Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic risk factors. When a patient presents with these risk factors together, the chances for future cardiovascular problems are greater than any one factor presenting alone. For example, high blood pressure alone is a serious condition, but when a patient has high blood pressure along with high fasting glucose levels and abdominal obesity, this patient may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. There is a greater chance this patient will have cardiovascular problems because of the combination of risk factors.

Metabolic syndrome is a serious health condition that affects about 35 percent of adults and places them at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke and diseases related to fatty buildups in artery walls. The underlying causes of metabolic syndrome are obesity, being overweight, physical inactivity and genetic factors.

What are the risk factors?

Metabolic syndrome occurs when a person has three or more of the following measurements:

• Abdominal obesity
• Triglyceride level of 150 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) or greater
• HDL cholesterol of less than 40 mg/dL in men or less than 50 mg/dL in women
• Systolic blood pressure (top number) of 130 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or greater
• Diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) of 85 mm Hg or greater
• Fasting glucose of 100 mg/dL or greater
• Insulin resistance or glucose intolerance (the body can't properly use insulin or blood sugar)

Although metabolic syndrome is a serious condition, you can reduce your risks significantly by reducing your weight; increasing your physical activity; eating a heart-healthy diet that's rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and fish; and working with your healthcare provider to monitor and manage blood glucose, blood cholesterol, and blood pressure.

• Having diabetes for 10 years or more triples the risk of stroke.
• Stroke risk increases 3 percent each year among people with diabetes.
• Preventing or delaying onset of diabetes may help reduce the risk of stroke. 

Healthier Americans for a Healthier Economy features six case studies focused on the relationship between health and economic development. The report examines how health affects the ability of states, cities and towns to attract and retain employers, and how workplace and community wellness programs help improve productivity and reduce health spending.

According to the report, more than half of all Americans currently live with one or more chronic disease, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. High rates of these diseases, which in many cases are preventable, are associated with increasing health care costs.

Please click here to access the full report.

Did you know that heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 causes of death and disability among people with type 2 diabetes?

By taking the My Diabetes Health Assessment, in a few minutes you can learn your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years.  Based on your current numbers such as blood sugar, weight, and blood pressure, you can discover what you can do to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. 

It only takes a few minutes to change your life.

Get Started Now!

Did you know that a startling 18.9% of Ohio’s third-graders are overweight? Studies show that children who are overweight tend to remain overweight as adults and struggle with health issues, like diabetes and high cholesterol, much earlier in life.

How can you help? Join us at the Statehouse in Columbus on November 16th as we talk to lawmakers about health education standards and other ways we can work together to reduce childhood obesity.

State education standards provide a definition of quality for local schools. By establishing a minimum level of health education, Ohio can be confident that all students are receiving basic health information, while still giving schools options for greater achievement.

Agenda
8:00 -- Registration
9:00 – Welcome and Logistics
9:30 – Group meetings
10:00- Noon - Attend scheduled meetings with Legislators and/or Aides
12:30 – And Now What? How to promote a healthier Ohio back home
2:00 – Press Event (tentative)

 Register today!   It will take all of us—parents, concerned citizens, schools and decision-makers—working together to improve the health and future of Ohio’s children!

We hope you’ll join us and be the voice of Ohio's kids at the Statehouse!

Four types of noncommunicable diseases - cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases - make the largest contribution to mortality in the majority of countries.

• These four NCDs are largely preventable by means of interventions that tackle four risk factors for NCDs: tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol.
• Each year, 9 million people die from NCDs before the age of 60, and 90 percent of those deaths occur in developing countries.
• Premature deaths among women due to NCDs range from as high as 58 percent in low-income countries to as low as 6 percent in high-income countries, leading to growing inequalities between countries and populations.

Read more on the U. N. news site.

Did you know that apples may keep strokes away?   So may pears, bananas and cauliflower – or any fruit or vegetable with “white” flesh.

Simple Science @Heart is science, told simply.  Below are some new ideas that bring knowledge, treatments and cures for heart disease and stroke.  To see more on each topic, visit Simple Science @Heart. 

• An apple a day may keep strokes away
• Just one healthy behavior cuts risk for heart failure, researchers say
• From 'high risk' to high blood pressure - blacks get there faster than whites
• Deep sleep is important for men's heart health
• Light energy a bright new idea that could fuel pacemakers
• Got a couple hours? That’s enough time to save your heart
• Don’t sleep much? You may be at risk for type 2 diabetes
• Shorter pause in CPR could save more lives
• Women may always be young(er) at heart

A medicine designed to improve levels of "good" cholesterol may also help control blood sugar in people with diabetes who are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, according to a new analysis in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.


Researchers made the finding while analyzing data from a clinical trial on the drug torcetrapib that was halted five years ago. Torcetrapib is a cholesterol ester transfer protein inhibitor, a type of drug that increases levels of high-density lipoproteins.

...more

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released updated data for Selected Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk Trends (or SMART BRFSS), with local community data and statistics relating to risk factors (including cholesterol awareness, diabetes, fruit and vegetable consumption, healthcare access/coverage, hypertension awareness, overweight and obesity, and physical activity). The updated tool allows users to compare data for states, counties and cities from 2002 through 2008.

See the SMART BRFSS data and prevalence tables here: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/BRFSS-SMART/

We're one step closer! This week the Ohio House Health Committee passed HB 81, the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act, without amendments!

Did you know that Ohio is one of only four states that don't require coverage of basic diabetes management equipment? Unfortunately, Ohio's diabetes rates are alarming! Diabetes prevalence has increased by 63.8% over the past decade. Ensuring all patients have access to basic equipment to manage their diabetes will help reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 killer of Ohioans.

OH House Considering the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act--Send Your Message Now!

While legislation has been considered for years, and other states are already seeing benefits, Ohio is still one of four states yet to pass this type of legislation. Join us in calling for passage of the Ohio Diabetes Cost Reduction Act in 2009!

Please send a quick message today asking your representative to support passage of this critical legislation when it comes up for a vote in the full House.

*To learn more about the American Heart Association's Heart of Diabetes program, check out our website!

The AHA has created a The Heart Of Diabetes Facebook profile to encourage patients and caregivers to write their diabetes success stories on our wall or share tips on our Facebook discussion boards to inspire others. Please help us spread the word about The Heart Of Diabetes by joining and asking your friends, family and colleagues to join, too.

See the official The Heart Of Diabetes Facebook profile.