Metabolic Syndrome

If anyone suffers from metabolic syndrome, then he or she should better change his or her feeding habits, and do a lot of exercises, as this may reduce the chances of contracting very serious diseases (Hansen & Bray, 2009). Moreover, one is also supposed to undergo frequent health checkups in order to ensure that his or her health conditions are good. There is a very high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the US, and it is estimated that 35% of the total of adults in the country are suffering from the syndrome (Codario, 2011). In addition, almost half of those who are 60 years old and above, are also suffering from the syndrome. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased by 1.8%, where it rose from 32.9% to 34.7% within the 1999-2006 period (Malouf, 2009). There are very many physiological changes associated with metabolic syndrome and this includes, hypertension, low cholesterol HDL, abdominal obesity, damaged fasting blood glucose and high HDL cholesterol. This paper is therefore going to look at these physiological changes, in a bid to provide their pharmacological treatment. In addition, the paper will also explain how the treatment works, together with its benefits and risks (Bagchi & Sreejayan, 2012).

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can be treated in very different ways, and changing one’s lifestyle can help in treating the disorder, but it is not very effective (Hansen & Bray, 2009). The doctor may therefore recommend one to exercise regularly, stop smoking, change the diet and to consume less salts. These changes are however not enough, since one may only be able to lower the blood pressure, but not to treat the disorder. On the other hand, doctors can administer different drugs for the treatment of high blood pressure which may include the following (Beck, 2013).

Thiazide Diuretics

These are drugs which act on the kidneys, thus helping the body in being able to eliminate salts and water, and to also reduce blood volume (Codario, 2011). These drugs are usually administered first for high blood pressure medication, but other drugs may also be administered as the first choice. If one takes diuretics and the symptoms persist, then he or she is supposed to seek medical advice, whereby the doctor may replace diuretics with a different drug. Diuretics are however very effective particularly for the old and blacks as compared to ACE (Byrne & Wild, 2011).  

Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)

            ARBs help in relaxation of blood vessels, through blocking high blood pressure (Malouf, 2009). ARBs do not therefore block the formation of receptors which lead to the narrowing of blood vessels. ARBs include the following, losartan, and candesartan. ARBs may therefore benefit those suffering mainly from chronic kidney diseases (Beck, 2013).

Calcium Channel Blockers

These medications help in the relaxation of blood vessels muscles. In addition, some of these drugs may also help in slowing the heart beat rate. They are usually very effective particularly to the old and black people as compared to ACE (Codario, 2011). On the other hand, calcium channel blockers may react with grapefruit juice, hence leading to an increase in blood levels, and thus raising the risks of side effects. If anyone notices such reactions, then it is good to talk to the doctor or a pharmacist (Hansen & Bray, 2009).

Low HDL Cholesterol

            Low HDL cholesterol in the blood can help in the reduction of excess cholesterol from the blood, thus reducing the chances of contracting heart diseases (Byrne & Wild, 2011). On the other hand, low HDL levels are also responsible for the development of cardiovascular diseases, as they increase the risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases. This is however possible, only if the lipids such a triglycerides and LDL cholesterol and very high in the blood (Beck, 2013).

Low HDL can therefore be treated through the following ways.

Conducting HDL raising Therapies

Low HDL levels in most cases replicate a genetic irregularity, even though they can be reduced by high blood levels and by quitting cigarette smoking (Hansen & Bray, 2009). Diets which are rich in very high carbohydrates often lower the levels of HDL. Hindering CETP, since CETP aids in the exchange of cholesterol amongst lipoproteins and it may also transfer it from HDL to LDL and VLDL (Malouf, 2009). Most people with genetic mutation which consequently causes loss of all types the activities of CETP, are very likely to have very high HDL cholesterol levels, thus their chances of contracting coronary diseases becomes minimal (Codario, 2011).

Statins, Niacin and Fibrates

These drugs can help in decreasing the cardiovascular disease risks and the progression of atherosclerosis through upsetting numerous lipid parameters (Byrne & Wild, 2011). Fibrates consequently reduce about 25% of the main chances of contracting coronary diseases. On the other hand, statins are very effective on HDL, as they raise the concentrations by either 5% or 10%, thus leading to a secondary benefit to the current therapy, which is above LDL reduction (Beck, 2013).

Abdominal Obesity

            High levels of fat in the body have very serious health consequences (Hansen & Bray, 2009). This is usually related to the high levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and low HDL levels cholesterol. Fats are also responsible for the impairment of the body, thus making it hard to respond to insulin, a factor which mainly leads to a rise in the levels of insulin and blood sugar levels. In addition, excess fats also leads to high blood pressure, diabetes, strokes and depression (Codario, 2011).

