The modern sedentary lifestyle has contributed to many health ailments, such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes. One of these risky health conditions is called metabolic syndrome, and almost one out of every six people has it. Metabolic syndrome is not considered a disease — it is a group of risk factors that are a precursor to life-threatening diseases. This group of risk factors includes abdominal fat, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. The best metabolic syndrome treatment is changing unhealthy behaviors, such as switching to a healthier diet and exercising on a regular basis.
Simply switching to a healthier diet is one of the main keys to an effective metabolic syndrome treatment. This change includes eating less high-fat red meat, eating more fruits and vegetables and eliminating unhealthy processed foods from the overall diet. Other changes, such as reducing foods that are high in saturated fats and trans fats and increasing consumption of whole grain foods, also are recommended by doctors and nutritionists.
The key to successful metabolic treatments is understanding what a person’s current health risks are, then changing the diet to counterbalance the risks. For example, if a man is pre-diabetic, he immediately should stop drinking or eating sugary items and switch to sugar substitutes. A woman who has high cholesterol should cut out fried, fatty foods and begin eating more fresh vegetables and fruits.
Another way to begin metabolic syndrome treatment is incorporating daily exercise. This doesn’t imply that a sedentary person needs to start running for an hour a day, but it does mean that an obese person should begin walking more and perhaps should begin using the stairs instead of the elevator. The key is to increase normal physical activity over time.
There are many ways to start making healthier choices and begin a metabolic syndrome treatment plan. If a woman smokes, she should quit or cut back, because smoking increases the risk of heart disease. If a man is frequently stressed out and exhausted, he should begin seeking stress relief treatment and attempting to get more rest. Other helpful items include drinking more water instead of processed drinks or alcohol.
Some people need metabolic syndrome treatment medications. People who have high blood pressure might take angiotension receptor blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or beta blockers. People who are pre-diabetic or who have type 2 diabetes might be on glucose medications. High cholesterol medications have bile acid resins and statins. Some people who do not want to take prescription medicines will take daily doses of aspirin in an effort to prevent strokes, heart attacks and blood clots.
