Follow Healthline   |   Healthline on TwitterTwitter   |   Healthline on FacebookFacebook
Symptom Search   |   Treatment Search   |   Doctor Search   |   Drug Search

Metabolic syndrome Health Article

Advertisement
Marketplace
Licensed from
Page: 1 2 Next >

Definition

Metabolic syndrome is a name for a group of symptoms that occur together and promote the development of coronary artery disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Alternative Names

Insulin resistance syndrome; Syndrome X

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Metabolic syndrome is becoming more and more common in the United States.

Metabolic syndrome is associated with many conditions and risk factors. The two most important risk factors are:

  • Extra weight around the middle of the body (central obesity). The body may be described as "apple-shaped."
  • Insulin resistance, in which the body cannot use insulin effectively. Insulin is needed to help control the amount of sugar in the body.

Researchers are not sure whether the syndrome is due to one single cause. But many experts believe that insulin resistance is the main cause. Insulin helps blood sugar (glucose) enter cells.

If you have insulin resistance, your body doesn't respond to insulin and blood sugar can't get into cells. As a result, the body produces more and more insulin. Insulin and blood sugar levels rise, affecting kidney function and raising the level of blood fats, such as triglycerides.

Other risk factors include:

  • Aging
  • Genes that make you more likely to develop this condition (genetic predisposition)
  • Hormonal changes
  • Lack of exercise

Symptoms

Alone, the symptoms can cause medical issues. Combined, they can present severe health problems.

Symptoms include:

  • Extra weight around your waist (central or abdominal obesity)
  • High blood pressure
  • High triglycerides (a type of blood fat)
  • Insulin resistance
  • Low HDL ("good") cholesterol

Signs and tests

Tests that may be done to diagnose metabolic syndrome include:

According to the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, metabolic syndrome is present if you have three or more of the following:

  • Blood pressure equal to or higher than 130/85 mmHg
  • Blood sugar (glucose) equal to or higher than 100 mg/dL
  • Large waist circumference (length around the waist):
    • Men - 40 inches or more
    • Women - 35 inches or more
  • Low HDL cholesterol:
    • Men - under 40 mg/dL
    • Women - under 50 mg/dL
  • Triglycerides equal to or higher than 150 mg/dL

Page: 1 2 Next >
Related Videos: (1)
Reviewer Info: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.; ADAM Health Illustrated Encyclopedia, 06/17/2008
 
3D Body Maps
Related Learning
Centers
·As a Complication
·As a Cause
·As a Risk Factor
Advertisement
Back to Top