Posts Tagged metabolic syndrome
Autoimmunity and Salt: Are You Low Sodium Yet?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on March 11, 2013
Have you adjusted your diet to a low sodium version yet? If not, you have another reason to do it as soon as possible. High salt foods have been shown to raise blood pressure, increase the risk of edema (swelling) and numerous other health problems due to the retention of water caused by excess salt. With the right amount of salt we are able to hold onto just enough water for our bodies to funcgtion properly and electrolytes to move to the body parts where they do the most good. Reducing your salt intake is important for many reasons: a lower sodium intake has been associated with other health benefits, including a reduced risk of dying from a stroke, reversal of heart enlargement, and a reduced risk of kidney stones and osteoporosis.
If the risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure isn’t enough to scare you into skipping those super salty fries and salty snacks like chips, maybe a new study linking high salt intake to autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis would make a difference. The specifics of how they are linked has to do with high levels of salt that produce higher levels of TH17 cells in your body. These cells produce an inflammatory protein: interleukin-17. I have recent experience with an autoimmune disease, hyperthyroidism or Graves Disease. Antibodies are produced that cause the thyroid to become overactive, producing excessive levels of thyroid hormone. Could this be caused by excess salt? It is certainly possible and makes me want to look at my overall sodium intake. Now I’m in a position of needing to take replacment thyroid hormone for the rest of my life because my body is attacking my thyroid. Did my days of fast food and bags of chips and dip for dinner do me in? Maybe and I’m lucky. This is an easy autoimmune disease to treat. arthritis and diabetes are much more difficult and painful.
It’s easy to have your blood pressure tested and to be tested for inflammation or water retention that can lead to health problems including heart disease and hypertension. If you aren’t sure where to begin, check out a great way to reduce sodium in your diet: the DASH diet. It’s not too late to start and you may have time to delay the onset of one of these diseases if you start today without the salt shaker.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Managing Blood Sugar – The Diabetics Ongoing Struggle
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on November 8, 2012
Have you been diagnosed with diabetes? If you are like many diabetics, you are discovering (or have already found) that maintaining a steady blood sugar level is easier said than done. November is American Diabetes Month and worth our attention because this disease is one of the largest health issues our country currently faces. An estimated one in three Americans will develop diabetes by 2050 if we don’t make major changes to our 
lifestyles. If you have already been diagnosed with Type 1 as a child or young adult or Type 2 as an adult, the prevention information isn’t much use to you. I already have it so what do I do now? Your doctor has most likely already discussed diet and exercise with you and, if you are overweight, suggested that you need to lose some. Based on current research studies here are some tips:
- Follow your doctor’s advice and lose some weight. Even though recent studies, specifically one conducted by Look AHEAD subsidized by the National Institutes of Health, are now showing that losing weight may not affect your risk of having a stroke or a heart attack, the benefits to you from even small amounts of weight lose are huge: Improved hemoglobin A1c readings (which look at average blood sugar levels for the past three months), better blood pressure numbers, better fitness and, less medication required to control the diabetes. Overall, losing weight is one of the best things you can do for yourself if you are overweight, whether or not you have diabetes.
- Tight Control: This method as described by the American Diabetes Association is not for everyone and should be followed in conjunction with advice and supervision from your doctor. The intent is to keep your blood sugar levels as close to non-diabetic levels as possible. There are risks of hypoglycemia and weight gain, but this method can prevent or control the onset or progress of complications from diabetes, providing you with additional years of healthy, active life.
- Frequent testing of your blood glucose level. Even if the tight control idea is too much for you, consider testing your blood sugar more often. This is a step in the right direction and, in conjunction with weight loss and exercise, can help you control your blood sugar better by letting you know where you stand before you eat and two hours after eating. Getting a hemoglobin A1c test every few months will also let you know how you are doing and help you make adjustments.
If you are pre-diabetic or obese and worried about the possibility of developing diabetes you may want to consider drinking black tea. Studies are showing a very high correlation between a low incidence of diabetes and the consumption of black tea.
