies

The treatment for metabolic syndrome varies from person to person. If you are insulin resistant, diet, exercise and cleaner living can reverse the problem. In fact, incorporating exercise is important as it can greatly reduce the chances of heart disease on its own merits. Exercise can also help lower your triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL), another side problem stemming from metabolic syndrome. Unfortunately, until you can get a better handle on these matters, medications may be necessary to lower your cholesterol.

Aspirin may become part of the treatment for metabolic syndrome as it helps prevent blood clots from forming, a cause of heart attacks. As far as hypertension is concerned, there are medications that can help keep that condition in line. A healthy diet and exercise can great reduce your blood pressure readings and lower your heart disease risk. The bottom line is that by treating the symptoms associated with metabolic syndrome, you are essentially treating the syndrome itself.

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