The Role Cortisol Plays In Weight Gain
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of health conditions that significantly increase the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. At Joy Medical we will delve into the risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options for metabolic syndrome, as well as share lifestyle changes that can help manage and prevent it.
What is Metabolic Syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is not a singlular disease but rather a collection of interrelated conditions, including excess body fat around the waist, and high or abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. When these conditions occur together, they elevate the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Risk Factors:
Several risk factors contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome, including:
- Age: The risk of metabolic syndrome increases with age.
- Ethnicity: Certain ethnic groups, such as Hispanics and Asians, are at a higher risk.
- Obesity: Carrying excess weight, particularly around the waist, increases the likelihood of metabolic syndrome.
- Diabetes: A personal history of gestational diabetes or family history of type 2 diabetes could increase the risk.
- Other conditions: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fatty liver disease, and sleep apnea have also been linked to metabolic syndrome.
Symptoms and Diagnosis:
Metabolic syndrome is often asymptomatic, which means that many people are unaware they have it. However, some visible signs can include a large waist circumference and the presence of skin tags or darkened patches of skin, typically around the neck or armpits.
A diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is typically made when an individual has at least three of the following criteria:
- Abdominal obesity: A waist girth of 35 inches (88 cm) or more for women and 40 inches (102 cm) or more for men.
- High triglycerides: A triglyceride level of 150 mg/dL or higher.
- Low HDL cholesterol: An HDL cholesterol level of less than 40 mg/dL for men and less than 50 mg/dL or less for women.
- High blood pressure: A systolic blood pressure equal to or exceeding 130 mm Hg, or a diastolic blood pressure at or above 85 mm Hg.
- High fasting blood sugar: A fasting blood sugar level of 100 mg/dL or higher.
Management and Prevention:
There is no specific medication for metabolic syndrome. Instead, treatment focuses on addressing the individual conditions that make up the syndrome. The goal of Metabolic treatment is to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Some approaches include:
- Weight loss: Shedding even a modest amount of weight can have a notable impact on reducing the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome.
- Exercise: Regular physical activity helps lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and control blood sugar.
- Healthy diet: Adopting a diet abundant in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and nutritious fats can aid in controlling metabolic syndrome. can help manage metabolic syndrome.
- Smoking cessation: Quitting smoking reduces the risk of heart disease and improves overall health.
- Medication: Depending on the specific conditions, doctors may prescribe medication to help control blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
Metabolic syndrome is a critical health issue that is increasingly impacting individuals across the globe. By understanding the risk factors and making lifestyle changes, individuals can effectively manage and even prevent the onset of metabolic syndrome. If you suspect you may have metabolic syndrome or are at risk, consult a healthcare professional for a proper assessment and tailored treatment plan.
Call (818) 477-1764 or Contact us to schedule your appointment with Dr. Sheybani today.
We all learned about the “fight or flight” response in high school, but in case you weren’t paying attention in class that day this is the body’s response to danger. The body’s automatic chemical reaction to a threat served to keep our ancient ancestors safe and healthy by triggering the production of cortisol and other hormones, to give the person in need a sudden boost energy for battle or for a quick escape.
While our lifestyle has evolved well beyond having to worry about being attacked or eaten by a predator, our bodies haven’t changed much. As a result of the uninterrupted and continuous levels of stress many people experience in their overextended lives, our adrenal glands are overworked producing cortisol in response to what our body thinks is a threat.
When your cortisol levels are high, it plays havoc with your body’s production of insulin – which is responsible for removing excess glucose (sugar) from your bloodstream. In defense to insulin not stepping in to do its job effectively, your miraculous body then changes gears and turns to storing the excess glucose as fat.
Excessive amounts of cortisol, along with either an over or an underproduction of insulin, not only strains your adrenal glands and pancreas (which produces insulin), it can also cause mood swings, depression and weight gain that is very difficult to lose.
One surprising fact many people don’t know is that training too hard at the gym can also cause excess levels of cortisol. This helps explain why some people who go hard all day at the office, then hit the gym equally hard, find themselves struggling to lose the love handles. If this sounds like you, then you might want to consider breaking up your workouts with low intensity activities, such as yoga, hiking or pilates.
Healthy levels of cortisol and insulin make for a healthy body, but paying extra attention to these two hormones is especially important when you’re trying to drop the pounds. To keep your body healthy, and lower your cortisol levels, the Joy Medical team recommends eating a mediterranean style diet, avoiding processed foods and sugar, limiting caffeine and alcohol, – and taking the time to disconnect through things like meditation, as well as getting an adequate amount of quality sleep.
If you live a deadline driven stress-filled lifestyle, and are trying unsuccessfully to lose weight, we can help! Please contact our office at (818) 464-4870 to schedule a consultation to discuss your goals.
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