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Do you have any of these life-threatening symptoms?
Americans keep gaining weight. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity or being overweight is a key factor associated with increased mortality rates in adults — as well as elevated risks of heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer.
While there are many causes of weight gain, Metabolic Syndrome, or “Syndrome X” as it is sometimes called, is quickly gaining ground as a leading cause.
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: “About 47 million adults in the United States (almost 25%) have metabolic syndrome, and the number continues to grow. The increasing number of people who have this condition is linked to the rise in obesity rates among adults. In the future, metabolic syndrome may overtake smoking as the leading risk factor for heart disease.”
The risk factors associated with Syndrome X are sometimes difficult to discern because Syndrome X is a syndrome, not a disease. This means it is comprised of a grouping of related symptoms that present at the same time.
In general, risk factors of Syndrome X include the following:
- Excessive Belly Fat: This is often termed “apple shaped obesity” or “abdominal obesity,” and is an indicator of elevated risk of heart disease.
- Elevated Blood Sugar: Raised blood sugar levels over time can lead to diabetes and obesity.
- Elevated triglyceride levels: These are the fats that are found in the blood.
- High Blood Pressure: Blood pressure above a 120/80 reading is considered high and can lead to hypertension and heart disease.
- Low HDL cholesterol levels: This is the “good” type of cholesterol needed to help remove the bad (LDL) cholesterol from our arteries. Low HDL increases your risk of developing heart disease.
- Those who take certain medications that treat inflammation, allergies, HIV, and depression, and which cause weight gain or changes in blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
Individually, these symptoms are bad enough, but when combined — especially if you have three or more — they are an indication that you may have Syndrome X. And while Syndrome X is not a disease, any one of its symptoms can cause diseases that are potentially life threatening. The best advice is to see your physician to be tested for the five above-mentioned symptoms of Syndrome X.
You can also ask yourself the following questions to see if it is necessary to make a doctor’s appointment:
- Do I feel sluggish after eating?
- Do I gain weight easily and have difficulty losing it?
- Am I still hungry even after eating a well-balanced meal?
- Am I always tired or sluggish, regardless of how much sleep I get?
- Do I crave carbohydrates, sweets, sugars?
- Is my blood pressure and “bad” cholesterol slowly rising?
If you answered yes to the above questions, you may want to play it safe and talk to your physician. Additionally, experts agree that the best way to reverse the effects of Syndrome X, and to prevent it, is through two basic lifestyle changes…
1. Diet
Over consumption of simple carbohydrates is the main cause of Syndrome X. These include foods like bleached and enriched breads, pastas, breakfast cereals, cookies, sodas break down and turn to glucose (blood sugar) in your system too fast. This causes the pancreas to release too much insulin into the blood stream, which causes more cravings for simple carbs, weight gain, energy drops and eventually, diabetes.
2. Exercise
Exercising for at least 20 minutes per daily is another sure-fire way to reduce weight and reduce blood sugars. This can be speed walking, pilates, strength training, a 3-minute HIIT workout or various cardio exercises.
Conclusion
In essence, the reversal and cure for Syndrome X is found in lifestyle choices regarding diet and exercise. If left unresolved, however, Syndrome X can lead to free radical cell damage and potentially life-threatening diseases like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
When the reversal and prevention of such a devastating syndrome is as easy as regulating insulin by virtue of dietary changes and increased exercise, then the cure is well within reach. So why not exchange the simple carbs in your diet for complex carbs and increase physical activity for 20 minutes per day? These two simple lifestyle changes can make you healthier, more vigorous and able to live with a better quality of life.
Editor’s note: There are perfectly safe and natural ways to decrease your risk of blood clots including the 25-cent vitamin, the nutrient that acts as a natural blood thinner and the powerful herb that helps clear plaque. To discover these and other secrets of long-lived hearts, click here for Hushed Up Natural Heart Cures and Common Misconceptions of Popular Heart Treatments!