What to know about metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that can affect your risk of heart health, diabetes and strokes. It's becoming more common — up to one-third of U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome — but it can be prevented and often may be treated with lifestyle changes.¹

When you have 3 to 5 of the following conditions, it's considered metabolic syndrome:²

• Excess weight in your stomach — often apple or pear-shaped³
• Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels
• High blood sugar
• High blood pressure
• Increased levels of triglycerides

These conditions can put you at risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but when present together, they can increase this risk or cause artery plaque buildup.²

Metabolic syndrome symptoms can be tricky to identify. Why? Symptoms may vary based on which conditions you have, and some conditions may have no symptoms at all. Pay attention to your body — a growing waistline and symptoms of high blood sugar, for example, may be metabolic syndrome symptoms.³

Symptoms of high blood sugar may include:⁴

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Weight loss without trying
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision or slow healing wounds

There are factors that can increase your risk of getting metabolic syndrome. They include:³

• Age – as you get older, risk increases
• Obesity – especially extra weight in your stomach
• Diabetes – can be gestational or type 2

If you believe you may be at risk for metabolic syndrome, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider (PCP) to discuss your concerns. Before making a diagnosis, your health care provider may do a physical exam, check your blood pressure, examine your weight and order blood tests. Some of the tests they may order include:¹

• Lipid panel – measures different cholesterol levels and triglycerides
• Basic metabolic panel (BMP) – measures substances in your blood and gives an overall view of your health
• Fasting glucose test – checks your blood sugar by taking blood after you fast for 8 to 12 hours

If you have at least 3 to 5 criteria based on the results of these tests and the exam, you’ll likely be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.

If you're diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, your doctor may prescribe medication and will likely recommend lifestyle changes to manage your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.⁵ Committing to a healthy lifestyle is also key for helping prevent metabolic syndrome.

Here are 4 suggestions to get you started:³

To prevent and treat metabolic syndrome, eating right is important. You don't have to make big changes overnight. You can start by adding heart-healthy foods, like:⁵

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole grains

It's also important to start limiting foods that can contribute to metabolic syndrome diseases and contain sugar, salt and fat, specifically saturated and trans fat.

Exercising regularly — around 30 minutes every day — can also help you avoid metabolic syndrome. If you're already diagnosed, physical activity may improve your underlying conditions that are contributing to your diagnosis. Sometimes these changes can help enough that you may no longer meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome.⁶

When treating metabolic syndrome, the most important thing to focus on is lowering your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke. In addition to diet and lifestyle changes, there are also medications and treatments your doctor may recommend that can help. They include:¹

• Cholesterol medications (statins)
• Blood pressure medications
• Diabetes medications
• Sleeping disorder treatments
• Psychotherapy (talk therapy)
• Weight loss surgery

Talk to your health care provider about medications and a potential treatment plan.

If you’re diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, regular checkups are important. Your provider will likely want to see you regularly to measure your blood pressure, monitor your weight and do routine blood tests to watch your triglyceride, glucose and cholesterol levels. These checkups are a great time to talk about your treatment plan, go over any side-effects you may be experiencing from medications and review your diet and exercise routine.¹

If you think you may have — or be on your way to having metabolic syndrome — talk to your doctor about your concerns. In the meantime, you may consider making healthy lifestyle changes. Even if you don’t have metabolic syndrome or its underlying conditions, adding healthy habits to your everyday life is a good step.