Articles — metabolic syndrome

Urticaria, or hives, is a skin disorder defined by a raised red rash. It can result from an allergic reaction or chronically as a result of immune system related inflammation. Many patients with chronic urticaria have autoimmune thyroid disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The exact inflammation chemicals and antibodies that cause the skin condition are unclear. Metabolic syndrome is another condition characterized by inflammation. The main features of metabolic syndrome are obesity, glucose intolerance, and high blood pressure. Research on a Korean population concluded that 30% of people who suffer from chronic urticaria also have metabolic syndrome. This is a...

Oxidative stress is the inability of the body to repair the damage caused by extensive free radicals. These Free radicals can cause toxic effects including damage to proteins, and DNA. Oxidative stress can cause negative influences in the functioning of our cells. In humans, oxidative stress is thought to be involved in the development of cancer and a multitude of other diseases and illnesses. Obese people typically develop several metabolic side effects resulting in cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, some obese people never suffer from these side effects while some normal weight people do. The latter possibly is induced by...

An interesting connection exists between psoriasis, an autoimmune skin condition, and the occurrence of weight gain and metabolic syndrome. Psoriasis affects roughly 1-3% of the population and because it is an autoimmune condition, it is more common in patients suffering from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease. Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that often affects the elbows and knees but can affect many other spots. It is a chronic condition that can be controlled by medications, but there is no cure for it. As for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and many other autoimmune conditions, the immune system attacks the skin through inflammation...

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The release of melatonin follows a circadian pattern, meaning there is an increased rate of release at night compared to day time release. Melatonin helps initiating and maintaining sleep. For this reason, melatonin supplements are used widely in the United States primarily as an aid for falling asleep and not waking up during the night. In addition to being a sleep helper, melatonin supplements seem to improve metabolic syndrome, according to research. Metabolic syndrome is a definite risk factor for cancer, type II diabetes,...