Types of Metabolic Disorders

Posted by admin in Health on June 18, 2011

The food we eat is broken down to simpler components of carbohydrates, proteins as well as fats. This breaking down of complex foods into simpler compounds within the body is called as metabolism. When the normal process of metabolism is disrupted due to an inherited or acquired condition, it is termed as a metabolic disorder. There are different types of metabolic disorders that are said to affect about 26 million Americans. We shall discuss and have a look at a list of metabolic disorders in this Buzzle article.

List of Metabolic Disorders Affecting People

Metabolism is a continuous process that goes on all the time. Whether a person is eating, sleeping, talking, running or just lazying around, metabolism continues. It helps to carry out many body functions like healing of injuries, damage repair, regulation of body temperature, creation of new body cells, removal of toxins from the body, etc. Metabolism occurs the minute food enters the stomach and the digestion begins. The enzymes released by the pancreas and thyroid gland help in breakdown of digested food into simpler substances. These simple substances are absorbed by the body cells and thus, help in release of energy and carry out other process within the body.

But when metabolic disorders occur, it causes abnormal chemical reactions to occur. This disrupts the normal functioning of the body and leads to health problems. There are different types of metabolic disorders that include inherited metabolic disorders. However, inherited metabolic disorders are found to be very rare and affect just 1 in about 1,000 to 2,500 newborns. Let us have a look at some of the types of metabolic disorders and their description in the following paragraphs.

Hyperthyroidism
An overactive thyroid gland is considered to be a metabolic disorder. Thyroid gland releases thyroxine that helps in proper functioning of the metabolism. However, when released in high amounts, it causes increase in basal metabolic rate (BMR). Thus, causing excessive weight loss, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure and swelling in the neck.

Hypothyroidism
The opposite of hyperthyroidism is hypothyroidism. When an under-active thyroid gland causes deficiency of thyroid hormones, it leads to a number of health problems. The person suffers from low basal metabolic rate, excessive weight gain, slow heart rate, constipation, etc.

Diabetes
One of the common metabolic disorders is diabetes. Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the body fails to utilize glucose properly. Thus, causing high blood sugar levels. There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. In case of type 1 diabetes, pancreas produce too little or no insulin. Thus, the person needs to be given insulin everyday. This causes fatigue, constant hunger, weight loss and blurred vision. If left untreated, it could lead to diabetic coma. Type 2 diabetes is the common form striking people around the world. The pancreas do produce insulin, but the body turns resistant to its effects. Thus, the patient requires more insulin to help perform the same functions. Read the rest of this entry »

, , ,

No Comments

Steroids and Heart Problems

Posted by admin in Health on June 18, 2011

Today’s cut throat competition forces us to lead an erratic lifestyle, thereby exposing us to numerous factors that cause heart problems. Eating unhealthy foods and lack of physical activity are the common reasons of heart ailments in present times. However, quite a few people have no idea about certain commonly used medicines that may cause damage to the heart. Studies reveal that taking steroids frequently can cause heart problems. Side effects of steroids related to the heart are discussed below.

Steroids and Heart Problems
As we all know, steroids are hormones that are not only naturally produced in the body, but are also available in supplemental form. Oral corticosteroids like hydrocortisone and prednisolone display anti-inflammatory effect. Medical problems like asthma (inflammation of the airways) and arthritis (inflammation of the joints) improve with the usage of these steroids. They are especially useful to treat severe asthma because steroids provide immediate relief from breathing problems.

Although steroids do alleviate swelling, its side effects when taken in excess doses are a cause of concern. Unknowingly consuming steroids in high doses can be fatal to the heart. Long term use of steroids may raise blood pressure, thereby increasing the risk of heart problems. A study published in the journal ‘Annals of Internal Medicine’ cited how steroid use for prolonged periods of time can negatively affect the heart. The study that was conducted spanning 3 years in between 1993 to 1996 involved thousands of patients taking steroids. Their heart condition was monitored to estimate the risk of heart problems. Of course, all the patients were not taking the same steroid or the dosage. Even the duration of steroid use was different, nevertheless it was not for a short period. All this data was analyzed and researchers found out that intake of steroids in high doses elevates the chances of cardiovascular problems. Taking these steroids in small doses does not mean that there is no risk of heart problems, but it is minimal as compared to those taking high doses of steroids.

Though the study suggests that steroids put a person in the risk zone of cardiovascular problems, it does not indicate that these anti-inflammatory drugs are a primary contributory factor in the development of heart problems. This is because other factors like smoking habits, exercise routine and diet of the people under study were not considered in the research. Hence, saying that only steroids trigger heart problems would be wrong. Read the rest of this entry »

, , ,

No Comments