Work is crazy, your mind is racing with a huge list of things STILL to do. Your calendar is full of work commitments and family commitments. The kids are calling and you can’t remember the last time you sat down to eat breakfast, let alone had a lunch break. You are sleep deprived exhausted and thinking of overhauling your diet and exercise regime is the last thing on your mind. Our lives have become so demanding and the state of perpetual business has just become the norm....or so it was...
COVID 19 has prompted a shift in some of these ways. Employers are allowing employees to work from home. The usually busy social calendar has freed up and things are starting to look a little less busy. Many have taken the time to reflect on their overall health and have even actioned what they have been intending to do for a long time, however just never had previously found the time to do so.
Perhaps you have now noticed that your health has slipped but you're unsure whether your symptoms are worth taking action upon?
Here we cover signs and symptoms to look out for, particularly with regards to one of Australia's most common set of diseases and largest health burden, Metabolic Syndrome. We've written this so that you can gain greater awareness and take appropriate steps to get your health back on track.
What is Metabolic Syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome (also known as syndrome X or insulin-resistance syndrome) is the name for a cluster of disorders that together, increase the risk of numerous health conditions including heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is considered a lifestyle disease as many of the risk factors are directly related to diet and physical inactivity.
Here, when we talk about "heart disease" we are referring to ischemic heart disease. Ischemic heart disease is a condition where plaque builds up inside the arteries that supply blood to the heart. This is called atherosclerosis. Athlerscrosis narrows the arteries, reduces blood flow to your heart muscle leading to a heart attack, heart damage or even death.
The term "metabolic" refers to the biochemical processes involved in the body's normal functioning. Risk factors are traits, conditions, or habits that increase your chance of developing a disease.
Cluster of Disorders
The five conditions described below are metabolic risk factors. You can have any one of these risk factors alone, however, typically they present together. To fit the classification of metabolic syndrome, you must have at least three metabolic risk factors to be diagnosed.
Large waist circumference— A waistline that measures at least (89 centimetres) for women and (102 centimetres) for men.
High triglyceride level — 1.7 millimoles per litre (mmol/L) or higher of this type of fat found in the blood.
Reduced "good" or HDL cholesterol — Less than 40 mg/dL (1.04 mmol/L) in men or less than 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) in women of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
Increased blood pressure — 130/85 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) or higher
Elevated fasting blood sugar — 5.6 mmol/L or higher
The risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke increases with the number of metabolic risk factors you have.
Severity and Treatment
Metabolic Syndrome is a very serious medical condition that can be fatal. If you have ticked some of the boxes on the points above, or you have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome or any of its components, the good news is the first step to reversing or delaying serious health problems is through simple dietary and lifestyle changes, including:
Weight Loss
Losing 7 to 10 per cent of your body weight can reduce insulin resistance and blood pressure and decrease your risk of diabetes. It is important that you choose a sustainable weight loss method to maintain your weight loss.
Regular exercise
A good starting point is to aim for 30 minutes of exercise daily.
And most importantly...
A Healthy Diet
You really are what you eat, so, it goes without saying that a well balanced and individualised diet is going to do wonders for your metabolic health. Food and eating habits that are considered normal today, are so often not good for most of us. Poor food or simply the wrong food choices for you can lead to your body's natural self-regulation becoming highly disrupted and as a result, ill health and obesity arising. Here at Inspire Wellness, we specialise in treating metabolic health conditions through a program called Metabolic Balance. We are very proud of the work we do and are ranked number 1, Top Metabolic Balance Practice in Australia and New Zealand!
Metabolic Balance focuses solely on metabolic health - when you address the cause and restore balance to the body, metabolism can be reset and natural health restored. Metabolic Balance is a standout treatment for metabolic disease and with Metabolic Balance, you can truly reset your body.
Contact us today for a free 15-minute discovery call. We would love to help put you back on the path to wellness.
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