A huge portion of the American population is suffering from metabolic syndrome, and according to a study published on JAMA, the numbers are rising. Question is, what is metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a combination of conditions that are a risk factor for the most deadly health conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The term metabolic refers to the process associated with chemical changes in body cells.
What are the symptoms of metabolic syndrome? A person is said to be having this condition if they have at least three of the following:
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- Low HDL cholesterol
- Elevated blood triglycerides
- Obesity
Each component in the above list is a high-risk problem, but a combination of them greatly increases your risk of suffering from liver and kidney disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, which includes suffering a stroke or a heart attack.
A new study reveals that the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome has been increasing, and between 2011 and 2016, it moved from 32.5 percent 36.9 percent. This rate showed that the prevalence increased in women, adults, and Asian and Hispanic origin persons.
These findings are not a surprise since obesity has a very close connection to metabolic syndrome, but one can not stop but worry about the rising numbers in certain ethnicities and even young adults. The disparities are not only a matter of age and underlying chronic conditions, but there is also the question of social, occupational, environmental, and genetic factors. All these factors have a role in the metabolic syndrome numbers. There is nothing much people can do about their genes, but they can prevent other factors.
The health disparities among ethnic groups should be looked into, especially now since they do not only hold a long term health consequence but also because this syndrome informs the underlying conditions associated with a more severe form of the Corona Virus. More intensive research is needed. The best way to mitigate metabolic syndrome is through prevention. People need to shed excess weight and make healthy lifestyle choices. Medication should only be an option when dealing with extreme cases.
