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News : Heartfelt Fitness : Avoiding Metabolic Syndrome
RedNova.com - Dallas,TX,USA, August 14 2005 -- People with three or more of the following conditions are diagnosed as having metabolic syndrome, according to the American Heart Association:
Obesity, especially around the abdomen; blood fat disorders -- mainly high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol; elevated blood pressure (130/85 mmHg or higher); high blood sugar; prothrombotic or preinflammatory states.
Those with the syndrome are at increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
An estimated 47 million Americans -- roughly 25 percent of adults -- have metabolic syndrome. It is most common in persons over age 55 but can strike others, including obese, sedentary children.
The syndrome ""is basically a heart attack waiting to happen," said Michael J. LaMonte, a director of epidemiology. LaMonte led a study that showed that people with higher levels of fitness were far less likely to develop metabolic syndrome. The study appeared in the July 26 issue of the journal Circulation.
LaMonte said the syndrome is especially troubling because it lacks distinctive symptoms, so medical testing for the underlying conditions is the only way to learn if you are afflicted.
The correlation between fitness and syndrome was obvious: people with high fitness were 56 percent less likely to develop metabolic syndrome than low-fitness men; men with middle fitness were 26 percent less likely.
"That's a strong statement for lifestyle change" LaMonte said.
(source : www.rednova.com)
