This book describes Metabolic Syndrome, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases
The metabolic syndrome is well known as a common illness in the developed countries because of over eating and a poor unhealthy lifestyle such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol.
When I first graduated from medical university, most of the patients were thin and undernourished.
Now most of the patients are well fed; some are probably overfed with protruding abdomen with high blood pressure or diabetes or both.
This is one of the effects of being a developed society.
This mysterious syndrome also goes by the scary-sounding name Syndrome X
Not all doctors agree that metabolic syndrome should be viewed as a distinct disease since the different components of metabolic syndrome are all diseases with individual symptoms and signs and corresponding treatment.

Metabolic syndrome (also termed syndrome X or dysmetabolic syndrome) indicates a link between certain metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease.
While the criteria for the diagnosis differ, the presence of a grouping of risks factors that results in cardiovascular disease is well known.
The main features of metabolic syndrome are:
1. Insulin resistance,
2. Hypertension (high blood pressure),
3. Abnormalities in cholesterol levels, and an
4. Increased risk for blood clotting.
5. Abdominal Obesity
Most people with metabolic syndrome are obese or overweight.

Insulin resistance (IR) is a disorder in which the cells of the body become resistant to the effects of insulin hormone.
The guidelines from the 2001 National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III) provide the definition of metabolic syndrome or syndrome X.
Any three of these traits in the same person meet the criteria for the metabolic syndrome:
1. Abdominal obesity: a waist circumference more than 40 inches (102 cm) in men and more than 35 inches (88 cm) in women.
2. Serum triglyceride s above 150 mg/dl
3. HDL cholesterol 40mg/dl or lower in men and 50mg/dl or lower in women
4. Blood pressure of 130/85 or more.
5. Fasting blood glucose of 110 mg/dl or above. (Some doctors use 100mg/dl)
Metabolic syndrome is not a disease in itself.
The syndrome is a cluster of risk factors (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and abdominal fat).
Obviously, having any one of these risk factors is not good.
But when they are combined, they set the stage for more serious problems.
These risk factors have double the risk of blood vessel and heart disease, which can result in heart attacks and strokes.
They raise the risk of diabetes by five times.
Diagnosis:
A detailed history and physical examination should be done.
Every component of the syndrome should be assessed distinctly.
1. Blood pressure
2. Weight and body composition
3. Blood lipid levels
4. Diabetes assessment by fasting blood sugar, insulin level, hemoglobin A1c and oral glucose tolerance testing
5. Cardiac risk factors can be assessed for cardiovascular risk
Treatment
The treatment for metabolic syndrome varies from alterations in diet and lifestyle to treating cholesterol-lowering and diabetes medicines.
Purposes are to lower blood pressure and control body weight.
Lifestyle modification
Diet control (salt, fats)-Mediterranean
Exercise (walk with pedometer, followed by running)
Weight Loss (normal BMI)
Control Hypertension (less than 130/80) with ACE Inhibitor, beta blocker
Control Diabetes (less than 100mg/dl) with metformin, insulin, Byetta ...read more