Metabolic Syndrome

Excerpt

Metabolic syndrome is an accumulation of several disorders, which together raise the risk of an individual developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and diabetes mellitus, and vascular and neurological complications such as a cerebrovascular accident. Metabolic disarrangement becomes a syndrome if the patient has any three of the following:

1. Waist circumference more than 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women

2. Elevated triglycerides 150 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) or greater

3. Reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) less than 40 mg/dL in men or less than 50 mg/dL in women

4. Elevated fasting glucose of l00 mg/dL or greater

5. Blood pressure values of systolic 130 mmHg or higher and/or diastolic 85 mmHg or higher

Metabolic syndrome has serious implications on an individual’s health and healthcare costs. It is necessary to recognize the rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome in America as through intervention the progression of the syndrome can be halted and potentially reversed.