If you have metabolic syndrome, this means that you have high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and excess body fat. Having these five risk factors for cardiovascular disease puts you at a much greater risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. These conditions are also known as insulin resistance syndromes because they involve the body’s response to insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps the body use glucose from carbohydrates as an energy source). In fact, having metabolic syndrome increases your risk of developing coronary artery disease or having a heart attack by almost seven times. But there are some early warning signs to look out for…
What is metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is the name given to a cluster of conditions that are caused by a poor diet and insufficient levels of physical activity. These five conditions are high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, abdominal obesity, and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means that your body has trouble using glucose from carbohydrates as an energy source. If you have metabolic syndrome, this means that you have high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and excess body fat. Having these five risk factors for cardiovascular disease puts you at a much greater risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.
Excessive body fat
To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, you must have at least three of the five risk factors. One of these risk factors is excess body fat. This can be measured using a body mass index (BMI) calculator. Excess body fat is related to insulin resistance, the primary symptom of metabolic syndrome. This is because the more fat tissue you have, the more insulin your body has to produce to get it to absorb glucose from carbohydrates. As a result, people with metabolic syndrome are likely to have high blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
High blood pressure
Having high blood pressure is another symptom of metabolic syndrome. Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. Having high blood pressure puts you at a greater risk of developing coronary artery disease and heart disease. High blood pressure is often a silent condition which means that it doesn’t show any symptoms. However, it is possible to have high blood pressure without realizing it. A blood pressure monitor can be used at home to monitor your blood pressure, but these aren’t always accurate. For this reason, you will be asked to visit your doctor regularly to get your blood pressure checked.
High triglycerides
Having high triglycerides is another symptom of metabolic syndrome. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood. They are present in every person, but they are normally found in low levels. Having high triglycerides is a sign that your body is not regulating insulin properly. This is because high triglyceride levels are usually a result of eating an unhealthy diet that’s high in sugar. Excess sugar in your diet can be converted into fat. This can then be stored in your body if it isn’t used for energy. High levels of fat in your blood can increase your triglycerides, which can lead to other complications in the future.
Low HDL cholesterol
Having low HDL cholesterol is another symptom of metabolic syndrome. HDL is a type of cholesterol that usually removes excess “bad” cholesterol from your arteries. Having low HDL cholesterol puts you at a greater risk of developing coronary artery disease. Excess levels of bad cholesterol in your arteries can lead to the formation of blood clots. This makes it much easier for blood vessels to break and can result in a heart attack. Low HDL cholesterol levels can be reversed by improving your diet.
Identifying the symptoms of metabolic syndrome
If you have metabolic syndrome, this means that you have high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and excess body fat. Having these five risk factors for cardiovascular disease puts you at a much greater risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. There are some steps you can take to prevent or manage metabolic syndrome. This includes eating a healthy diet, being active and monitoring your blood pressure. If you are worried that you might have metabolic syndrome, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor.
Summary
If you have metabolic syndrome, this means that you have high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and excess body fat. Having these five risk factors for cardiovascular disease puts you at a much greater risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. There are some steps you can take to prevent or manage metabolic syndrome. This includes eating a healthy diet, being active and monitoring your blood pressure. If you are worried that you might have metabolic syndrome, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor.