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 Metabolic Syndrome, also known as Syndrome X, greatly increases the likelihood of
developing coronary artery disease (CAD). This latter disorder
occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle
become hardened and narrowed.
The deterioration is caused by a build-up of plaque on
the inner walls or lining of the arteries. Plaque, which
consists of a substance containing cholesterol, calcium,
clotting proteins and other compounds, reduces blood flow to the
heart and oxygen supply to the heart muscle.
This process is divided into three distinct variants and can occur due to the build-up of fat deposits (plaque) on the inner walls of arteries (atherosclerosis), calcification of the wall of the arteries (Monckeberg's medial calcific sclerosis), or thickening of the muscular wall of small arteries and arterioles (arteriolosclerosis).
Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease
and the leading cause of death in the United States in both men
and women.
When blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart are reduced or
cut off, you can develop:
Angina – a chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart
is not getting enough blood.
 Heart attack – this happens when a blood clot suddenly cuts off
most or all blood supply to part of the heart. Cells in the
heart muscle that do not receive enough oxygen-carrying blood
begin to die. This can cause permanent damage to the heart
muscle.
Over time, coronary artery disease can weaken your heart muscle
and contribute to:
Heart Failure – this occurs when the heart is not able to pump
blood to the rest of the body effectively. Heart failure does
not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop
working. But it does mean that your heart is failing to pump
blood the way that it should.
Arrhythmia – changes in the normal rhythm of the heartbeats,
some of which can be quite serious.
An underlying cause of coronary artery disease, Metabolic
Syndrome is characterized by a group of risk factors present in
one person. They include:
- Abdominal obesity – excessive fat tissue in and around the
abdomen
- Atherogenic dyslipidemia – blood fat disorders like high
triglycerides, low HDL "good" cholesterol and high LDL "bad"
cholesterol which foster plaque build up in artery walls
- Elevated blood pressure
- Insulin Resistance – an underlying factor in obesity caused by
the body's inability to properly use blood sugar and insulin
- Prothrombotic state – the presence of high fibrinogen or
plasminogen activator inhibitor–1 in the blood stream
- Proinflammatory state – the presence of elevated C-reactive
protein in the blood
Metabolic Syndrome sufferers are at increased risk of
Cardiovascular Disease as well as coronary artery disease and
other disorders related to plaque build up like stroke and
peripheral vascular disease, as well as Pre- and Type 2
Diabetes. More than 50 million Americans are estimated to have
Metabolic Syndrome.
Obesity caused by the glucose and insulin imbalance called
Insulin Resistance is a key risk factor for Metabolic Syndrome.
The American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute advise that Metabolic Syndrome sufferers can be
identified by having three or more of these components:
- Elevated waist circumference:
Men – Equal to or greater than 40 inches (102 cm)
Women – Equal to or greater than 35 inches (88 cm)
-
Elevated triglycerides:
Equal to or greater than 150 mg/dL
- Reduced HDL ("good") cholesterol:
Men – Less than 40 mg/dL
Women – Less than 50 mg/dL
- Elevated blood pressure:
Equal to or greater than 130/85 mm Hg
- Elevated fasting glucose:
At least 110 mg/dL
The primary goal of someone suffering from Metabolic Syndrome is
to reduce the risk for coronary artery disease as well as
Cardiovascular Disease and Pre-Diabetes. The latter is a reversible condition which is diagnosed when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not elevated enough for Type 2 Diabetes. If neglected, however, Pre-Diabetes can lead to Type 2 Diabetes, which is irreversible in the vast majoity of cases and may require daily injections of insulin for the rest of a Diabetic's life. Type 2 Diabetes, itself, is a severely increased risk factor for blindness, kidney disease and the need for amputation.
Lifestyle changes are
crucial to reduce LDL cholesterol, hypertension (high blood
pressure) and glucose and insulin levels.
 There is no one pill to counter Metabolic Syndrome. We feel a complete
system is required to reverse this condition – one that includes
nutraceuticals (vitamins, herbs and minerals that are disease
specific), a realistic exercise program combined with
nutritional guidance, advice on combating carbohydrate addiction and a support network that will help you
change unhealthy lifestyle choices. Together, these factors can
result in:
- Weight loss to achieve a desirable objective (a BMI, or Body Mass
Index, of less than 25 kg/m2)
- Increased physical activity, with a goal of at least 30
minutes of moderate-intensity activity on 5 or more days per
week
- Healthy eating habits that include reduced intake of saturated
fat, trans fat and cholesterol
Click here
to read about the ground-breaking Insulite MetaX System, which
is scientifically-designed to reverse Insulin Resistance and its
related risk of coronary artery disease. The system
includes a formulation called RejuvenX that can improve circulation
with antioxidant ingredients like CoQ10 and bilberry extract.
You may be interested in some of our Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) about Metabolic Syndrome and the Insulite
MetaX System.
Click here to read
about
Metabolic Syndrome and Hypertension (High Blood
Pressure)
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