What is Metabolic Syndrome?
Metabolic Syndrome is a condition that involves weight gain, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and elevated blood sugar. It is a condition that is a combination of Insulin Resistance and Estrogen Dominance. At the end of this continuum you have diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and all the problems associated with these conditions.
How is Metabolic Syndrome Treated?
Most medical practitioners will treat you for each of these issues separately with pharmaceutical medications. I prefer to approach Metabolic Syndrome as a whole issue and treat it with lifestyle changes and Nutraceuticals (natural substances). Lifestyle changes involve diet, exercise and stress release options. In your work with me we will look into what in your life has contributed to developing Metabolic Syndrome; what changes we can make to shift that process and create a lifestyle that supports your body’s normal functioning.
What are the Symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome?
Symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome include:
High Blood Pressure
HBP is a blood pressure greater than 150/90 taken outside of a practitioner’s office. If your B/P is above 140/80 you have borderline hypertension. Both need to be treated.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is how your body circulates fat for energy, nutrition and the production of hormones. Elevated cholesterol is associated with vascular disease. In and of itself cholesterol is not the only culprit. Inflammation, genetic damage, lack of exercise, elevated serum glucose or homocystine, and obesity all contribute. Vascular disease causes heart attacks, problems with circulation to our legs, erectile dysfunction and dementia. Since your vessels carry blood to all parts of your body, vascular disease affects your entire body, not just your heart. Cholesterol breaks down into three categories. Triglycerides are available in your blood as fuel. HDL removes plaque from your vessels and LDL puts plaque onto your vessels. LDL also carries energy to your brain cells. LDL is oxidized by sugar and becomes the form of LDL that does damage. We are interested in your total cholesterol; however the ratio of these three forms is more important that the total level. If you have elevated LDL we will want to look at what makes up your LDL with a test called a VAP-LDL. Particle size determines the damage that LDL can do.
Elevated Blood Sugar
Elevated blood sugar causes damage to your vessels.
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