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Hypertension, Obesity, and Metabolic Syndrome

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Special Issues in Hypertension

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Abstract

A growing number of people are characterized by abdominal obesity and a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors that have collectively been named metabolic syndrome. This has been a leading concept in cardiovascular prevention for many years, but has also been criticized for its imprecision and lack of predictive power over and above that of its component factors since 2005. The most important lesson is, however, to look for other risk factors in the cluster when one has been diagnosed, for example, hypertension. The treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome starts with lifestyle interventions aiming for increased physical activity, smoking avoidance, and weight stabilization, together with recommendations to eat a Mediterranean-style diet. Drug therapy should aim to control the risk factors, by means of statins and most antihypertensive drugs, often used in combinations, and effective antiglycemic drugs if type 2 diabetes is diagnosed. An appropriate evaluation of total cardiovascular risk should guide the intensity of treatment, while screening for target organ damage and asking for a positive family history of early cardiovascular events are also useful tools.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Sciences, Lund University, University Hospital, Södra Förstadsgatan, Malmö, S-205 02, Sweden

    Peter M. Nilsson

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  1. Peter M. Nilsson
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Correspondence to Peter M. Nilsson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Ce, Riad El Solh, Beirut, 1107-2020, Lebanon

    Adel E. Berbari

  2. Clinica Medica, Ospedale S. Gerardo, Università di Milano-Bicocca, V .Donizetti 106, Milano, Monza, 20133, Italy

    Giuseppe Mancia

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Nilsson, P.M. (2012). Hypertension, Obesity, and Metabolic Syndrome. In: Berbari, A., Mancia, G. (eds) Special Issues in Hypertension. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2601-8_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2601-8_11

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