Silent
But Serious: What is Metabolic Syndrome?
You’ve probably heard the basics when
it comes to keeping your heart healthy. A good
diet, exercise, maintaining a healthy weight
and managing your cholesterol all contribute
to cardiovascular health. But what if screenings
showed you weren’t making the grade in
some or all of these categories?
 Metabolic syndrome is a collection of several
mild metabolic abnormalities that, when clustered
together, increase a person’s risk for
diabetes and cardiovascular disease. You may
be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if you have
at least three of these five indicators:
•
A high amount of fat in your blood (a triglyceride
level of 150 mg/dL or greater).
•
A high amount of sugar in your blood (a fasting
blood sugar of 100 mg/dL or greater).
•
High blood pressure
•
Excessive weight around your middle. (For men,
this means a waistline greater than 40 inches
around. For women, this means a waistline greater
than 35 inches around.)
•
Low HDL cholesterol or "good" cholesterol
(an HDL level less than 40 mg/dL).
Dr.
Jane Pearson, cardiologist with Dean & St.
Mary’s Cardiac Center, says everyone should
be tested for the condition because patients
rarely show signs or symptoms of metabolic syndrome.
“Just because a person’s cholesterol
or triglyceride levels are outside the recommended
range does not mean he or she would ever display
symptoms,” says Dr. Pearson. “Everyone
should be screened periodically through their
primary care provider for these silent, but serious,
metabolic abnormalities.”
A simple blood test can be used to check for
metabolic syndrome. The condition is quite common
and risk increases with age. Nearly 50% of people
are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome after the
age of 60. However, the condition is also starting
to appear more frequently in children and teens. “Unfortunately, we are now diagnosing
metabolic syndrome in kids as a result of lack
of exercise and the western diet, which is very
high in calorie-dense food,” says Dr. Pearson.
To
help prevent metabolic syndrome and future
heart problems, Dr. Pearson recommends that people:
• Incorporate 30 to 40 minutes of aerobic exercise
into their daily routines
• Make dietary changes that reduce their caloric
intake
• Eat foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole
grains
• Avoid saturated fat and trans-fat
“Regular exercise, combined with heart-healthy
eating to reduce weight, can lower the chance
that someone with metabolic syndrome will develop
diabetes by about 50-percent,” says Dr.
Pearson. “
Learn more:
Dean & St. Mary’s
Cardiac Center
Metabolic Syndrome: Related Health Topics
Body Mass Index Chart (BMI)
|
High
blood pressure rarely has signs or symptoms, but when
left controlled it can cause serious damage to your
body. Hypertension is linked to increased risk of stroke,
heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, blindness
and other serious diseases. So it’s important
to keep track of your blood pressure and manage it.
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