Smoke rises the risk of metabolic syndrome in teens

Exposure to cigarette smoke - either through active or passive smoke - raises the risk among teens of metabolic syndrome, a disorder associated with excess belly fat that increases the chances of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, according to a study.

The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions - high blood pressure, high blood level of glucose - that increase cardiovascular and diabetes risk The syndrome often develops in childhood and is associated with insulin resistance, a metabolic disorder in which the body can’t use insulin efficiently.

A study, published in the American Heart Association online journal (1 August, 2005 issue), concluded that 1 percent of those teens unexposed to smoke developed the syndrome, 5 percent of those exposed to secondhand smoke had the disorder and 9 percent of active smokers had it.

Taking into consideration only teens who were overweight or at risk for being overweight, the effect of smoke was even more marked, with 6 percent of those not exposed to smoke developing syndrome, 20 percent of those exposed to secondhand smoke getting it and 24 percent of smokers suffering from the disorder.

According to the American Heart Association, about 16 percent of all children and teens in the United States are overweight. This is a group in which it is profoundly important to reduce secondhand smoke exposure and active smoking, and, by consequence, risk of diabetes and heart disease, as metabolic syndrome direct effects.






NOTE: The Information on this site is provided for information only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your own physician or other medical professional.



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