Metabolic and Lifestyle Disease

What is a Metabolic Disorder?

A metabolic disorder occurs when the metabolism process fails and causes the body to have either too much or too little of the essential substances needed to stay healthy. Our bodies are very sensitive to errors in metabolism. The body must have amino acids and many types of proteins to perform all of its functions. For example, the brain needs calcium, potassium, and sodium to generate electrical impulses, and lipids (fats and oils) to maintain a healthy nervous system.

Metabolic disorders can take many forms. This includes:

• A missing enzyme or vitamin that’s necessary for an important chemical reaction.
• Abnormal chemical reactions that hinder metabolic processes.
• A disease in the liver, pancreas, endocrine glands, or other organs involved in metabolism.
• Nutritional deficiencies.

Types of Metabolic Disorders

Diabetes is the most common metabolic disease. There are two types of diabetes:

• A - Type 1: The cause of which is unknown, although there can be a genetic factor.
• B - Type 2: which can be acquired, or potentially caused by genetic factors as well.

Life Style Disorder

A disease associated with the way a person or group of people's lives. Lifestyle diseases include: Atherosclerosis, heart disease, and stroke, obesity and type 2 diabetes, and diseases associated with smoking and alcohol and drug abuse. Regular physical activity helps prevent obesity, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, colon cancer and premature mortality.