Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases. Risk factors include:
Abdominal obesity: measured by waist circumference in men and women.
High blood pressure: systolic blood pressure (the first number in a blood pressure reading) equal to or greater than 130 mm Hg, or diastolic blood pressure (the second number in a blood pressure reading) equal to or greater than 85 mm Hg.
High triglyceride levels: fasting triglyceride levels equal to or greater than 150 mg/dL.
Low HDL cholesterol levels: HDL cholesterol (so-called "good cholesterol") levels in the blood below 40 mg/dL in men or below 50 mg/dL in women.
Insulin resistance or high fasting glucose levels: fasting glucose levels equal to or greater than 100 mg/dL.
A person is considered to have this syndrome if they have three or more of these risk factors. This condition is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as other conditions such as kidney and liver disease, sleep disorders, and cancer.
Treatment involves lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and regular physical activity, as well as treatment of specific risk factors such as high blood pressure and dyslipidemia.
