NJ Cops | Page 86

Is metabolic syndrome to blame for
weight gain, high cholesterol?

This installment examines
=
= = metabolic
= = syndrome,
=
= a group of
= condi=
tions known to compromise the health of millions of Americans.
= = = =
=
= = =
= = =
What is metabolic syndrome?
=
=
=
= =
=
=
=
Metabolic syndrome refers to a collection of health problems trig=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
gered by certain processes in your body. Generally, having metabolic
= = = syndrome
= = increases
=
=your
= risk
= for= heart
=
= = diabetes
=
= =There
= are
= five
disease,
and stroke.
=
=
= health
=
= conditions,
=
= or= risk
= factors,
= =
main
=
= = with
= metabolic
=
= syndrome,
=
associated
and
=
= they often
=
= occur
= together.
=
=
=
= =
=What
= are the
= risk
= factors for
= metabolic
= = =
=
= = =
=
=
=
syndrome?
=
= Having
= =
= just = one
=
risk = factor = for
metabolic
increases
=
=
=
=
= = syndrome
=
=
= the
chances
that= you could
=
=
=
= develop
= heart dis=
=
= ease. The more
= risk factors
=
= you have,= the
more your
health is
=
=short-= and= long-term
=
= in jeopardy.
=
= =
Why do
= metabolic
= =
= syndrome
=
= = risk=factors= develop?
=
=
=
There
of metabolic
= are many causes
=
= syndrome
= =
=conditions,
= = includ=
ing= family= health
=
= history
= =of insulin
= = resistance (when
= the= body
= cannot
use the =hormone
insulin
correctly, leading to high blood sugar levels
=
=
and weight
gain),
having
an
certain
= =
=
= inactive
=
= lifestyle,
= and
= taking
=
= medications
that
cause
weight
gain.
Medical
research
has
also
shown
=
=
=
=
=
= =
=
=
= that

86

NEW JERSEY COPS

■

FEBRUARY 2016

Risk Factor
= = Condition
=
= = = =
= a=
Overweight/obese
with
=
=
= =
large waistline
=
= =
=
= =
= = =
=
=
= =
=
=
=
High=triglyceride
level
= =
= =
= =
= =
=
=
= =
=
=
Low HDL cholesterol level
= =
=
=
=
=
=
=
= =
=
= = = = = = =
= blood
=
= pressure = =
High
=
=
=
=
=
=

=
=
= sugar=
High fasting
blood
= = =
=
= = =
= =

= Description
=

=

= =

=

= = with
= fat in your
= stomach
=
He