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What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Metabolic Disorders?

By Meshell Powell
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 4,806
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The symptoms of metabolic disorders can vary greatly depending on the type and severity of the specific disorder, although there are some symptoms that are common to many of these conditions. Some of the most frequently reported symptoms include high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and clotting disorders. Additional symptoms of metabolic disorders may include obesity, developmental delays, or neurological damage. Pain, seizures, or jaundice may occur in some patients. Any specific questions or concerns about symptoms of metabolic disorders in an individual situation should be discussed with a doctor or other medical professional.

Some of the symptoms of metabolic disorders are noticeable at birth, while others may develop slowly over a period of months or years. In some cases, symptoms may come and go without warning. Treatment varies according to the individual situation, and regular medical monitoring is essential. Mild symptoms may not require any specific medical treatment, while severe symptoms can prove fatal, even with aggressive forms of treatment.

Early symptoms of metabolic disorders are often apparent shortly after birth. The newborn may be lethargic or have problems feeding. The skin or eyes may have a yellow tint, a condition known as jaundice. As the infant gets older, weight gain may not occur as expected. Other milestones, such as crawling or babbling, may be absent or delayed.

High blood pressure and obesity are common symptoms of metabolic disorders and can often be treated successfully with dietary modification and the use of prescription medications. Insulin resistance is another common symptom and occurs when the natural hormone known as insulin is unable to adequately control blood sugar levels. This condition is also treated with dietary modification and prescription medications.

Those born with metabolic disorders may have abnormal blood-clotting capabilities. Frequently, these patients will develop blood clots in various organs and tissues of the body, increasing the risks of developing heart disease. Aspirin therapy may be used in adults with this problem, although other medications may be considered based on the presence of other underlying health conditions.

Developmental delays, seizure disorders, and jaundice are also among the more common symptoms of metabolic disorders. Cognitive delays are also frequently reported, and physical deformities may sometimes be present. The most severe types of disorders may lead to multiple organ failure or even death. It is important to discuss all available treatment options with a doctor so that an individualized treatment plan can be implemented.

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Discussion Comments
By JaneAir — On Oct 23, 2011

@ceilingcat - Maybe your cousins explained her disorder to her patients? Either way I'm hoping it didn't affect her work too much.

Anyway, I did a search online and it seems like there are a lot more metabolic disorders than I knew about. I've heard of thyroid disorders, but that's it! But apparently there are metabolic disorders that affect a lot of different things such as carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and even steroid metabolism!

By ceilingcat — On Oct 22, 2011

@cupcake15 - One of my cousins had a hypothyroid. Consequently, she was extremely overweight. I never asked her about it, but I used to imagine it made her professional life a bit difficult.

She was a nutritionist! She had excellent eating habits, but the hypothyroidism caused her to be overweight anyway! I always wondered if it was hard for her patients to take an overweight nutritionist seriously.

Anyway, I read somewhere that a lot of these disorders are genetic. It seems so unfair because you can't even do anything to prevent them!

By mutsy — On Oct 22, 2011

@Cupcake15 -That must have been really hard on your sister. I know that in addition to having extreme difficulty losing weight, people with this problem also tend to feel tired all of the time and develop thinning hair and courser skin. I read about this condition and I could not imagine having to deal with all of those problems.

There are also people that have the opposite problem and have a hyperthyroid. These people can eat whatever they want and never gain any weight. It really doesn’t sound like much of a problem, but they do have difficulty concentrating.

In addition they also have problems with restlessness and even develop high blood pressure. These people can also have a hard time sleeping at night. So the grass is not always greener on the other side.

By cupcake15 — On Oct 22, 2011

My sister suffers from metabolic problems. She has a hypothyroid which means that her thyroid is underactive and she has a hard time losing weight.

She had to go to two different doctors in order to determine how to treat her condition. The endocrinologist measured her hormonal levels and saw that they were very low. This is the reason why she had the sluggish metabolism in the first place.

She was put on medication, and she had to modify her diet significantly and avoid sugary foods which really tended to slow down her metabolism. She also had to exercise daily and was also given shots of vitamin B12. She has lost 40 pounds as a result of her treatment.

If you are not able to lose weight and have really tried everything, you should go to a doctor to see if there is another reason for this problem.

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