What Are Metabolic Diseases? Causes, Symptoms

Metabolic diseases occur when the body is not able to process food properly and break it down to produce energy efficiently. This can cause an imbalance in the body, which can show up through various symptoms. Certain lifestyle habits can further increase the risk of severe health conditions. Understanding what metabolic diseases are can help in early detection and prevent their onset.

This article explores what is metabolic syndrome, how is it caused, its risk factors, diagnosis, and management techniques.

What is Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolism is a biochemical process that breaks down the food people eat into its smaller components, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Poor metabolism occurs when the food cannot be digested and converted into energy properly. Energy is efficiently produced in those with high metabolism, meaning people who can digest food quickly.

A metabolic syndrome or metabolic disorder occurs when the body’s metabolism is disturbed due to irregular chemical reactions. This affects how efficiently a body breaks down large molecules to gain energy, as well as how well the cells can produce energy.

Metabolic disorders also cause an imbalance in the body, leading to either an excess or a lack of certain nutrients.

Metabolic disorder consists of different groups of disorders, such as those affecting the breakdown of amino acids, carbohydrates or lipids. Mitochondrial metabolic diseases affect the cells that produce energy.

What Causes Metabolic Diseases?

Insulin resistance is one of the major reasons for metabolic disorders.

Insulin is a hormone that provides energy to the body by enabling glucose to enter the cells. When a person experiences insulin resistance, their cells do not react to insulin as expected. Since the muscle, fat, and liver cells don’t respond well to insulin, the body’s blood sugar rises, leading to more insulin production.

Insulin resistance can also arise due to excess abdominal fat, inactivity, certain medicines, and genetics.

Metabolic diseases may also be caused due to other reasons, such as:

• Genetic mutations
• Organ dysfunction
• Mitochondrial issues

What are the Risk Factors of Metabolic Diseases?

The chances of being diagnosed with metabolic diseases can be increased due to these risk factors:

• Age: Risk increases with age, especially for women after they reach menopause.
• Obesity: Excess body weight, mainly abdominal fat, can cause metabolic diseases.
• Diabetes: Gestational diabetes or having a family history of type 2 diabetes can also increase the risk of such diseases.
• Other medical conditions: Conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, and psoriasis can lead to metabolic diseases.
• Lifestyle factors: Physical inactivity, poor diet, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption are also serious risk factors.
• Sex differences: Women, especially post-menopausal, have a higher risk due to hormonal changes impacting fat distribution and metabolism.
• Infant weight: Low birth weight and rapid weight gain during infancy can cause metabolic disorders later in life.

What are the Symptoms of Metabolic Diseases?

An individual with a metabolic disorder may experience various symptoms, including:

• Large Waist Size: This is an indication of abdominal obesity, which can raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
• High Blood Sugar: This can be identified through symptoms such as fatigue, increased thirst, frequent urination, and blurred vision. It is linked to insulin resistance.
• Fatigue: Improper metabolism leads to less glucose absorbed by cells, and therefore less energy.
• Unexpected Weight Changes: Sudden weight gain or loss can be a sign of metabolic disease.
• Digestive Issues: Reduced appetite, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting can indicate metabolic dysfunction.

Noticing these symptoms can help in early detection and prevention.

How are Metabolic Diseases Diagnosed?

Metabolic diseases can be diagnosed through physical exams, medical history, and lab tests. Healthcare providers typically conduct physical assessments, such as measuring blood pressure and waist circumference, to detect risk factors like abdominal obesity.

They also review the patient’s medical and family history to determine if they’re at risk of metabolic disorders. Based on their assessment, the healthcare provider may recommend routine blood tests such as lipid panels, basic metabolic panels (BMP), and a fasting glucose test. These tests help measure cholesterol types and triglycerides, various substance levels in the blood, and blood sugar levels, respectively.

Since metabolic diseases can affect multiple organs and systems, additional tests may be conducted to detect further causes or complications. However, it’s important to consult a doctor before undergoing these tests.

What are Some Management or Prevention Techniques?

To manage the symptoms or prevent the onset of metabolic diseases, one must take measures like:

• Maintaining a healthy body weight helps improve metabolism.
• Exercising for at least 30 minutes every day can combat insulin resistance.
• Eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and proteins aids in maintaining a healthy body weight.
• Quitting smoking improves cholesterol and reduces cardiovascular risks.
• Improving sleep schedules and managing stress supports metabolic health.

Improving one’s lifestyle can play a major role in preventing metabolic diseases. However, if someone is experiencing any metabolic disease-related symptoms, they should consult a doctor and book a test on the Dr Lal PathLabs app.

FAQs

1. What is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is a disorder where the body’s metabolism is disturbed, affecting how it breaks down food and produces energy.

2. What causes metabolic diseases?

Causes include genetic mutations, organ dysfunction, mitochondrial issues, and insulin resistance.

3. How can metabolic diseases be prevented?

One should maintain a healthy weight, exercise daily, eat nutritious foods, quit smoking, improve sleep, and manage stress to prevent metabolic diseases.