Controlling your diabetes, however you choose to do it, is key to preventing many of the devastating complications of diabetes such as amputations and blindness. There is no doubt that managing your blood sugar is difficult, time consuming and an overall hassle, but the rewards are extremely high.
Written by labtestingnow.com
Reversing Type 2 Diabetes: There May Be A Surgical Option
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on June 24, 2011
Type 2 diabetes continues to rise in the United States and the sad fact is that approximately 90% of type 2 diabetes is caused by obesity. In most people, obesity and therefore, type 2 diabetes, is completely preventable through diet and exercise. The ability to reverse or improve type 2 diabetes is as simple as reversing obesity. 
The problem with that solution is that many Americans aren’t able to do that without serious intervention, namely gastric bypass or gastric banding surgery. A study conducted by Dutch researchers and published in the Archives of Surgery reported that a type of gastic bypass surgery known as Royx-en-Y or RYGB reversed type 2 diabetes in 83% of the participants and gastric banding surgery reversed type 2 diabetes in 62%.
Glucose serum testing can clearly identify diabetes and assist in diabetes maintenance and a Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) test can pinpoint risk factors and markers for Metabolic Syndrome or prediabetes. Changing your diet, losing weight and beginning an exercise program can prevent or even reverse the disease. Knowing that you are at risk, either through testing or being overweight or obese can give you the opportunity to change your life and avoid medication, constant monitoring and serious diabetes complications. Yes, surgery could take care of your obesity and your diabetes, but so could a sensible approach to eating and a walk around the block every day.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Itchy Skin Goes A Lot Deeper
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on May 17, 2011
Who would have thought that psoriasis, that pesky, itchy skin disease, could be other than an irritant? If you thought your troubles ended there, you are wrong, very wrong. Apparently, psoriasis is associated with a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome. The more severe 
the psoriasis, the higher the association. And, it’s not limited to metabolic syndrome, a precursor to Diabetes Type 2, but also to obesity and hypertension. Although the reasons aren’t clear, it may be that psoriasis is a systemic disease either having wide-ranging effects on the body or that those with a disposition to develop metabolic syndrome, Diabetes and hypertension have immune issues that also cause psoriasis.
The research, presented at the Society for Investigative Dermatology, was included only in abstracts and not papers that have published yet and more studies are needed. Whatever the cause, 0ne of the results may be that doctors will recommend more metabolic syndrome screenings for their patients who have psoriasis. Psoriasis increased the incidence of metabolic syndrome by 40% and children with psoriasis also had a much higher rate of obesity (approximately 50% versus 30%). If I had psoriasis, I would be running to my doctor’s office for testing and treatment! I wonder if proper treatment of psoriasis would reduce the chances of developing metabolic syndrome or Type 2 Diabetes? At this point, we don’t know, but you may want to jump on it…
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
How ‘Bout a Diet Coke with That Burger?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on February 11, 2011
So your one concession to being healthy is to have a diet soda? Not so fast! You are doing as much or more harm by ordering the diet drink as you are by ordering the burger and fries in the first place. 
Unfortunately, it looks like water is the only thing that’s safe. The newest study, conducted by Dr. Nehal N. Mehta, director of inflammatory risk cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania and Hannah Gardener, an epidemiologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and presented at the American Stroke Association conference, found that daily diet soda drinkers are at a 61% higher risk of stroke and heart attack.
The specific reason isn’t clear yet. Is it something in the soda itself? Is it that those who drink diet soda are filling those extra calories with unhealthy foods (burgers/pizza/fries)? A prior study has already linked high consumption of diet soda to metabolic syndrome. The study controlled for other risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. They also monitored calorie intake but not what those calories consisted of. So, although you may not need to dump your daily diet soda habit yet, if you are already at high risk, it couldn’t hurt. There don’t seem to be many shortcuts to the healthy lifestyle. We thought diet soda might be one, but don’t pat yourself on the back for switching from sugary soda. The jury is still out!
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
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