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- About 47 million U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome, a set of health risks that increase your chance of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The number of people with metabolic syndrome increases with age, affecting more than 40 percent of people in their 60s and 70s.
- The underlying causes of metabolic syndrome are overweight/obesity, physical inactivity and genetic factors.
- You are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if you have three or more of the following risk factors:
- A waistline of 40 inches or more for men and 35 inches or more for women (measured across the belly)
- A blood pressure of 130/85 mm Hg or higher
- A triglyceride level above 150 mg/dl
- A fasting blood glucose (sugar) level greater than 100 mg/dl
- A high density lipoprotein level (HDL) less than 40 mg/dl (men) or under 50 mg/dl (women)
- If you have all the components of metabolic syndrome, you are six times as likely to develop heart disease as someone who has none of the risk factors.
- Metabolic syndrome is closely associated with insulin resistance, a metabolic disorder which interferes with the body's ability to use insulin efficiently. This is why the metabolic syndrome is also called the insulin resistance syndrome.
- According to the American Heart Association, three groups of people often have metabolic syndrome:
- People with diabetes who cannot maintain a proper level of glucose (glucose intolerance)
- People without diabetes who have high blood pressure and who also secrete large amounts of insulin (hyperinsulinemia) to maintain blood glucose levels
- Heart attack survivors who have hyperinsulinemia without glucose intolerance
- Physical inactivity and excess weight are the main underlying contributors to the development metabolic syndrome. So getting more exercise and losing weight can help reduce or prevent the complications associated with the condition. Doctors may also prescribe medications to manage components of the disorder..
- It's not inevitable that people who have metabolic syndrome will develop diabetes. Studies in the United States and abroad show that lifestyle changes, including weight loss, dietary modifications, and increased physical activity, can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes among high-risk adults.
- Improved control of cholesterol and lipids can reduce cardiovascular complications by 20% to 50%.
- Blood pressure control can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by approximately 33% to 50%.
*Quick Facts have been reviewed by Medical Advisors and are current as of October 2005.
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