Also called Syndrome X or insulin resistance syndrome, metabolic syndrome refers to a group of medical conditions that relate to your risks for cardiovascular disease. If you're diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, you may have problems with oxidized cholesterol and low levels of HDL, or "good cholesterol." Talk with your doctor about the safe and effective preventive measures and treatments for metabolic syndrome.
Identification
Metabolic syndrome is characterized by having four different risk factors, which include stroke, peripheral vascular disease, coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Having excessive abdominal fat, high triglycerides, insulin resistance, low HDL levels or otherwise abnormal cholesterol levels and high blood pressure all at once can lead to a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. When these risk factors manifest together, you have an increased danger of developing heart disease, diabetes and stroke, MayoClinic.com explains. Specific test results can form the basis for a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Your doctor will likely measure your waist, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol levels, blood pressure and fasting blood-sugar levels, notes the University of Michigan Health System. An HDL cholesterol level that's less than 50 milligrams per deciliters for women or 40 milligrams per deciliters for men can contribute to a metabolic-syndrome diagnosis.
Significance
Although having just one of the conditions in the group can cause serious health dangers, you must have all the conditions to have a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, MayoClinic.com says. The high cholesterol component of metabolic syndrome, coupled with high blood pressure, can increase the buildup of arterial plaque, leading to cardiovascular disease, stroke and heart attack. Your lifestyle directly contributes to metabolic syndrome and its group of health conditions, notes the University of Michigan Health System. A sedentary lifestyle, being overweight or obese and consuming excessive amounts of calories can all cause metabolic syndrome.
Prevention/Solution
The treatment for metabolic syndrome typically involves treating each condition in the group. Your doctor may recommend that you lose weight, lower your LDL, or "bad cholesterol", levels, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to help treat or prevent metabolic syndrome, says the University of Michigan Health System. Exercising at least 30 minutes each day, losing at least 5 to 10 percent of your body weight, quitting smoking and following a healthy diet like the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, diet or Mediterranean diet can all help in treating metabolic syndrome, MayoClinic.com notes. These lifestyle changes can lower your blood pressure, decrease your insulin levels, promote weight loss and improve your insulin resistance. Following a diet that's very low in cholesterol can help to reduce your oxidized cholesterol, which contributes to metabolic syndrome, adds the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Considerations
When lifestyle changes alone don't correct the medical conditions that characterize metabolic syndrome, your physician may recommend adding other treatments, MayoClinic.com says. These might include taking prescription medications to improve your cholesterol profile, lower your blood pressure and promote weight loss. You might also need to take a medication to treat your insulin resistance and lower your blood-sugar levels, as well as a low-dose aspirin to prevent blood clots and prevent strokes or heart attacks, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Warning
A variety of risk factors can raise red flags for your chances of developing metabolic syndrome. You're at a greater risk for metabolic syndrome if you are overweight or obese and if you consume a high-calorie, low-fiber and high-fat diet, warns the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Lack of exercise, being 60 years of age or older and having a family history of cholesterol problems, hypertension, heart disease and diabetes can increase your risks for metabolic syndrome. Hispanic and Asian people, as well as women with a family history of polycystic ovary syndrome also have higher chances for metabolic syndrome, MayoClinic.com notes.
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