The Metabolic Syndrome
By Bret Burquest
Properly maintaining the following
metabolic factors, dubbed the Deadly Quartet, is crucial to good health.
1) Weight
2) Blood pressure
3) Blood-sugar (insulin) level
4) Cholesterol levels
According to the Mayo Clinic,
having any of these factors at an abnormal level increases the risk of serious
disease. When one or more of these conditions is out of appropriate balance,
it's called the Metabolic Syndrome.
Many studies have shown that
stress can lead to Metabolic Syndrome.
Cortisol
is an important hormone in the body, secreted by the adrenal gland. It helps
regulate blood pressure, releases insulin for blood sugar maintenance, controls
metabolism, responds to inflammation, aids the immune system, and so forth.
It's present in the body at higher levels in the morning and lowest in the
evening.
During stress, the adrenal gland
becomes more active, secreting high levels of cortisol
into the bloodstream.
Abnormally high amounts of cortisol can result in abdominal fat storage, elevated
insulin levels (linked to heart attacks, strokes and diabetes), high blood
pressure, high blood sugar, poor cholesterol levels and more.
The bottom line is that stress,
especially chronic stress, can lead to Metabolic Syndrome. An estimated one out
of four Americans currently exhibit signs of this malady. How we react to
stress plays a major role as well.
There are a zillion causes of stress
-- anger, depression, fear, incompatible occupation, difficult relationships,
finances, health, ambition, perfectionism, competitiveness, low self-esteem,
heartache, accidents, crime, etc.
Dr. Murray Mittleman,
a cardiovascular specialist, interviewed 1,600 heart attack victims and
determined the risk of a heart attack was more than twice as great if the
person had been very angry just prior to the attack.
Anger is a petty indulgence by
self-centered people. Get over it – you're not the center of the universe.
Researchers at
Depression is primarily a
self-inflicted emotion by people who become discouraged (give up) or suppress
anger. A study at
Anxiety is commonplace in this
world. Your adrenalin pumps faster whenever you go into a state of worry or
fear. When in a continual state of stress, you get an adrenalin overload,
leading to the Metabolic Syndrome.
To relieve stress, some people
overindulge in things to take their mind off of reality, such as food, booze,
drugs, smoking, and caffeine. Or they may immerse themselves in activities to
distract themselves, such as TV, music, hobbies, sports, games, work, travel,
etc. But distractions are simply diversions. The stress is still there.
Stress stems from a lack of
courage to deal with reality and the anguish of not being in control of your
life.
All you have to do to straighten
out is drop the anger, climb out of the depression, change your diet, exercise
regularly, drink moderately, quit smoking, find a stress-free occupation, dump
bad relationships, acquire positive relationships, be carefree in your leisure
time, overcome your fears, take a deep breath, relax your body, quiet your
mind, smile at the sky and thank whatever might be looking down at you for your
divine existence.
Life can be a glorious journey or
a bad ride – it's simply a matter of choice. So take control and be happy.
* * *
Bret Burquest is an award-winning columns and author of four
novels. Contact bret@centurytel.net
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