Treatment Options for Metabolic Syndrome Including Medication

When you’re faced with metabolic syndrome, there are two options for the treatment. Although it is preferable to employ lifestyle changes, you may find treatment options for metabolic syndrome including medication are in order. The truth is, the path you take is mostly up to you, the patient. If you don’t make the necessary lifestyle changes, medication isn’t going to be enough to prevent complications in most cases. And as usual, medication most often brings other unwanted symptoms into the picture.

Let’s look at the paths of treatment you can choose to follow for metabolic syndrome.

Medication

Depending upon the conditions you have, your doctor may want to prescribe pharmaceutical medication. You can always cut down or eliminate medication once your lifestyle changes take effect.

* High Blood Pressure – There are a number of drugs from which your doctor can choose to treat your high blood pressure. What type they prescribe will depend upon the type of high blood pressure you have and what your doctor thinks the issue is, plus any other conditions you have and any meds you already take. They may choose diuretics, beta blockers, angiotensin II receptor blockers, ace inhibitors, or a combination of all the above.

* High Cholesterol – Reducing your bad cholesterol and improving your good cholesterol with medication means taking one of five different types of meds: statins, niacin, fibrates, bile acid resin drugs, and PCSK9 inhibitors. Again, it will largely depend on your own history plus your doctor’s experience and preferences. It’s important to understand cholesterol levels can be improved by eating a diet of whole foods and avoiding processed food.

* Diabetes – The type of diabetes you have will determine if you need meds or not and if it’s a “try the med or diet first” approach. Some choices for diabetes are insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas, meglitinides, thiazolidinediones, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and SGLT2 inhibitors. These all have side effects, and it’s always in your best interest to make dietary adjustments to control Type 2 Diabetes if that is your diagnosis.

* Blood Clot Prevention – Blood clots can cause stroke and heart attack, so if you’re in danger, your doctor may prescribe an aspirin regimen or another version of a blood thinning agent. Again, there are food choices you can make that will contribute naturally to thinning your blood.

Whether you really need these drugs or not depends on your specific situation. You can however, always employ use lifestyle and dietary changes to improve your condition. Changing your diet may be more of a challenge than popping a pill or two, but it is always in your best interest to avoid prescription medications, their side effects and their long term challenges.

Lifestyle Changes

You and your doctor may prefer to get you to change your lifestyle. You have to be willing to do this, and you do have a great deal of control over your health. The main lifestyle changes will be about eating right, losing weight, and being more active.

* Eat Healthfully – Eating a diet high in nutrients while low in fat and processed food is an important way to combat metabolic syndrome and reverse any of the complications it can cause. If you’re unsure of what to do, ask your doctor for a referral to a dietician who is knowledgeable about metabolic syndrome.

* Lose Weight – If you’re overweight, you have a greater chance of developing metabolic syndrome. It’s a frightening statistic, but sixty percent of people who are obese have metabolic syndrome. Losing weight will cut your chances exponentially.

* Exercise – Moving more is going to help your cardiovascular system; it will also help you keep your blood sugar lower. You don’t even have to do that much. Moving at a moderate pace for just 150 minutes a week will make all the difference.

* Quit Smoking – Does anything really have to be said about not smoking? Smoking is one of the most dangerous things you can do to your health. If you want to get healthier, find someone to help you quit.

Incorporating lifestyle changes will help combat metabolic syndrome. Treatment options for metabolic syndrome including medication may be in order, however, you must be committed to taking it seriously. One reason most doctors simply choose to medicate people is that patients are not compliant with requests to lose weight or change their lifestyle. As I said before, it’s easier to pop a pill, but don’t be lazy with your health. Your good health is worth the extra effort!

Helping You Achieve Major Wellness!

Cheryl A Major, CNWC

I’m author, health coach, and entrepreneur Cheryl A Major, and I would love to connect with you! If you’re new to the world of creating better health, both mental and physical for yourself, please check out my signature program to guide even people who think they can never learn to eat to be healthy to do just that! on how to get gluten out of your diet. The Anti-Diet Solution is where to check it out. Learn a few simple tweaks to make quickly and easily. You’ll be amazed how what I share can impact how you feel!

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