Obesity, Diabetes, Hypertension form deadly trio

It's now a commonly known fact that hypertension, diabetes and obesity pose a risk of cardio-vascular diseases। The lesser known medical truth, however, is that the three form even a deadlier combination. This was revealed at the ongoing annual conference of Indian Society of Hypertension (ISH) recently. The conference which focuses on 'Artherosclerosis in hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart diseases' is being supported by clinical and experimental medicine division, Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) and department of medicine, King George's Medical University (KGMU). Experts said that hypertension, diabetes and obesity generate a condition called metabolic syndrome (MS). Simply speaking, MS is defined as a cluster of the most dangerous heart attack risk factors. A person is said to be having MS has central obesity in addition with two of the following factors: increased triglycerides, reduced HDL-cholesterol, raised blood pressure or raised fasting plasma glucose level. "People with MS are at the risk of cardiovascular disease, being twice as likely to die and three times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared to people without the syndrome," explained president, ISH, Dr Sridhar Diwedi. Quoting international diabetes association (IDH) he said that such persons have a five times greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, a condition which is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases, as up to 80 per cent of almost 200 million adults globally with diabetes will die of cardiovascular disease. According to statistics available at IDF, 1/4th of the world’s adult population suffers with MS. Its frequency increases with the age. However, the condition is also afflicting an increasing number of children and adolescents as the worldwide epidemic of obesity spreads across the age groups. The irony is that the problem is yet to be identified as a health hazard. The key in tackling the metabolic syndrome lies in a better understanding and its early diagnosis and treatment. While no single treatment for the metabolic syndrome available, lifestyle modification forms the underlying strategy of treatment. In cases where lifestyle modification does not help, drug therapy may also be used, the experts suggested. In his inaugural address, chief guest, state representative, UNICEF, Nimal Hettiaratchy said that the topic for the conference was relevant in view of the myth that people in the developing world were away from lifestyle diseases. He stressed on the need of creating awareness on intake of nutritional food and healthy lifestyle.