Metabolic Disorders: Causes, Treatment And Types

Metabolism constantly provides energy to your body for essential functions like breathing and digestion. It allows people to repair the damage to the body's environment. A metabolic disorder is a condition that impairs the body's ongoing process. The metabolism is directly connected to metabolic disorders. Let us understand more about it!  

Table Of Contents 

1. What Is  Metabolic Disorder? 

2. What Causes Metabolic Disorders? 

3. What Are The Common Metabolic Disorders?

4. What Are The Treatments Of Metabolic Disorder? 

5. The Final Say 

6. FAQs 

What Is Metabolic Disorder? 

A metabolic disorder occurs when unusual chemical reactions hamper the body’s metabolism. It can affect the breakdown of molecules for energy and disturb energy regulation. 

What Causes Metabolic Disorder? 

Experts are not sure about the development of metabolic syndrome. However, it is a collection of multiple risk factors, not a single disease. Some of them are: 

1. Insulin Resistance 

Insulin hormone helps your body use glucose (a simple sugar produced from the food you eat). Unfortunately, in people with insulin resistance, the insulin does not work either, so your body keeps making more and more of it to cope with the rising glucose level. Eventually, this leads to diabetes and is closely connected to increased belly fat. 

2. Obesity 

Experts suggest that metabolic syndrome is becoming more common because of rising rates of obesity. Moreover, having extra fat in the belly or elsewhere in the body increases your risk of metabolic disorders. 

3. Unhealthy Lifestyle 

Living an unhealthy lifestyle not only leads to metabolic syndrome but poses many chronic diseases. For instance, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects the menstrual cycle and fertility in women. An unhealthy lifestyle is closely related to hormonal imbalance and metabolic syndrome. 

4. Genetics 

The influence of genes can interfere with metabolic activity. For example, Gaucher's disease can mutate genes, which hampers the production of glucocerebrosidase (a compound that breaks down fats). As a result, fat builds up around the body.

5. Mitochondrial Dysfunction  

Mitochondria are small parts of cells that produce energy. Mutations of the mitochondria or cell DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), or environmental triggers, can affect how well mitochondria function and how much energy they produce.

What Are The Common Metabolic Disorders?

Here are a few common metabolic disorders: 

1. Gaucher’s Disease 

It is the disorder in which glucocerebrosidase enzyme is produced in minimal amounts, leading to harmful fat deposition in the body. As a result, lipids get collected in the liver or spleen, which makes them grow larger and creates a range of issues like bruising and tiredness. 

2. Phenylketonuria (PKU) 

Amino acids are broken down for the development and growth of the body. In the Phenylketonuria condition, a person cannot produce an enzyme called phenylalanine hydroxylase, which converts phenylalanine to other amino acids. As a result, PKU patients cannot process the amino acids which build up in the brain and cause brain damage.

3. Diabetes 

It is an auto-immune disorder that does not make the pancreas produce insulin in the required quantity to control blood glucose levels in the body. There are three types of diabetes. They are: 

1. Type 1 diabetes 

Type 1 diabetic patients require insulin medications to control their blood glucose levels. 

2. Type 2 diabetes 

In type 2 diabetes pancreas produces insulin but in less quantity due to lifestyle factors like poor diet. 

3. Gestational diabetes 

Gestational diabetes affects women during pregnancy. However, it goes away after delivery. However, it can develop the risk of diabetes 2 in future. 

4. Hemochromatosis 

It affects iron absorption in the body. As a result, the condition leads to an excess iron buildup. The symptoms of hemochromatosis include: 

• Joint pain 
• Sexual difficulties 
• Weakness 
• Darkening of skin 
• Stomach ache 

What Are The Treatments Of Metabolic Disorder? 

Untreated metabolic disorders can be very minacious to health. Therefore, it is vital to get yourself treated in the first place. 

Changes In Diet And Lifestyle 

A proper diet routine should include a balanced diet; hence, some foods should be avoided.  Also, adopt physical activity to your routine to keep you active and healthy.

Medical Help 

To avoid life-threatening emergencies, prescribed medicines should be taken to overcome specific symptoms of metabolic disorders. For example, in diabetes, insulin is advised.

The Final Say 

Metabolic disorders influence metabolism, resulting in various barriers. They generally arise due to the body producing too much or too little of a matter. Symptoms of a metabolic condition can exacerbate without treatment and may usher to medical emergencies.

FAQs 

1. How is metabolic syndrome diagnosed?

You need to take a blood test to check triglyceride level, cholesterol and blood sugar to diagnose if you have any medical disorder. 

2. Can metabolic disorders go away? 

Yes, through medications and lifestyle changes, the condition can be reversed. 

3. Are metabolic disorders inherited?

Yes, some disorders like phenylketonuria are inherited and can be transferred from one generation to another. 

4. Can metabolic disorders kill you?

A metabolic disorder cannot kill you but can make you sick and prone to other diseases like diabetes and heart issues. 

5. What is a common metabolic disorder? 

Diabetes is considered a common metabolic disorder. 

About ToneOp

ToneOp is a platform dedicated to improving and maintaining your good health through a comprehensive range of goal-oriented diet plans and recipes. It also intends to provide value-added content to our consumers.