Metabolic syndrome in women: causes and treatment

One of the most common and dangerous pathologies in a modern person is now the metabolic syndrome. This condition doctors do not refer to certain diseases, rather, it is a combination of several serious metabolic diseases and the cardiovascular system. Pathology is common in middle age, mainly in men, but after 50 years, a metabolic syndrome is more common in women. This is due to the decrease at this time of estrogen production. Recently, pathology is more and more common, almost a quarter of the population of civilized countries suffers from a metabolic syndrome. He also began to infect children. This is due to the inactive way of life and carbohydrate diet in most people.

Metabolic syndrome in women: what is it?

This pathology is not a separate disease. The metabolic syndrome includes a combination of these four serious diseases:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus;
• Hypertension;
• Ischemic heart disease;
• Obesity.

All these diseases are serious in themselves, but in complex they become even more dangerous. Therefore, doctors call the metabolic syndrome a "deadly quartet". Without adequate treatment, pathology often leads to serious complications and even death. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose the metabolic syndrome in women on time. What is it is becoming known most often to ladies in the period of menopause. And many women associate their malaise with the menopause. Therefore, the doctor is already at the late stages of development of pathology, when changes in the cardiovascular system are noticeable. But with the help of competent treatment, it is still possible to stop the progression of disorders in the state of health. Although it is believed that pathology can not be completely cured.

Metabolic syndrome in women: a description

This complex of changes in the state of health is associated with disturbances in metabolic processes. The main of them is the development of insensitivity of cells to insulin. As a result, this hormone ceases to perform its functions, and glucose is not absorbed by the tissues. This leads to pathological changes in all organs, especially the brain suffers.

The main function of insulin is to start the mechanism of transporting glucose into the cell. But if the receptors involved in this remain insensitive to this hormone, the process is disrupted. As a result, glucose is not digested, insulin is produced yet, and they accumulate in the blood.

In addition, the metabolic syndrome in women is characterized by an increase in the level of "harmful" cholesterol and triglycerides due to a violation of fat metabolism. There is also an excessive amount of uric acid and a violation of the hormonal background. As a result of these changes, blood pressure rises, obesity appears, and heart function is disrupted.

All these changes develop in the body gradually. Therefore, it is not immediately possible to diagnose a metabolic syndrome in women. Its symptoms are revealed when changes affect the work of many organs. But first, due to malnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle, the sensitivity of cells to insulin is disturbed. As a result, the pancreas begins to produce even more of this hormone to provide cells with glucose. A large amount of insulin in the blood leads to a disruption of metabolism, especially the process of assimilation of fats. Obesity develops, blood pressure rises. A surplus of glucose in the blood leads to diabetes mellitus, as well as to the destruction of the protein coat of cells, which causes premature aging.

Causes of development of metabolic syndrome in women

Pathological changes in the body in this pathology are associated with insensitivity of cells to insulin. It is this process that causes all the symptoms that characterize the metabolic syndrome in women. The causes of insulin resistance may be different.

• Most often, the pathology arises from the excessive consumption of carbohydrate and fatty foods. As a result, a lot of glucose and fatty acids enter the bloodstream. They do not have time to digest and are deposited in tissues. Therefore, obesity develops. And fatty acids cause changes in cells that disrupt insulin sensitivity.
• Ironically, low-calorie diets also lead to metabolic disorders. The body makes reserves of fatty tissue, resulting in glucose is worse absorbed.
• The lack of physical activity causes a slowdown in all metabolic processes. Especially because of this, the absorption of fats, which are deposited in the subcutaneous fat and on internal organs, is disrupted.
• Sometimes the metabolic syndrome in women can be caused by a genetic predisposition. In this case, with a sedentary lifestyle or malnutrition, obesity is rapidly developing.
• Some drugs can cause insensitivity of cells to insulin. These are corticosteroids, thyroid-stimulating hormones, oral contraceptives and some hypoglycemic agents.
• Frequent stress and prolonged mental stress disrupt the process of hormone production. Often this affects the production of insulin and the sensitivity of cells to it.
• Hormonal disorders lead to the fact that often the metabolic syndrome develops in women in menopause. This is due to a decrease in the production of estrogen.
• Circulatory disorders, increased blood pressure, or oxygen starvation of the brain also reduce the sensitivity of cells to insulin.

How does the metabolic syndrome manifest?

