metabolic syndrome
What is the Metabolic Syndrome?
The metabolic syndrome, is a combination of three or more medical conditions which includes high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels, abnormalities in lipid profile such as high cholesterol or triglyceride. Overweight patients are highly at risk of developing these medical conditions. A person diagnosed as having metabolic syndrome has an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, kidney dysfunction by damaging micro (small) vascular (blood vessels) and macro (large) vascular.
Obesity
Central obesity is when the main deposits of body fat is in the upper body, especially the abdomen area. For a metabolic syndrome diagnosis obesity is defined as having a waist size of 94 cm– 102 cm or more in men and greater than 80cm in women.
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Hypertension occurs when an individual have a reading of 130/85 mmHg or higher. The individual may be taking medicines for high blood pressure.
High blood sugar levels
Diagnosed as a fasting blood glucose test of 100 to 125 mg/dL or 5.6 to 7mmol/L or more.
High cholesterol levels
Diagnosed when there is increased fasting levels of triglycerides (type of fat found in the blood) of 150 mg/dL or 1.7mmol/L or there is lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol-the ‘good’ cholesterol of less than 40 mg/dL or 1 mmol/L for men or less than 50 mg/dL or 1.3 mmol/L for women; or elevation in total cholesterol or LDL, “bad cholesterol”.
Metabolic Syndrome Diagnosis
The metabolic syndrome is diagnosed based upon a physical exam and a blood test of your fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. The screening also includes a recording of your abdominal circumference, high blood pressure and Body Mass Index.