Metabolic syndrome is a condition that increases risk of heart diseases, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is associated with high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood glucose level, excessive fat accumulation in waist and abnormal cholesterol or blood lipid levels.
Metabolic syndrome is a condition that increases risk of heart diseases, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is associated with high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood glucose level, excessive fat accumulation in waist and abnormal cholesterol or blood lipid levels.
Having one of the abovementioned conditions does not mean that you have metabolic syndrome. However, it means that you have a serious risk of disease. Your health risks increases if you have more than one of these conditions.
Metabolic syndrome is quite common in western societies and particularly in the U.S.A. One out of every three adults suffers this syndrome in the United States of America. If you have metabolic syndrome or any one of these conditions, aggressive lifestyle changes may delay or even prevent serious health problems.
Most of the disorders related to metabolic syndrome do not have a significant sign or symptom. The condition is manifested by fat accumulation in waist and abdomen, high blood glucose and tiredness.
Risk factors
Below mentioned factors increases the possibility of metabolic syndrome:
Age: Risk of metabolic syndrome is directly proportional to aging.
Obesity:Fat accumulation, especially in abdomen, increases your risk of metabolic syndrome.
Obesity:Fat accumulation, especially in abdomen, increases your risk of metabolic syndrome.
Diabetes Mellitus: If you have gestational diabetes or your family history is notable for type 2 diabetes, your risk is higher.
Other diseases:The risk of metabolic syndrome is higher if you have hepatosteatosis (fatty liver), polycystic ovary syndrome or sleep apnea
Precautions that can be taken
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle may prevent the conditions that may lead to metabolic syndrome.
A healthy lifestyle involves the following:
- Doing physical activities for at least 30 minutes a day
- Meals consisting of abundant vegetables, fruits, fat-free protein and cereals
- Limited amount of saturated fat and salt in your diet
- Maintenance of optimal body weight
- Avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption
