The dangers of metabolic syndrome

The article was professionally consulted by Dr. Ngo Dac Thanh Huy - Cardiologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital. The doctor has experience and strength in the field of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, echocardiography, coronary angiography and intervention.

According to the World Health Organization, about 20%-25% of adults globally have metabolic syndrome. This syndrome increases the number of people with pre-existing diabetes, the most common chronic disease in the world and one of the leading causes of death. The danger of metabolic syndrome is that there is a double risk of death; The risk of myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident is 3 times higher than that of the general population.

Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors that cluster together in the same patient, including:
Abdominal obesity; Lipid metabolism syndromes; Hypertension; Glucose intolerance; Precoagulopathy Condition pro-inflammatory state

Insulin resistance causes metabolic syndrome Many studies show that: metabolic syndrome is caused by the body's resistance to insulin - a hormone secreted by the pancreas that controls blood sugar levels. Normally, digested food turns into glucose and is used by the body as an energy source. Glucose gets into cells through the hormone insulin. If the body has insulin resistance, glucose cannot enter the cells, then the body responds by producing more insulin, causing insulin levels to rise in the blood. When insulin levels in the blood increase, blood triglycerides and other fats increase. Those factors affect the kidneys and cause blood pressure to rise, patients are at risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes...
Experts also said that there are factors that increase the risk. the disease is: age, at the age of 20, the incidence rate is less than 10%; this rate increases to 40% at the age of 60; race: people in Asian countries have a higher risk of metabolic syndrome than other races; obese people have diabetes, hypertension, polycystic ovary...

Metabolic syndrome is a phrase that is mentioned many times on health forums today. Not only in the world but also in Vietnam, never before has metabolic syndrome received so much attention as it is now.
Metabolic syndrome is concerned and prevented due to the level of health effects, the danger caused by disability for patients is getting higher and worse. Especially, the cost of disease treatment and treatment of events caused by it is a burden for patients, families and society.
Nutritionists, endocrinologists say that recently, chronic non-communicable diseases and metabolic syndrome have increased rapidly in the community. This syndrome is a condition in which the body has many risk factors at the same time, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, erectile dysfunction, stroke, high blood pressure...
Diseases that cause atherosclerosis Cardiovascular disorders Metabolic disorders promote the formation and growth of atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular accident and death.
The disease causes atherosclerosis in large and small blood vessels, in which the common areas of atherosclerosis are: aortic arch, coronary artery; extracranial great arteries such as the root of the internal carotid artery, the vertebral artery, the subclavian artery; major intracranial arteries include: distal internal carotid artery, vertebral artery; proximal middle cerebral artery, middle basilar artery, and disseminated atherosclerosis. Aneurysm complications are common in basilar artery, internal carotid artery and small artery disease.
Combined lesions in metabolic syndrome Metabolic syndrome can cause co-morbidities such as: obesity increases insulin resistance; type 2 diabetes and hypertension, because diabetes and hypertension are both risk factors for coronary artery disease and atherosclerotic lesions.
Many studies show that: insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia is associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as hypertriglyceridemia, decreased HDL-c, increased blood pressure, abdominal obesity...

Metabolic syndrome contains many health hazards, increasing cardiovascular events. Therefore, to prevent these risk factors, you need to have regular health check-ups every 6 months. Along with that, you need to have a scientific diet and exercise, especially if you are sick. comorbidities should be examined and treated aggressively.
Reasonable and scientific diet: You need to eat enough foods including 4 groups of substances: protein (meat, fish, eggs, milk...); powdered sugar (rice, porridge, pho, vermicelli, bread, cakes...); fat: fat in fish, shellfish, seafood, vegetable oil); vitamins and minerals: vegetables, tubers, fruits of all kinds. Avoid or limit alcohol consumption. Active treatment of diseases: diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia. Exercise regularly for 30-45 minutes a day with moderate intensity. Walking or jogging is one of the suitable options. Eliminate factors that cause atherosclerosis such as: avoid obesity; quit smoking, pipe tobacco; avoid any stress; prevention of infectious diseases..

Article referenced source: Vietnam Society of Cardiology