More on the Metabolic Syndrome

By Dr. A. R. Scopelliti

Apr

3

Metabolic syndrome, (obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia AKA diabetes), remains a concern in regards to increasing health risk within the United States population.  For the first time in recorded history, our current generation is projected to have a shorter life expectancy than the prior generation.  This is a projection from the New England Journal of Medicine in 2005 based on the current epidemic.  And things have only gotten worse since then.  Metabolic syndrome with its associated cardiovascular disease, stroke, blindness, amputations, etc., accounts for the majority of healthcare dollars currently being spent.  Still worse, current medical treatments focus only on symptoms, which actually make the syndrome worse.  Hyperinsulinemia causes the pancreas to secrete increased amounts of insulin in response to elevated blood glucose.  However, practitioners typically focus on glucose levels or hemoglobin A1c, and prescribe drugs which actually increase insulin levels even further.  In a typical case, a patient would present with obesity, hypertension, diabetes and elevated blood lipids.  The patient would be told to lose weight by eating more fruits and vegetables and to cut down on fats and cholesterol and to do some light exercise as a standard first-line therapy of lifestyle changes.  This certainly stands the test of reason.  The problem is that under this regimen, the syndrome actually worsens.  Eventually antihypertensive medication is prescribed as are drugs for diabetes.  Soon the patient finds themselves on 6 or more drugs with no improvement in their status.  The underlying problem is that nothing has been done to address their insulin resistance.  A more appropriate course of treatment in this scenario would be the use of a muscle sparing protein diet and more importantly carbohydrate restriction, consisting mainly of fiber and vegetables, keeping in mind that all carbohydrate, with the exception of fiber, will eventually be turned into blood glucose either quickly or slowly.  By restricted carbohydrate intake, insulin secretion can be reduced and thus reducing insulin sensitivity/resistance.  In doing this, weight loss can occur and the patient’s syndrome can actually reverse.  If you suffer from any of the symptoms associated with metabolic syndrome, you should consult with myself and/or your family physician before undertaking any therapeutic regimen as in extreme cases drug therapies may be appropriate to reduce risk of stroke and/or other consequential risks.

Is America Totally Confused About Drugs?

By Dr. A. R. Scopelliti

Sep

19

Over the last few years it has become such that you cannot watch one television show without seeing at least a few commercials for drugs.  Not surprisingly, during the part where they list the adverse side affects attributed to the drugs, there is a very attractive young lady smiling and dancing and throwing rose pedals.  Drugs have become more accepted than breakfast in our “better living through chemistry” society.  Well, a recent study published in the archives of internal medicine, depicts a disturbing picture of our societies interpretation of these ads.  Of the thousands of individuals involved in the study, thirty-nine percent mistakenly believed that the FDA approves only “extremely effective” drugs; 25% mistakenly believed that the FDA approves only drugs without serious side effects.   In conclusion this study found that a substantial proportion of the public mistakenly believes that the FDA approves only extremely effective drugs and drugs lacking serious side effects.  This is hard to believe as the side effects are indeed mentioned at the end of each commercial.  It would seem that no one is paying attention for this part.

When I meet with new patients as part of my initial history taking process I ask each patient which drugs they are taking and why. I find that about 20% of my patients on initial consultation do not know why they are taking their drugs, and, many are taking more than six different drugs.   If you are taking prescription medication, you should be aware as to what you are taking and why you are taking it.  Learn the side affects of drugs which you may be taking as well, should you experience any of them. If you are on high blood pressure medication, buy a home blood pressure unit and check your own blood pressure daily.  It is not uncommon for me to meet with a new patient suffering with dizziness only to find out that they are on high blood pressure medication, have lost weight, and are still taking a high dose from before their weight loss and that this is causing there dizziness from low blood pressure.  Drug therapies are still drugs, and they should be used with diligence and with prudence.  Act responsibly and know all of your options before blindly going on drug therapies, as ultimately, you are the one taking the drug.

 

Age 12 Additional Years Simply through Bad Habits

By Dr. A. R. Scopelliti

Nov

8

Recent research on healthy aging shows that poor habits such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol, inactivity and poor diet, can age you by 12 extra years.  The findings are from a recent study that tracked nearly 5,000 British adults for 20 years, aged 18 and older and 44 years old on average, and they highlight yet another reason to adopt a healthier lifestyle.  Overall, 314 people studied had all four unhealthy behaviors. Among them, 91 died during the study, or 29%.  Among the 387 healthiest people with none of the four habits, only 32 died, or about 8%.  “Bad habits” are said to include: smoking tobacco, drinking in excess of three alcoholic drinks daily for men, two for women, engaging in less than two hours of physical activity per week, and consuming fruits and vegetables fewer than three times daily.  These cumulative habits substantially increased the risk of death and made people in this group seem 12 years older than people in the healthiest group.  The most common causes of death in the study included heart disease and cancer, both known to be related to unhealthy lifestyles.  The study appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine.  The healthy group included individuals who did not meet the criterion for “bad habits”.

It should be possible for most people to manage meeting the healthy test group’s habits, and further, each step in this direction reaps rewards of better health.  The U.S. government generally recommends at least 4 cups of fruits or vegetables daily for adults, depending on age and activity level; and about 2 1/2 hours of exercise weekly, which equates to thirty minutes daily five days a week.

In a separate American study, no progress appears to be being made with respect to changing “bad habits”.  The rates at which Americans take part in exercise remains unchanged since 1997.  We are a long way from where the health experts want us to be with respect to smoking.  Overall, about 66% of adults in the USA are either overweight or obese.  About one-third of people are in the obese category, meaning they have a body mass index of 30 or greater.  In yet another American study, extremely obese people, those who are 80 or more pounds overweight, live 3-12 fewer years than their normal-weight peers.