Syndrome of insulin resistance, Syndrome X

Causes

Metabolic syndrome is becoming increasingly common in the United States. Researchers are not sure whether the syndrome is due to a single cause, but all risk factors are associated with obesity.

The metabolic syndrome is associated with many conditions and risk factors. The two most important risk factors are:

* Extra weight around the middle of the body (central obesity). The body can be described as “apple shape”.

* Resistance to insulin, in which the body does not use insulin effectively. Insulin is needed to help control the amount of sugar in the body.

Insulin helps sugar (glucose) from the blood into cells. If you have insulin resistance, the body does not respond to it and the sugar in the blood can not enter cells. As a result, the body produces more insulin. The levels of insulin and blood sugar rise, affecting kidney function and raising the level of blood fats such as triglycerides.

Other risk factors include:

* Aging
* Genes that make you have more chance of developing this condition (genetic predisposition)
* Hormonal changes
* Lack of exercise

Symptoms

* Extra weight around the waist (central or abdominal obesity)

Exams and Tests

According to the American Heart Association (American Heart Association) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute), metabolic syndrome is present if you have three or more of the following signs :

* Blood pressure less than 130/85 mmHg
* Blood sugar (glucose) in the fasted less than 100 mg / dL
* Waist circumference (length around the waist):
o Men: 101.6 cm (40 inch) or greater
or Female: 88.9 cm (35 inches) or more
* Low HDL cholesterol:
or Males under 40 mg / dL
o Women: below 50 mg / dL
* Triglycerides at or above 150 mg / dL

Tests that can be done to diagnose metabolic syndrome include:

* Blood pressure measurement
* Glucose test
* HDL cholesterol level
* LDL cholesterol level
* Total cholesterol level
* Triglyceride level

The study was conducted with nearly 360,000 people in nine European countries. Has revealed that waist measurement is a powerful indicator of the risk of premature death, although the individual weight is normal.

The scientists found that for every 5 inches of extra fat around the waist, increases by 13% in women and 17% for men the risk of premature death. Experts also say that these results provide further evidence that store excess fat around the waist is a significant health risk, even if not considered cases of people who are obese or obviously overweight.

The results showed that people who have a large waist-over 120 cm in men and more than 100 inches in women-have twice the risk of dying prematurely compared with participants in the trial who had waists small, less than 80 inches in men and 65 inches in the case of women.

The reason for this strong link between mortality risk and the storage of belly fat is not, however, adequately covered.

Dr. Tobias Pischon of the German Institute of Human Nutrition, believes it could be because abdominal fat is distinct from other adipose stores and can directly influence the development of chronic diseases releasing messenger substances.

Scientists believe that the adipose tissue in the shape of the abdomen secrete certain cytokines, hormones and metabolically active compounds that can contribute to development of some diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

As the doctor Riboli, “The good news is that you do not need expensive tests carried out to analyze this aspect of your health, because it costs nothing to measure the hip and waist.

As a measure waist circumference

Is determined with a flexible tape, millimeter, while the person standing naked and relaxed. It surrounds the entire abdomen with a tape measure and note the measurement in centimeters, after having expelled all the air.
To get a tighter value is better to make two or three attempts.