Metabolic Syndrome Symptoms

Metabolic Syndrome, also known as syndrome X, is a grouping of metabolic risk factors that puts a person at risk for heart disease and other medical issues.

Learning to recognize the symptoms and potential risks for this syndrome can help you to take action to reducing your risk of heart attacks, strokes and other heart diseases.  

Make sure you learn about the symptoms and how to prevent or minimize your risks.

Recognizing the Symptoms

You have metabolic syndrome if you have 3 of any of the following conditions

Excessive Abdominal Fat - If you are overweight or obese and carry a good portion of this excess fat in your waist, then you have excessive abdominal fat.

Elevated Blood Pressure – If your blood pressure is 130/85 mm or greater, then you would have this metabolic syndrome factor.

High Blood Sugar – If your fasting blood sugar is 100 mg/dl or greater you would be considered to have a high blood sugar level.

Blood Fat Disorder – If you have high blood fat (triglycerides) and a low level of HDL (high density lipoprotein – the good cholesterol) you would have a blood fat disorder.

The primary risk factors for syndrome X appear to be excessive abdominal fat and insulin resistance, or high blood sugar. 

Many type 2 diabetics are prone to this syndrome.

Managing Metabolic Syndrome

If you have these risk factors, you will want to take steps towards reducing your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.  Here are some simple changes that can help you minimize your risk.

Lose Weight

If you are overweight or obese with most of this excess fat carried in your waist, it is crucial for you to try and lose this excess fat. 

If you have already read my exercise myths, then you know that spot toning by doing 100 abdominal exercises will not get rid of this fat. 

Instead, check out these tips on how to lose belly fat.


Eat Healthy

If you have a high blood sugar, start watching your carbohydrate intake.  Make sure it’s the good carbs and not empty carbs like processed sugars. 

Make the most out of your foods by selecting foods that provide the right nutritional value. 

Watch the fat intake as well especially if you have blood fat disorder.  Make sure you are limiting the trans fats and instead eat foods with the healthier fats (monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats.)  

Eating healthy is a lifestyle change that will help you manage your metabolic syndrome.


Exercise

Exercising has many benefits including weight loss and reducing risk of certain diseases.  Exercising can help lower your blood sugar level, your high blood pressure and the cholesterol levels. 

Additionally, you will be gaining lean muscles which will increase your basal metabolic rate.

Use this BMI calculator to help you determine if you are at risk for metabolic syndrome.

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