Metabolic Syndrome

What is Metabolic Syndrome?

A cluster of risk factors — abdominal fat, high blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol or blood sugar — that raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems. You can have just one risk factor, but people often have several of them together. When you have at least three of them, it is called metabolic syndrome. These risk factors include: A large waistline, also called abdominal obesity. Too much fat around the stomach is a greater risk factor for heart disease than too much fat in other parts of the body. Having a high triglyceride level. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood. Having a low HDL cholesterol level. HDL is sometimes called the "good" cholesterol because it helps remove cholesterol from your arteries. Having high blood pressure.

Tests often checked alongside this

• Fasting glucose or HbA1c
• Lipid panel (triglycerides, HDL, LDL)
• Blood pressure readings
• Waist circumference

How this can show up in how you look and feel

• Increased abdominal fat (a large waistline) is often the only outwardly noticeable sign
• Blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar changes are only found through testing, not appearance
• Fatigue or low energy can sometimes accompany the underlying risk factors

What can affect this marker

• Diet and physical activity
• Weight, especially around the waist
• Sleep quality and stress
• Family history and genetics

What to track over time

• Waist size and weight over time
• Blood pressure trends
• Blood sugar and lipid panels
• Response to lifestyle changes

What to ask your doctor

• How many risk factors do I have?
• What should I change first?
• Should I be screened for diabetes?
• How often should I get rechecked?

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