Cardiac/Vascular Nurse Exam Secrets Study Guide Read Online Free PDF Page B

hyperglycemia during other examinations or based on the presence of secondary symptoms such as fatigue or vision changes. In many cases, type II diabetes is not diagnosed until the patient experiences a complications caused by the condition including heart attack, neuropathy, vision problems and/or foot ulcers. Diabetes screening tools include random blood glucose testing, fasting blood glucose testing, and more-formal blood glucose tolerance testing. Other lab studies include urine glucose and ketones as well as renal function tests. Blood tests include glycated hemoglobin, islet cell antibodies, thyroid function tests, antithyroid antibodies, lipid levels, and antigliadin antibodies.
     

Metabolic syndrome
     
    Metabolic syndrome is defined as a group of risk factors that put individuals at risk for developing cardiovascular disease or other comorbid conditions such as diabetes. The risk of developing metabolic syndrome is closely linked to obesity, lack of physical activity, genetic factors, and poor diet.
     
    Metabolic syndrome is also known as syndrome X, insulin resistance syndrome, dysmetabolic syndrome, hypertriglyceridemic waist and obesity syndrome.
     
    The 5 risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome include a large waistline, higher than normal triglyceride levels, lower than normal high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hypertension, and hyperglycemia. An increased number of risk factors raise an individual’s risk of developing complications such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and/or stroke.
     
    Approximately 47 million individuals have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome in the United States. The incidence continues to increase annually, which can be attributed to increasing obesity rates within the United States.
     
    The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in individuals greater than 20 years of age is more than 20%, increasing to over 40% in individuals greater than 60 years of age. Gender and ethnic descent affect the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Mexican Americans have the highest rate of metabolic syndrome in the United States, followed by Caucasian Americans and African Americans.
     
    The NCEP/ATP III (National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel) defines metabolic syndrome as an individual with 3 or more of the following risk factors including waist circumference equal to or greater than 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women, triglyceride levels greater than 150 mg/dL, high-density lipid cholesterol less than 40 mg/dL in men and less than 50 mg/dL in women, blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/85 mmHg and fasting plasma glucose greater than 100 mg/dL.
     
    The World Health Organization (WHO) defines metabolic syndrome as an individual with diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or insulin resistance, plus 2 or more of the following risk factors including body mass index greater than 30 kg/m 2 and/or waist-to-hip ratio greater than 0.9 in men and greater than 0.85 in women, triglyceride levels greater than 150 mg/dL and/or high-density lipid cholesterol less than 35 mg/dL in men and less than 39 mg/dL in women, blood pressure greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHG and urinary albumin excretion greater than equal to 20 mg/min or urinary albumin: creatinine ratio greater than or equal to 30 mg/g.
     

Causes and risk factors
    The exact mechanisms that induce metabolic syndrome in some individuals remain unclear. The pathophysiology is very complex and poorly understood. However, several risk factors put some individuals at an increased risk of developing the condition. Risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome include obesity, lack of physical activity, dyslipidemia, history of familial diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, insulin resistance, stress, aging, genetic factors and hormonal changes.
     
    While genetic factors and aging cannot be addressed, individuals can prevent obesity by maintaining proper weight with diet and