Metabolic Syndrome- Are you at Risk?

Metabolic Syndrome and You: Should You Be Concerned? Are you at Risk? 
Submitted by Moni Banerjee PA-C

What is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of risk factors...

It is proposed that having the components of this syndrome leads to prothrombotic and proinflammatory states. A prothrombotic state leads to increased risk for clots in vessels. Addtionally, a proinflammatory state leads to damage to blood vessel walls and thus an increased risk of plaque development and blockages in arteries. The features that we look for are as follows: 

• Waist circumference greater than 40 inches in men and greater than 35 inches in women. These goals vary based on your country of origin.
• Dyslipidemia. Notice we use the word “dyslipidemia,” and not just hyperlipidemia or high cholesterol (terms that are more often used and therefore more familiar to most). We use this term dyslipiemia specifically because it addresses a larger constellation of risk factors in relation to cholesterol. The trend in medicine is not just focus on the total cholesterol but also on the components that make up the total. More to follow on this in the next paragraphs.
• Hypertension which is classified as blood pressure greater than 130 for systolic (top number) and/or 85 for diastolic (bottom number).
• Fasting blood sugar greater than 110. 

Dyslipidemia?

The commonly held but faulty belief is that if your cholesterol is less than 200, than you are at goal and therefore low risk. In dyslipidemia, low HDL, high triglycerides, and small LDL particle size, all may put you at risk for cardiovascular disease. If you have one or all of these characteristics in order to be classified as “dyslipidemic.” You are considered to have high triglycerides if your triglycerides are greater than 150. Your HDL (or “good” cholesterol) is low if it less than 40 in men and less than 50 in women. And your particle size for your LDL is usually obtained through advanced lipid testing (such as VAP, Berkeley, and NMR labs, to name a few). These advanced tests may be ordered by your Rocky Mountain Cardiology health care provider. 

Why the concern over metabolic syndrome?

All of the above-described features are worrisome because of your increased risk of both diabetes and heart disease. In fact, if you do have metabolic syndrome, your risk of developing diabetes is increased by 11% per year. The risk of developing heart disease is 1.5- to 3- fold higher, as well. Other associated conditions are non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep anea, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and hypogonadism.

What are the treatments for this?

Treat the waistline. The major intervention which is recommended first is weight loss. This will improve insulin resistance (or the cells of your body not responding to insulin to take in blood sugar).   Exercise will also help your waistline. Medications and surgery are also available, but are not as favored.

If your blood pressure is elevated, this may mean that you will need to be on blood pressure medications. If you are on medication already, your dosages/medicines may need to be adjusted in order for you to attain a goal blood pressure of 130/85 (or lower). Diet and exercise also affect your blood pressure, and so these may also be recommended to you.

If your blood sugar is up, you may need to be screened for diabetes. Elevated blood sugar is also well-treated with diet and exercise. Medicine may also be indicated depending on your blood sugar level. If you do not know what your fasting blood sugar is, it may be time for you to be screened. This is typically obtained in the lipid clinic appointments.

How can RMC help?

Our providers are available for consultations to screen you for metabolic syndrome. If you carry some or all of the traits, we can help you manage and treat the components of this syndrome. Our nurse practitioners and physician assistant, Anne, Melinda, and Moni, are available particularly in our lipid clinic appointments to help you manage these risk factors to reduce the risk of you developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Ask for us by name! 

Call us today for more information- 303-442-2395