The pathology develops imperceptibly, lately it has appeared more and more often in adolescence. But many of its manifestations at the initial stages are not seen. Therefore, often patients turn to the doctor, when serious violations in the work of internal organs and systems are already observed. How can you determine in time that metabolic syndrome develops in women? Symptoms of pathology can be:

• Increased fatigue, loss of strength, reduced efficiency;
• With a long break in eating, there is a bad mood, even aggression;
• Constantly want a sweet, the use of carbohydrates improves the condition and improves mood;
• There is a rapid heartbeat, and then - pain in the heart;
• Headaches often occur and blood pressure rises;
• May experience nausea, dry mouth and increased thirst;
• Digestion slows down, constipation appears;
• Develop symptoms of the pathology of the autonomic nervous system - tachycardia, excessive sweating, impaired coordination of movements and others.

There are also external signs of this pathology. An experienced doctor already at first glance can diagnose a metabolic syndrome in women. A photo of such patients shows a common sign for all: obesity by the abdominal type. This means that fat accumulates mainly in the abdomen. And not only in the subcutaneous tissue, but also around the internal organs, which further disrupts their work. It is believed that abdominal obesity develops if the waist of a woman exceeds 88 centimeters.

In addition, you can see red spots on the neck and upper chest. Their appearance is associated with spasm of blood vessels with increased pressure or stress.

Complications and consequences of metabolic syndrome

This is a chronic pathology with a severe clinical course. Without proper treatment, the metabolic syndrome in women leads to serious consequences. Most often, vascular disruption causes myocardial infarction or stroke. Can also develop atherosclerosis, thrombophlebitis or chronic ischemic heart disease.

A wrong treatment of type 2 diabetes leads to the development of an insulin-dependent form. Long-term increase in blood glucose levels is the cause of blindness, premature aging, impaired peripheral vascular function. May also develop gout or fatty liver hepatosis. Such patients are usually reduced immunity, so they often suffer from colds, bronchitis and pneumonia.

If a metabolic syndrome develops in women of reproductive age, it can cause infertility. After all, violations in this pathology affect not only carbohydrate and fat metabolism. All organs and tissues are affected, hormonal failures are often observed. Polycystic ovary, endometriosis, decreased sexual desire, menstrual irregularities can develop.

Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome

Usually patients with such symptoms first come to the therapist. After examination and collection of anamnesis, the patient is referred to the endocrinologist for further examination and choice of treatment methods. Questioning the patient allows you to determine the characteristics of lifestyle and nutrition, the presence of chronic diseases. In addition, the endocrinologist does an external examination of the patient: measures the waist, calculates the body mass index. But not only these signs determine the metabolic syndrome in women. Diagnosis of pathology is also in the conduct of laboratory studies. Most often, blood and urine tests are performed for this purpose. The presence of a metabolic syndrome is indicated by the following indicators:

• Increased level of triglycerides;
• Reduced concentration of high-density lipoproteins ;
• Increased the level of bad cholesterol;
• Fasting glucose not less than 5.5 mmol / l;
• High concentration of insulin and leptin;
• In the urine, protein molecules and an elevated uric acid level are found.

In addition, other methods of examination are used. Tests for glucose tolerance, the study of blood coagulability, daily monitoring of blood pressure can be carried out. The doctor can prescribe ultrasound of the thyroid gland, MRI of the adrenal glands or pituitary gland, cardiac ECG. An important indicator is also the hormonal background of the patient.

Principles of treatment

Each patient needs an individual approach. Treatment of metabolic syndrome in women is prescribed depending on blood counts, the degree of obesity and the presence of concomitant diseases. Its main tasks should be to reduce body weight, increase the sensitivity of cells to insulin, normalization of metabolic processes and blood pressure, correction of the hormonal background and improve the performance of the cardiovascular system.

Most often, the following methods are used for treatment:

• A special diet in the metabolic syndrome in women is a mandatory and most effective way to reduce weight and normalize metabolic processes;
• The patient is also encouraged to change his lifestyle by increasing physical activity;
• Various medications are used to correct disorders in the work of internal organs;
• Women with this pathology is very important for psychological support and maintaining a positive attitude.

