Our population is living longer, but are we aging healthier?

Improvements in medical technology, public health, and the increase in food production have contributed to this longevity boom on a global scale. According to the Population Reference Bureau, “the number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060.” However, the fact that people are living longer does not necessarily mean that they are living healthier. This demographic shift has been accompanied by a rise in age-related chronic conditions, with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes predominating. The rapid acceleration in urbanization and people adopting behavioral changes, such as a more sedentary lifestyle and opting for unhealthy choices, has been a leading force in the development of these chronic conditions. Particularly, metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of risk factors known to increase the risk of heart disease and other health conditions, is becoming more rampant among adults.

Many epidemiological studies have shown that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome increases with age. This is because the biochemical processes in our body changes as aging progresses and can become exacerbated by poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, excessive alcohol consumption, and tobacco use. Metabolic syndrome consists of a constellation of five risk factors, including a large waistline, high triglyceride levels, low HDL cholesterol/ “good” cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high fasting blood glucose. To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, a person needs to have at least three out of these five risk factors and the more risk factors you have, the greater the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Additionally, aspects like age, ethnicity, obesity, and diabetes, as well as genetics, can also play a role in increasing the risk of developing these conditions. For example, in the United States, Mexican Americans are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome, followed by African Americans and Caucasians, with women being at a greater risk than men. 

Understanding the effects of these risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome is important to better comprehend how they can give rise to cardiovascular health complications. For example, a large waistline results from excess weight around the waist, which is an indicator of central obesity. High levels of triglycerides and cholesterol can be dangerous because it can result in the buildup of plaques that harden the arteries and limit the supply of blood to the heart. Similarly, high blood pressure is a condition in which the heart and blood vessels work harder, but less efficiently, as the excessive force can cause damage to the tissues in the heart and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Furthermore, high fasting blood sugar is an important factor since about 85% of people with type II diabetes also have metabolic syndrome. Typically, the food we consume is broken down by the digestive system into simple sugars. Insulin, a pancreatic hormone, coordinates the movement of these sugars from the bloodstream into cells, where it can be utilized for energy expenditure. However, individuals who have insulin resistance, like in the case of type II diabetic patients, are unable to remove these sugars from the bloodstream resulting in high fasting blood sugar and impaired blood flow to the heart.

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases has been very alarming as it is the cause of 1 in every 3 deaths in the United States (CDC). Therefore, raising awareness about the implications of metabolic syndrome and how these risk factors can be avoided is fundamental to prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease and other health complications. Although factors like aging, genetics, and ethnicity cannot be amenable, other risk factors like weight, levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, and sugar can be monitored and controlled. Likewise, lifestyle changes such as being more physically active, eating healthier, not smoking, and managing stress can greatly minimize the emergence of these risk factors. Health providers and public health professionals should continue to educate people about the importance of healthier eating habits and the need for adequate physical activity. Additionally, government officials should ensure better urban planning that encourages a heart-healthy lifestyle through the creation of more parks, pedestrian walks, in addition to facilitating the availability of affordable healthy foods. This way, we can strive to live longer and healthier! 

References:

Fact Sheet: Aging in the United States. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2020, from https://www.prb.org/aging-unitedstates-fact-sheet/

Heart Disease and Stroke. (2020, October 07). Retrieved October 30, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/heart-disease-stroke.htm

Metabolic syndrome. (2019, March 14). Retrieved October 30, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/metabolic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351916

Metabolic Syndrome. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2020, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/metabolic-syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2020, from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/metabolic-syndrome

Saklayen, M. G. (2018). The Global Epidemic of the Metabolic Syndrome. Current Hypertension Reports,20(2). doi:10.1007/s11906-018-0812-z