Metabolic Syndrome Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Metabolic Syndrome - Essay Example This complex set of conditions was named as the Clustering Syndrome X. This clustering syndrome later came to be known as the metabolic syndrome (Das 2010). Characteristics of Metabolic Syndrome The World Health Organization (WHO) defined the metabolic syndrome as â€Å"a constellation of features that included impaired glucose regulation (includes diabetes mellitus) and/or insulin resistance: the 25% of subjects with the lowest insulin sensitivity (measured directly) (Das 2010).† Metabolic syndrome is basically a set of diseases which enhance the cardiovascular risk. The main characteristics of the metabolic syndrome which have to play a role in the heart diseases are abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, increased blood pressure, insulin resistance, pro-inflammatory state and prothrombin rate. All these diseases tend to occur at the same time in the onset of the metabolic syndrome which directly affects the heart of an individual. (Das 2010; Ulrig 2006). Causes of Met abolic Syndrome Obesity, hypertension and diabetes individually have their own adverse effects which can affect the systems of the body. But if these diseased states occur altogether then the person would develop severe complications. Metabolic syndrome has been known as the insulin resistance syndrome because the hormone insulin in these patients is found to be in high quantities. Metabolic syndrome is believed to be caused by different mechanisms which relate to dysfunction of the body. Insulin Resistance is considered to be one of the most important features of the metabolic syndrome. By insulin resistance here it is meant that the body is not able to respond to the normal levels of insulin and this is a primary reason because of which hyperinsulinemia is seen in the patients with metabolic syndrome. It is argued that both hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance play an important role in causing hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia and reduced endothelial function which then poses risk to the cardiovascular system(Fan 2007; Das 2010). Leptin resistance is also considered to be a feature of this metabolic syndrome. Leptin resistance results in an increased quantity of leptin in the body. This increased leptin is considered to be a cause of reduced insulin sensitivity in the body. Research has shown that the rate of leptin and glucose disposal rate are inversely proportional to each other (Fan 2007; Ulrig 2006). Obesity is considered to be one of the main causes of the metabolic syndrome. It is related to insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, prothrombin rate, and pro-inflammatory states. Adipose tissue is an active metabolic organ which helps in secreting several substances inside the body. It secretes cytokines, inflammatory mediators, fatty acids, leptin, resistin and adiponectin. It also releases efferent signals which help in maintaining the hormonal systems of the body. Thus adipose tissue is involved in a lot of metabolic process es happening inside the body and maintenance of these metabolic processes is necessary in a normal individual. If the adipose tissue of the body undergoes massive changes as in obesity it can pave a way for the metabolic syndrome. In obesity it is seen that adipose tissue is also deposited on the visceras of the body and this proves to be a major determinant of the metabolic