In addition, the patient can apply other methods. With the help of traditional medicine recipes, the metabolism is normalized, the body weight decreases, and blood circulation improves. Effective in a sanatorium to treat the metabolic syndrome in women. Principles of physiotherapy, used there, improve carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, calm the nervous system, normalize blood pressure. Balneotherapy, massage, reception of mineral waters, electrotherapy is most effective for this purpose.

Preparations for the treatment of metabolic syndrome

Medication is prescribed depending on the severity of the symptoms of the pathology. Most often used drugs to normalize lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, to increase the sensitivity of cells to insulin, as well as to reduce blood pressure and improve heart function. Sometimes drugs are used to normalize the hormonal background. Medicines are selected by the doctor individually after a complete examination.

• For the treatment of lipid metabolism disorders are prescribed drugs of the group of statins and fibrates. It can be "Rosuvastatin", "Lovastatin", "Fenofibrate".
• To improve the absorption of glucose by cells and increase their sensitivity to insulin, you need special tools and vitamins. These are "Metformin", "Glukofazh", "Siofor", "Alpha-Lipon" and others.
• If the metabolic syndrome develops in women in menopause, hormone therapy is used. These can be preparations containing estradiol and drospirenone.
• To normalize blood pressure and improve heart function, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers or diuretics are used. The most common drugs are Captopril, Felodipine, Bisoprolol, Losartan, Torasemide and others.

Often, the treatment of metabolic syndrome in women with drugs is aimed at weight reduction. In this case, funds that block the appetite and improve the psychological state of a woman in refusing food are used. This can be, for example, the drug "Fluoxetine." Another group of drugs for obesity allows you to quickly remove fats from the intestines, not allowing them to be absorbed into the blood. This is "Orlistat" or "Xenical". It is undesirable to use such popular anti-obesity drugs as Prozac, Reduxine, Sibutramine, as well as modern dietary supplements without consulting a physician, which can cause serious side effects.

Lifestyle with Metabolic Syndrome

In order to establish metabolic processes and increase the sensitivity of cells to insulin, it is very important to increase the physical activity of the patient. But when playing sports, you must follow several rules, then treatment of obesity will be effective:

• It is necessary to choose the kind of sport that would bring pleasure, as it is necessary to be engaged in a good mood;
• Training should be at least an hour a day;
• Load should be increased gradually, you can not overwork;
• You can not deal with increased blood pressure, serious violations of the heart or kidneys.

What kind of training will help people with metabolic syndrome? For women under 50 years, anaerobic loads and strength exercises are suitable. It's jogging, exercising on simulators, squats, swimming at a fast pace, aerobics. After 50 years, it is better to do Scandinavian walking, swimming, quiet dances, cycling.

Proper nutrition in metabolic syndrome

Weight loss is the main goal of treating this pathology. But in order not to harm the health even more, losing weight should be gradual. It is believed that the body perceives without stress the loss in a month of 3% of the original mass. It's about 2-4 kilograms. If you lose weight faster, the metabolic processes will slow down even more. Therefore, it is recommended that women pay close attention to the selection of the diet. It is desirable that the diet was made individually by a doctor. In this case, the degree of obesity, the presence of complications, the age of the patient will be taken into account.

Diet in the metabolic syndrome in women should contain few carbohydrates and fats. It is necessary to refuse confectionery, baking and baking, sweets, fatty meat and fish, canned foods, rice, bananas, raisins, refined fats and sugary drinks. The diet should contain green vegetables, unsweetened fruits, lean meat, fish and dairy products, whole grain bread, buckwheat, barley. In addition, you need to comply with such rules:

• There is a need for small portions, but not to allow large breaks between meals;
• Products are best cooked, stewed or baked;
• All food must be thoroughly chewed;
• Food can not be washed down;
• You need to limit the use of salt;
• It is recommended to keep a food diary.

Prevention of metabolic syndrome

It is believed that most modern women are predisposed to this pathology. Therefore, you need to know how to behave in order to prevent the development of metabolic syndrome:

• Eat right, do not starve and do not eat low-calorie diets;
• Move more, play sports;
• Regularly take a course of massage and physiotherapy;
• After 40 years to monitor the level of cholesterol and glucose in the blood;
• Abandon bad habits and fast food.

This pathology is now found in every third person. It is especially important to watch your weight to women after 50 years, as the metabolic syndrome strongly violates the activity of all organs. Therefore, when the first symptoms of the pathology appear, you should consult a doctor for help. And not only the examination and selection of an individual diet, but also psychological support are important.