Metabolic Syndrome

What is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical conditions that increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It is a very common and dangerous medical problem.

Metabolic syndrome is defined as the presence of 3 or more of the following health conditions:

• excess weight around the waist (waist measurement of more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women)
• triglycerides blood level of 150 mg/dL or more
• HDL cholesterol levels below 40 mg/dL for men and below 50 mg/dL for women
• blood pressure of 130/85 mm HG or higher
• prediabetes (a fasting blood sugar between 100 and 125 mg/dL, or between 5.6 and 6.9 mmol/L) or diabetes (a fasting blood sugar level over 125 mg/dL, or over 6.9 mmol/L).

Other terms used for metabolic syndrome are insulin resistance syndrome and syndrome X.

How does it occur?

Overweight, poor diet, a lack of exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as smoking, appear to be factors that contribute to metabolic syndrome. It tends to run in families, so the genes you inherit also play a role.

What are the symptoms?

Usually there are no symptoms specific to metabolic syndrome.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will examine you and check your blood pressure. You will have lab tests, including tests that measure the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and sugar in your blood.

How is it treated?

The most important part of treatment is lifestyle change: exercise to improve fitness and lose weight. Eating a healthier diet is part of this change. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines to treat other risk factors. These medicines may include aspirin, blood pressure medicines, and cholesterol drugs. Aspirin may help prevent blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks. Blood pressure medicines can reduce your blood pressure to help prevent stroke and heart damage. And cholesterol drugs can bring down high triglyceride levels and raise your HDL, or "good" cholesterol, levels.

How long will the effects last?

If metabolic syndrome is not treated, you are much more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or diabetes. Increasing your physical activity and losing weight can help prevent development of diabetes. Blood glucose levels may return to normal. These improvements in lifestyle, including a healthier diet plus medicines if needed, can also improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels, thus reducing your risk for heart disease. Making lifestyle changes and taking medicines as prescribed can add years to your life.

How can I take care of myself?

• Get regular aerobic exercise (like walking at a good pace) according to your healthcare provider's recommendations. Being more active can help improve every one of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
• Replace some of the animal fats, sugars, and white flour products in your diet with more olive and canola oil, nuts, avocados and fish (especially salmon, mackerel and tuna), fruits, vegetables and whole-grain breads and cereals.
• Lose weight.
• Take all medicines according to your provider's instructions.
• If you are a smoker, quit.
• Keep your follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider.