Metabolic Syndrome
Obesity and related health problems impair seriously community and individual’s health. Especially those whose BMI is over 35 should be informed about that they are eligible for bariatric surgery. Furthermore, people with a body mass index of 30-35 and who have metabolic syndrome criteria are eligible for bariatric surgery. Surgical treatments are the most efficient method in the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Coexistence of at least 3 of the following 5 conditions, each of which threatens health, is called metabolic syndrome.
1-Increased waist circumference: One of the indicators for metabolic syndrome is that the waist circumference measured over the navel is more than 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women. Fat accumulated around the navel is more dangerous than those accumulated elsewhere in the body in terms of cardiovascular diseases.
2-High triglyceride level: A blood triglyceride (free blood lipids) level higher than 150 mg/dl (or using triglyceride-lowering medication) is a sign of metabolic syndrome. High triglyceride levels increase the risk of arteriosclerosis and diabetes.
3-Low HDL level: HDL cholesterol is known as “good cholesterol” and has a protective feature against atherosclerosis. HDL cholesterol level below 50 mg/dl in women and below 40 mg/dl in men is a sign of metabolic syndrome.
4-High blood pressure: Blood pressure higher than 135/90 mmHg (or taking blood pressure lowering medication) is a sign of metabolic syndrome.
5-Impaired fasting blood sugar: Fasting blood sugar between 100-125 mg / dl (fasting blood sugar of 126 mg / dl and above means diabetes (diabetes).
There is a quite close relationship between metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a similar health problem that threatens heart health and needs to be treated.
What diseases does metabolic syndrome increase the risk of?
Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. These cardiovascular diseases are heart attack, heart failure, arrhythmias (rhythm disorders), sudden death and stroke.
The risk of developing heart disease in people with metabolic syndrome is 2 times higher and the risk of developing diabetes is 5 times higher than those without.
How to realize you have metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome does not have symptoms and cause any complaints. Increased body weight is often the first remarkable sign. However, those who are not obese or even overweight may have metabolic syndrome. Only waist circumference larger than a certain extent (central obesity) is the most common finding that increases susceptibility to metabolic syndrome.
Other than this, high blood pressure (hypertension), high triglyceride (free bloodlipids), high good (HDL) cholesterol or slightly high blood sugar level can only be determined by examination or medical examinations.
Therefore, you should pay attention to your body weight and waist circumference. Furthermore, because hypertension is not a symptomatic disease, it is useful to regularly measure or have your blood pressure measured.
Who is at high risk of metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is more common in people who are overweight, exercise less, and have an unhealthy diet. Furthermore, those with a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure are at higher risk of metabolic syndrome.
Studies conducted in our country state that our society is getting fatter and that the risk of central obesity and metabolic syndrome increases rapidly, especially in young-middle-aged women. In our country, 30% of men and 45% of women have metabolic syndrome.
How is metabolic syndrome treated?
Treatment planning should be done in order to eliminate the criteria constituting the metabolic syndrome. The priority is to lose excess weight and acquire healthy active life habits. Surgical treatment options should also be evaluated for people who fail diet attempts and meet the criteria. Bariatric surgery not only causes weight loss, but also improves metabolic syndrome criteria.
