Metabolic Syndrome
Holy Cross is excited to offer a program for patients with Metabolic Syndrome through the UM-HCH Internal Medicine Faculty and Residency Practice at 5601 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park.
This program will give patients guidance, education and coaching through:
- Diet
- Exercise
- Stress reduction
in a structured program over the course of 12 months.
A life coach/nutritionist/dietitian and exercise physiologist will mentor and assist patients along with residents, pharmacists and other ancillary staff in achieving a healthier lifestyle predicated on behavior modification.
The metabolic syndrome, which is at least three of five factors that include high blood pressure, low HDL, increased central obesity, abnormal triglycerides and an abnormal blood sugar, is a clustering of risk factors that leads to an internal milieu that promotes atherosclerosis. Most of these patients will succumb to heart attacks and strokes as well as develop significant kidney disease and diabetes. Their obesity increases their likelihood of experiencing orthopedic issues.
Programs such as this have been used for more than a decade and have proven effective in reversing Metabolic Syndrome in participants who adhere to the recommended lifestyle modifications.
Patients will need less medicines and may even eliminate some of them. From a public health point of view, this is a win-win situation. The data show that these patients do not have to achieve an ideal weight but – just as in the diabetic prevention program advocated by the CDC –sustain aerobic activity on a weekly basis coupled with behavior and dietary modification for just a 7% weight loss to reverse most of the effects of the metabolic syndrome.
Also, subgroups with this syndrome will be identified that have predominant blood pressure, diabetic or dyslipidemic components to their disease for a more targeted approach.
Are you interested in the program? Please obtain written or verbal consent from your Primary Care Physician.
To learn more, please call 954-491-2160.