Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions---obesity, elevated blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol and high blood sugar--that significantly raises your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.The people at greatest risk are sedentary, have poor dietary habits, smoke and have a genetic predisposition to any of these conditions. Metabolic syndrome does not have its own set of symptoms. Instead, the individual conditions that contribute to the syndrome have their own signs and symptoms. However, the patient may not exhibit any obvious symptoms at all. Metabolic syndrome is usually diagnosed through a physical exam and laboratory tests so regular, yearly checkups are the best way to diagnose this disorder. If you have any of these conditions, or suspect that you may have metabolic syndrome, contact your physician for a physical.
Obesity
Obesity, especially fat around the abdomen, increases your risk of hypertension, hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia. As a result, obesity is one possible sign of metabolic syndrome. A waist measurement greater than your hip measurement is a danger sign.
Elevated Blood Pressure
Hypertension is called "the silent killer" because a person with high blood pressure seldom has any symptoms. High blood pressure causes damage to the blood vessels which may lead to ruptures and stroke. Normal blood pressure falls between 110/70 and 120/80. Blood pressure between 120/80 and 140/90 is considered borderline and pressure over 140/90 is considered high. Most people discover they have hypertension during a routine physical. However, people with severe untreated hypertension may experience headaches and dizziness, which are often mistaken for other conditions.
Abnormal Cholesterol Levels
Like hypertension, abnormal blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) don't produce any noticeable signs or symptoms. Cholesterol may collect in the blood vessels, causing blockages and hypertension--leading to heart disease and stroke. Normal total cholesterol levels should be below 200 mg/dl and HDL levels should not fall below 50 mg/dl. Normal triglyceride levels should be below 150 mg/dl. A person may never know he has low HDL levels and high triglyceride levels until he has a blood test.
High Blood Sugar
Normal fasting blood sugar is between 70 and 110 mg/dl. With high blood sugar, also called hyperglycemia, the fasting levels are between 110 and 200 mg/dl. High blood sugar also damages blood vessels, increasing the risk for heart disease and stroke. Hyperglycemia is not diabetes; it is a borderline condition that can lead to diabetes if left untreated. Depending on blood sugar levels, hyperglycemia may have no symptoms, or may have symptoms similar to diabetes--excessive thirst, hunger and frequent urinating.
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