The treatment for metabolic syndrome should be guided by a general practitioner or cardiologist and, normally, its main objective is to reduce the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and for that, lifestyle changes should be made as much as possible. before, in addition to the use of medicines, such as antihypertensives, blood glucose and blood cholesterol regulators.
Metabolic syndrome is dangerous for health, as it is associated with the development of several complications, such as infarction, stroke, diabetic retinopathy or even an increased risk of death. Learn more about what it is and how to identify metabolic syndrome.
Natural treatment
Treatment for metabolic syndrome should initially include changes in lifestyle, with special attention to nutritional changes and physical activity. The main guidelines include:
- Lose weight until the BMI is below 25 kg / m2, and also to reduce abdominal fat, as the risk of heart disease is higher in this type of patient; Eat a balanced and healthy diet, avoiding using salt in meals and not eating very sugary or fatty foods, such as fried foods, soft drinks and pre-prepared foods, for example. See how a proper diet should be in: Diet for metabolic syndrome; Do 30 minutes of physical activity a day, such as walking, running or cycling. In some cases, the doctor may recommend an exercise plan or refer the patient to a physical therapist.
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Treatment with medicines
Medications for metabolic syndrome are usually prescribed by the doctor when the patient is unable to lose weight, lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure with changes in diet and exercise alone.
In these cases, the doctor can guide the use of:
- Blood pressure lowering drugs like Losartan, Captopril or Hydrochlorothiazide, for example; Medicines to lower blood sugar such as Metformin, Gliclazide or Insulin; Remedies to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides such as Rosuvastatin or Simvastatin. Check out the main treatments to lower cholesterol; Remedies to lose weight like Sibutramine or Xenical, guided by the endocrinologist, in case the person is not able to lose weight with diet or physical exercises.
These remedies are used in the dose and quantity indicated for each person, in order to keep the exams at adequate levels and to reduce the risk of complications of the metabolic syndrome.
Signs of improvement
Signs of improvement in the metabolic syndrome include regularization of blood pressure, reduced waist circumference and decreased levels of cholesterol or blood sugar. Therefore, the patient with metabolic syndrome should have regular blood tests to assess the progress of the disease.
Signs of worsening
The signs of worsening of the metabolic syndrome arise mainly when treatment is not done properly and can include increased blood pressure, severe chest pain, excessive tiredness and increased levels of cholesterol or blood sugar.