Cigarette Smoking Increases The Risk for Metabolic Syndrome in Teens
Metabolic Syndrome is a clustering of risk factors that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
Teens who smoke or who are exposed to second hand smoke are 5 to 6 times more likely to develop Metabolic Syndrome than their peers are. Those with abdominal or upper body obesity are even more vulnerable.
How Is Metabolic Syndrome Diagnosed in Teens?
A widely accepted definition for Metabolic Syndrome in adolescents has not yet been confirmed however, similar to an adult diagnosis, if the teen has three or more of the following risk factors, they are considered to have Metabolic Syndrome:
- waist circumference - 90th percentile for age and sex
- blood pressure - 90th percentile range for age, sex and height
- triglycerides - elevated levels
- low-density lipoproteins (LDL) "bad" cholesterol - high levels
- high-density lipoproteins (HDL) “good” cholesterol) – low levels
- fasting blood sugar - elevated levels
What is the Connection?
There are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, but nicotine and carbon monoxide cause most of the problems that increase the risk for Metabolic Syndrome. Nicotine is an organic compound that is made up of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen. It is a poison the tobacco plant uses as a defense mechanism to prevent animals from eating it.
What happens when cigarette smoke is introduced into the body?
Every time a person smokes a cigarette a number of harmful effects are set in motion.
- The adrenal glands are stimulated by nicotine causing a release of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. These enable your body to have a quick burst of energy to get you out of a dangerous spot—like if a bear is chasing you. Stored glucose is released by the liver into your bloodstream to provide fast fuel enabling your muscles to run if necessary. If the fuel is not used, it is stored as fat.
- Nicotine prevents lipids from metabolizing properly so low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or bad cholesterol is increased and
- High-density lipoproteins (HDL) or good cholesterol is reduced
- Nicotine causes platelets to be stickier. Sticky arterial blood vessels begin to collect fats and cholesterol. They eventually become clogged and blood cannot flow through them properly.
- Nicotine constricts blood vessels causing the heart rate, blood pressure, blood flow and oxygen requirements all to increase. Your heart is forced to work harder.
- Carbon monoxide from the cigarettes takes the place of oxygen in the blood. This means the tissues including the heart and the brain aren’t getting the oxygen they need.
- Carbon monoxide makes it easier for bad cholesterol to get into the blood vessels.
Premature Death is Preventable
The top 2 causes of preventable death in the US are smoking and obesity. Both of these factors are shown to increase the incidence of Metabolic Syndrome in adolescents. Will we see a corresponding increase in heart disease and type 2 diabetes—and premature death in younger adults than in the past?
The American Heart Association has estimated that 16 percent of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight. Repeated warnings have alerted us to the risks of lung cancer and heart disease associated smoking and exposure to second hand tobacco smoke. Now we have even more reason to act.
- American Heart Association. (2006). Cigarette smoking and cardiovascular diseases [online]. Accessed November 16, 2006.
- American Heart Association. (2006). Overweight in children. [online]. Accessed November 16, 2006.
- Weitzman, M., Cook, S., & Auinger, P. et al, (2005). Tobacco smoke exposure is associated with the Metabolic Syndrome in adolescents. Pediatric Cardiology. 2005 112:862-869.
- Woods, S.L., Sivarajan Froelicher, E.S., Underhill Motzer, S. & Bridges, E.J. (2005). Cardiac nursing. (5th ed.). New York: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.