Metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome, also referred to as insulin resistance syndrome, affects as many as one in three adults in the US. It encompasses several conditions that increase someone’s risk for diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and other serious health conditions.
‍
An individual may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if they have three or more of the following:
‍
Hypertension. High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels and heart over time if left untreated. Hypertension can also lead to plaque buildup within the arteries, which can damage the blood vessels and heart, leading to heart attack or stroke.
‍
High blood sugar. Having high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period damages the blood vessels and increases someone’s chances of developing blood clots. Blood clots can lead to blood vessel and heart diseases.
‍
A large waistline. Abdominal obesity is defined as excess fat in the stomach area. Stomach fat is associated with a higher risk of heart disease versus other types of fat.
‍
High triglycerides. Triglycerides are a special type of fat contained within the blood. High triglyceride levels are associated with increased LDL cholesterol, also known as “bad cholesterol”, which can increase one’s risk of heart disease.
‍
Low HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is often referred to as “good cholesterol”, as it helps to remove LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) from the blood to prevent plaque buildup.
‍
Thankfully, metabolic syndrome is preventable through assessing risk factors, making lifestyle modifications, and sometimes taking medication.