Lifestyle changes are the first choice for treating metabolic syndrome, although in some cases medication is necessary.
Routine physicals can identify the syndrome.
Some factors overlap and amplify each other.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
For example, obesity is associated with hypertension and high triglyceride levels.
And hypertension is associated with high blood glucose levels.
Excess body weight is associated with visceral (in the abdomen) adipose tissue (fat).
Also referred to as belly fat, visceral fat surrounds the internal organs and is associated with insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance contributes to weight gain and weight gain, in turn, contributes to insulin resistance.
These conditions are also linked to altered insulin/glucose metabolism and chronic inflammation.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is straightforward and based on specific criteria.
Screening for the components of metabolic syndrome is part of a routine medical check-up.
Getting treatment before you meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome can help prevent health issues from developing.
Treatment
Often, metabolic syndrome is reversible.
If you have the condition, it’s important that you start treatment.
Weight loss is often recommended, but not if you aren’t overweight.
The most commonly used measure to correlate weight and height is the body mass index (BMI).
It uses weight and height to try and estimate body fat.
Regular exercise lowers triglyceride levels, raises HDL, and may lower blood pressure for some people.
More is better, of course, but any amount can be beneficial.
Some research suggests thathigh-intensity interval trainingcould be especially helpful for metabolic syndrome and have an effect in less time.
Lifestyle Factors
Diet and exercise have a major impact on metabolic syndrome.
But other lifestyle factors also play an important role.
Prognosis
Metabolic syndrome can lead to serious health consequences.
Each of the factors on its own increases the risk of life-threatening disease, like heart attack and stroke.
And each one of these factors is interrelated to the others.
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