Metabolic Syndrome

What is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems that may include too much fat around the waist, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar, and low HDL cholesterol. Together, this group of health problems increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.

What causes it?

Metabolic syndrome is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle that includes eating too many calories, being inactive, and gaining weight, particularly around your waist. This lifestyle can lead to insulin resistance, a condition in which the body is unable to respond normally to insulin. If you have insulin resistance, your body cannot use insulin properly, and your blood sugar will begin to rise. Over time, this can lead to type 2 diabetes.

What puts you at risk?

The things that make you more likely to develop metabolic syndrome include:

• Insulin resistance. This means that your body cannot use insulin properly.
• Abdominal obesity. This means having too much fat around your waist.
• Age. Your chances of developing metabolic syndrome increase as you get older.
• Lifestyle habits. Unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise increase your risk.
• Hormone imbalance. A hormone disorder such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition in which the female body produces too much of certain hormones, is associated with metabolic syndrome.
• Family history. Having parents or close relatives with diabetes or metabolic syndrome can increase your risk.

How is it diagnosed?

Your doctor can diagnose metabolic syndrome with a physical exam, your medical history, and some simple blood tests.

You may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if you have three or more of these risk factors:

• Abdominal obesity (waist measurement). If you're biologically male: 40 in. (102 cm) or more If you're biologically female: 35 in. (88 cm) or more
• Triglycerides. 150 mg/dL or higher, or taking medicine for high triglycerides
• High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. If you're biologically male: Less than 40 mg/dL If you're biologically female: Less than 50 mg/dL Or taking medicine for low HDL cholesterol
• Blood pressure. 130/85 mm Hg or higher, or taking medicine for high blood pressure
• Fasting blood sugar. 100 mg/dL or higher, or taking medicine for high blood sugar

These criteria were developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Other organizations may have different criteria for diagnosis

How is metabolic syndrome treated?

The main goal of treatment is to reduce your risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes. The first approaches in treating metabolic syndrome are:

• Weight control. Being at a higher weight is a major risk factor for CAD. Weight loss lowers LDL cholesterol and reduces all of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
• Lifestyle changes. Changing your eating habits and getting more exercise can help improve cholesterol levels. It can also lower blood pressure, reduce insulin resistance, lower blood sugar levels, and improve heart function. Other lifestyle changes include avoiding smoking, vaping, or using nicotine or tobacco, limiting alcohol, managing stress, and getting enough sleep.
• Assessing risk category for CAD and diabetes. Then you and your doctor may discuss other treatments to lower LDL, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar.