Top 3 Things to Know About Metabolic Syndrome

It might surprise you to know that an estimated 1 in 3 adults in the United States have something called metabolic syndrome, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Yet for an abnormality as prevalent as the common cold, many people may not know exactly what it is and why it’s important to recognize the threat it presents to our health.

Metabolic syndrome is not a singular illness but rather a group of conditions that together increase your risk of coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke and other serious health problems.

The good news is that it is – at least to some degree -- preventable.

1. Understanding metabolic syndrome

A relatively new term, metabolic syndrome began appearing in medical periodicals in the 1970s and 1980s. It first surfaced bearing the ominous name "syndrome X." It is also sometimes referred to as insulin resistance syndrome. But metabolic syndrome is now the more common was to identify it.

According to the NIH, metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when someone has three or more of the following risk factors:

• A large waistline: This is also called abdominal obesity or "having an apple shape." Extra fat in your stomach area is a bigger risk factor for heart disease than extra fat in other parts of your body. Large waistlines for men are 40 inches or more, and 35 or larger for women. These values are for Caucasian and African Americans and lower cut-points are used in Asian and Mediterranean people.

• High blood pressure: If your blood pressure goes up and stays high for a long time, it can harm your heart and blood vessels. Generally, a person with readings at 130/85 or greater is considered to have high blood pressure. High blood pressure can also cause plaque, a waxy substance, to build up in your arteries. Plaque can cause heart and blood vessel diseases such as heart attack or stroke. A person can have high blood pressure and not realize it unless a reading is taken.

• High blood sugar levels (100 and higher): This can damage your blood vessels and increase your risk of getting blood clots. Blood clots can cause heart and blood vessel diseases.
• High blood triglycerides (150 and higher): Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. High levels of triglycerides can raise your levels of LDL cholesterol, sometimes called bad cholesterol. This raises your risk of heart disease.
• Low HDL cholesterol, also called good cholesterol (under 40 in men and under 50 in women): Blood cholesterol levels are important for heart health. “Good” HDL cholesterol can help remove “bad” LDL cholesterol from your blood vessels. “Bad” LDL cholesterol can cause plaque buildup in your blood vessels.

All five of these are in and of themselves risk factors for cardiovascular disease. When someone has three or more and is diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, the chance of developing serious cardiovascular issues rises.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. Nationally, one person dies every 33 seconds from it, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

2. Causes, symptoms and diagnosis

Experts have not been able to pinpoint an exact cause of metabolic syndrome, but it is believed that a complex network of factors contributes to its development. Some researchers have noted that metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance are closely tied, leading to a belief that insulin resistance may be a significant driver.

Other underlying causes include obesity, physical inactivity, genetic factors, hormonal imbalance, smoking and increasing age.

While some people are genetically prone to developing metabolic syndrome, others can develop it as result of their lifestyle. In other words, there are risk factors that you can control and some that you can’t.

Lifestyle habits that can raise your risk of metabolic syndrome include being inactive, eating an unhealthy diet, not getting enough sleep, smoking, drinking and consuming a lot of alcohol.

The things you can’t control include age, genetics and other medical conditions.

Most of the conditions that make up metabolic syndrome have no signs or symptoms. But a large waistline is a visible sign of being overweight or obese.

3. Treatment for metabolic syndrome

The American Heart Association offers the following steps to help patients manage metabolic syndrome and improve overall heart health:

• Eat better. Adopt a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, skinless poultry, fish, nuts, lean meats and vegetable protein. Limit processed foods, saturated and trans fats, red meat, sodium and added sugars.
• Get active. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week. Walking is the easiest place to start.
• Lose weight (or at least prevent further weight gain). Balance healthy eating with exercise to reach and maintain a healthy weight.
• Work with your health care team to manage your blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Take your medications as prescribed.

Conclusion

Metabolic syndrome is essentially a constellation of interrelated risk factors that when combined can lead to serious health problems. It’s vital that people learn the factors involved and take corrective action to combat this quiet threat to our well-being.