Metabolic Syndrome: Know The Symptoms And How To Prevent It

Going up a pants size may hurt more than just a woman’s pride. When an increase in waist circumference is accompanied by at least two other metabolic factors, such as high blood pressure and insulin resistance, you may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.

- Christa Hogan

Women diagnosed with this condition are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. So recognizing the symptoms and taking steps to prevent or slow metabolic syndrome can have a positive impact on your overall health.

SYMPTOMS AND RISK FACTORS

Metabolic syndrome is a diagnosis of a cluster of risk factors driven by insulin resistance, says

Dr. Sue Kirkman, M.D., professor of medicine at UNC-Chapel Hill. Women are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome when they have three of five risk factors:

High blood glucose

Low levels of HDL (or good cholesterol)

High levels of triglycerides (or bad cholesterol)

A waist circumference of greater than 35 inches

High blood pressure

It’s important to note, however, Kirkman says, that health care providers also look at a woman’s overall health. “If a woman has only two of these risk factors, for instance, but is also a smoker, we would still need to address those risk factors,” she says.

Metabolic syndrome is a fairly common diagnosis. As Americans have gotten heavier, the number of patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome has increased. According to data from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, one in every three adult Americans has metabolic syndrome.