Abdominal obesity can be reduced in very many ways which include changing the diet, exercising regularly, administration of orlistat, and surgery. If one controls his or her intake of calories daily, then this could have a very positive impact in his or her life, since abdominal obesity is usually caused by high intake of calories (Beck, 2013). The administration of orlistat is also effective, as it inhibits the absorption of fats into the intestines, this consequently reduces the chances of abdominal obesity, since the abdomen is not likely to absorb fats. Surgeries consequently help in weight loss by about 5 BMI, thus reducing the chances of contracting abdominal obesity (Byrne & Wild, 2011).

Impaired Fasting Glucose

This is a condition whereby the body cannot be able to regulate glucose efficiently as it is supposed to (Hansen & Bray, 2009). Therefore, glucose is therefore the concentration of glucose in the body is not controlled since insulin cannot be able to control it. This condition is usually caused particularly if insulin is not able to regulate the concentration of glucose in the blood, hence affecting the victim. It is very high to diagnose the symptoms of IFG since the disorder has very little to no symptoms, but increase in weight and high blood pressure might also be the cause (Codario, 2011).

Impaired fasting glucose is not usually treated through the use of drugs, but through lowering the levels of glucose in the blood, which consequently helps in preventing diabetes type 2. Glucose levels can be balanced in the blood through eating a balanced diet, maintaining the levels of alcohol consumption and quitting smoking (Beck, 2013).

High HDL Cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is usually treated through lifestyle changes and different drugs (Hansen & Bray, 2009). The treatment is usually used to lower the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, to a level which can reduce the chances of contracting heart attack or even coronary heart disease. The risks of heart attack rise when the LDL cholesterol levels rise, thus making it easy for one to contract heart diseases. On the other hand, some people may be at a very high risk of contracting heart attacks simply because they might be suffering from other heart diseases (Codario, 2011).

The doctor can administer medicines responsible for lowering the levels of cholesterol in order to control HDL in the body. Medicines are responsible for the control of high blood cholesterol, but they cannot be able to cure the condition (Byrne & Wild, 2011). Hence, one is required to be consistent in taking the medicines in order to be able to maintain the cholesterol levels in the body. Statins are responsible for lowering the levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood. Statins are therefore recommended by most physicians, since they are very effective (Beck, 2013). Bile acids are also responsible for lowering the LDL cholesterol, but they cannot be taken alone, they are therefore prescribed together with statins. Nicotinic acids which are responsible for raising the HDL cholesterol are also administered, since they lower the triglycerides and LDL cholesterol level in the body. Nicotinic acids are however very reactive, and it is only recommended to use them under the doctor’s prescription (Malouf, 2009).

On the other hand, non-medicinal approaches may also be used such as losing weight. If one is overweight, then losing weight can really help in making them to be able to reduce the levels of cholesterol in the body, thus being able to reduce high HDL cholesterol in the body (Codario, 2011). Doing a lot of exercise and also helps in regulating the flow of blood and burning of calories, thus reducing the levels of cholesterol in the body. It is therefore advised to always undertake a lot of exercises in order to allow the body to work at ease and thus reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood (Hansen & Bray, 2009).  

Benefits

Treating metabolic syndrome consequently helps in reducing the chances of contracting different diseases such as heart attack, diabetes and stroke. Moreover, this consequently helps in regulating the levels of blood sugar in the body, which leads to proper body functioning. Moreover, treating this syndrome reduces the chances of contracting chronic diseases such as diabetes, and the number of deaths related to metabolic syndrome (Beck, 2013). This will also help in reducing the prevalence of the disorder in the country, whereby more than half of the adults’ population in the country seems to be affected by the disorder (Byrne & Wild, 2011). The level of cancer related cases also reduce due to the treatment of metabolic syndrome, since some disorders related to metabolic syndrome may result in cancer.

Risks

There are a lot of risks which are accompanied by the drugs which are responsible for curing physiological changes caused by metabolic syndrome (Hansen & Bray, 2009). Some drugs such as nicotinic acids, are very acidic and may therefore result in emergence of other diseases immediately after the condition is treated. In addition, some of this drugs do not cure the physiological changes, but they only help in regulating the conditions required the levels of cholesterol in the body (Codario, 2011). It is therefore required to take such drugs for as long as a person is alive, a thing which may create resistance in the body, thus resulting in other diseases which cannot be cured due to drug resistance created in the body by the drugs.

Reference

Codario, R. A. (2011). Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome. Totowa, N.J: Humana Press.

Beck-Nielsen, H. (2013). The metabolic syndrome: Pharmacology and clinical aspects. Vienna: Springer.

Hansen, B. C., & Bray, G. A. (2009). The metabolic syndrome: Epidemiology, clinical treatment, and underlying mechanisms. Totowa, N.J: Humana.

Byrne, C. D., & Wild, S. H. (2011). The metabolic syndrome. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.

Malouf, N. M. (2009). Diabetes & the metabolic syndrome: Eating for prevention and treatment. Chatswood, N.S.W., Australia: New Holland.

Bagchi, D., & Sreejayan, N. (2012). NUTRITIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS FOR DIABETES AND METABOLIC SYNDROME. Burlington: Elsevier Science.