Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that raises your risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke. The term “metabolic” refers to the biochemical processes involved in the body’s normal functioning.
There are five conditions described below as metabolic risk factors or traits, conditions, or habits that increase your chance of developing a disease. Large waistline, Increased cholesterol, and triglycerides, Increased Blood pressure, increased sugar. One must have at least three metabolic risk factors to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. The risk of having metabolic syndrome is closely linked to overweight and obesity and a lack of physical activity.
A large waistline means that you carry excess weight around your waist (abdominal obesity). This is also called having an “apple-shaped” figure. A waist measurement of 35 inches or more for women or 40 inches or more for men.
Triglyceride level, a type of fat in the blood, of 150 mg/dL or higher (or being on medicine to treat high triglycerides). HDL cholesterol “good” cholesterol, helps remove cholesterol from arteries levels of less than 50 mg/dL for women and less than 40 mg/dL for men (or being on medicine to treat low HDL cholesterol).
A blood pressure of 130/85 mmHg or higher (or being on medicine to treat high blood pressure) is a metabolic risk factor. High blood pressure may have dull headaches, dizzy spells, or more nosebleeds. If only one of two blood pressure numbers is high, one is still at risk for metabolic syndrome.
A normal fasting blood sugar level is less than 100 mg/dL. A fasting blood sugar level between 100–125 mg/dL is considered prediabetes. A fasting blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL or higher is considered diabetes. Clinical symptoms increased thirst; increased urination, especially at night; fatigue (tiredness); and blurred vision. A fasting blood sugar level of 100 mg/dL or higher (or being on medicine to treat high blood sugar) is a metabolic risk factor.
About 85 percent of people who have type 2 diabetes people have a much higher risk for heart disease than the 15 percent of people who have type 2 diabetes without metabolic syndrome.
Insulin resistance can lead to high blood sugar levels, and it’s closely linked to overweight and obesity.
Genetics (ethnicity and family history) and older age are other factors that may play a role in causing metabolic syndrome.
The major goal of treating metabolic syndrome is to reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol and high blood pressure and managing diabetes (if these conditions are present).
The second goal of treatment is to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and prevent Long-term complications of diabetes often include heart and kidney disease, vision loss, and foot or leg amputation. If diabetes is present, the goal of treatment is to reduce your risk for heart disease by controlling all of your risk factors.
The best way to prevent metabolic syndrome is to adopt heart-healthy lifestyle changes. Diagnosis is by measurement of your cholesterol, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.
Heart-healthy lifestyle changes include heart-healthy eating, aiming for a healthy weight, managing stress, physical activity, and quitting smoking.
Doctors usually prescribe statins for people who have Diabetes, Heart disease, or had a prior stroke, High LDL cholesterol levels. Other medications may be prescribed to lower blood pressure, prevent blood clots, which can lead to heart attack or stroke, reduce your heart’s workload and relieve symptoms of coronary heart disease.
All medicines need to be taken regularly, as the doctor prescribes. Also one should still follow a heart-healthy lifestyle, even if one takes medicines to treat your risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
