Increased Risk Of Metabolic Syndrome With Sleep Apnea!

Metabolic syndrome is defined as collection of risk factors of heart disease which increases the chances of developing stroke, diabetes and heart disease.

According to new study, teenagers with sleep related breathing disorder are at increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

Sleep apnea and risk of metabolic syndrome:

When a person is having sleep apnea, soft tissues in the throat collapse during sleep and your breathing stops many times in the night.

You have to wake up to restart your breathing. If you sleep apnea, you will have the symptoms like daytime sleepiness and snoring.

You have metabolic syndrome when you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, high density lipoprotein level and triglyceride level. Metabolic syndrome commonly occurs in people who have central obesity, diabetes mellitus, and high triglyceride to HDL ratio of greater than three.

Due to repeated sleep interruptions due to sleep apnea, oxygen dips can raise the body’s levels of stress hormones like cortisol.

Due to the raise in stress hormones, blood sugar and blood pressure levels increase and problems with cholesterol metabolism increase. Teenagers who are obese and have metabolic syndrome should be tested for sleep apnea.

Risks of metabolic syndrome:

• Lining of coronary and other arteries are damaged which leads to the development of stroke or heart disease.
• Levels of triglyceride increases and results in cardiovascular disease risk.
• The ability of the kidney to remove salts changes with the syndrome and leads to stroke, high blood pressure and heart disease.
• Insulin production slows down, which signals starting of type 2 diabetes and can increase the risk of stroke or heart diseases and also damage your kidneys, eyes or nerves.
• Formation of blood clots increases which can lead to blocking of arteries and cause strokes and heart diseases.

Prevent metabolic syndrome:

If you are obese and suffering with metabolic syndrome, follow some of the preventive methods to prevent the syndrome. Lose weight moderately so that your body’s ability can recognize insulin and reduces the chances of syndrome.

Your insulin levels can be improved with increased physical activity. You can perform aerobic exercises for thirty minutes regularly such as brisk walk, which improves your blood pressure and reduces the risk of diabetes. Exercise also reduces the risk of heart disease.

Follow a healthy diet to maintain normal weight. Eat complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, whole grain bread and unrefined sugars. Fiber content should be increased with the increase in consumption of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes.

Poultry and red meat intake should be reduced. Healthy fats should be consumed such as olive oil, canola oil and flax seed oil. Saturated fats, trans fats and high cholesterol food are reduced.

Once you are following the above lifestyle, your metabolic syndrome as well as sleep apnea can be prevented.