Check for metabolic syndrome

Q:My blood pressure is high, and I have been gaining weight. My doctor has ordered some blood tests to check for “metabolic syndrome.” Can you tell me a little more about this syndrome?

A: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together and increase the risk of hear t disease, diabetes and stroke. The conditions include excess weight, especially aroundthewaist(largerthan 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men), a blood pressure higher than 130/85, a triglyceride level higher than 150mcg/dl, a fasting blood glucose higher than 100mg/dl and an HDL cholesterol level lower than 50mg/dl for women and 40mg/dl for men. Someone with three or more of these conditions is deemed to have metabolic syndrome. The more of these conditions a person has, the greater the risk of type 2 diabetes, hear t disease andstroke.

Metabolic syndrome is ver y common, affecting approximately1in3adultsintheu.s. The likelihood of metabolic syndrome increases with age. Individuals with a family histor y of type 2 diabetes are at increased risk. Ethnicity also plays a role: Hispanics, especially Hispanic women, face a greater chance of developing this syndrome. Those who have a histor y of certain medical conditions (gestational diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, polycystic ovar y syndrome, sleep apnea) also have a higher risk for metabolic syndrome.

Most of the conditions that define metabolic syndrome cause no symptoms. A diagnosis is usually made by a primar y care provider using information provided by routine physical exam and lab tests.

Metabolic syndrome is closely linked to weight gain and a sedentar y lifestyle. It may also be caused by insulin resistance, a condition in which the body cannot use insulin properly to move blood sugar into the cells to be used for energy, resulting in higher blood sugar levels.

There are several things you can do to reduce the likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome:

•Increase your physical activity — 30 minutes of exercise on most days is recommended.

•Eat a healthy diet high in vegetables, protein and whole grains and low in saturated fat, sugarandsalt.

• Stop smoking.

• Manage stress.

• Maintain a healthy weight. A 7 to 10% weight loss may be suf ficient to reduce blood pressure, restore insulin sensitivity and decrease the risk of diabetes.

• Limit use of alcohol. If these lifestyle changes fail to prevent or reverse metabolic syndrome, your doctor may prescribe medications to treat your specific conditions such as high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) and high blood sugar.

Successful management of metabolic syndrome requires a longterm commitment in partnership with your health care team.

Sara Harper volunteers with the Grillo Center, which of fers free, confidential research to assist in health understanding and decisions. To use this service, contact us at grillocenter.org, or 720-8547293. No research or assistance should be interpreted as medical advice.