Metabolic Syndrome

A group of health conditions that significantly increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes is called metabolic syndrome. However, it can cause other complications, such as organ damage or atherosclerosis. This is a health condition in which plaque builds up in the artery walls. Usually, these conditions are treatable with medicines and lifestyle changes. Sometimes, this condition is called syndrome X, insulin resistance syndrome, or dysmetabolic syndrome.

This condition occurs quite commonly in the U.S., and it affects about 1 out of every 3 adults.

Symptoms

However, not all conditions from metabolic syndrome cause symptoms. For instance, hypertension (high blood pressure), high triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol often do not cause any symptoms. Check below some symptoms that often occur in people with hyperglycemia (high blood sugar):

Blurred vision
Polydipsia (increased thirst)
Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
Acanthosis nigricans (darkened skin in the armpits or the back)
Frequent urination (especially at night)

If any of the previous symptoms occur, immediately contact your healthcare provider. Otherwise, it may lead to serious complications.

Causes and Risk Factors

In general, there are several factors that contribute to metabolic syndrome. However, some research suggests that insulin resistance is the primary factor behind this syndrome. It often happens when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver do not respond properly to insulin (a hormone produced by your pancreas to regulate blood glucose levels). It means these cells are not able to efficiently take up glucose from the blood or store it. Thus, the pancreas begins to produce more insulin, trying to overcome the increased sugar in the blood (also known as hyperinsulinemia). When it occurs, the body cannot manage your blood sugar, which often leads to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia may also contribute to the following health conditions. For example:

Obesity (excessive body weight)
Cardiovascular disease
Fatty liver disease
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)

Doctors have also identified some factors that could increase the risk of insulin resistance. Check some of them below:

Obesity or excess weight around the abdomen – You should know that body fat releases certain chemicals called proinflammatory cytokines. They negatively affect insulin’s action. The more body fat you have, the more it affects insulin function. According to some studies, both excess visceral fat (fat around the organs) and excess subcutaneous fat (fat under the skin) play a role in metabolic syndrome.
Lack of physical activity – In normal circumstances, the muscles use a lot of glucose and stored glucose (also known as glycogen) to function properly. Moreover, physical activity makes your body more sensitive to insulin and builds muscle that can absorb more blood glucose. People who do not perform physical exercise are also at increased risk for insulin resistance.
Some medicines – These include blood pressure medicines, some HIV treatments, psychiatric medicines, corticosteroids, and others.
Genetics – Genes you inherit from your biological parents may also contribute to insulin resistance. They also play a role in obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol.

What Are The Potential Complications of Metabolic Syndrome?

People who develop this syndrome may also experience some complications, especially if they leave it untreated. Check some of them below:

Heart disease
Aortic stenosis (a condition in which the aortic valve in the heart narrows, causing reduced blood flow)
Atrial fibrillation (Afib)
Thromboembolic disease (such as venous thromboembolism)
Stroke
Organ damage (especially damage to the pancreas, gallbladder, liver, and kidneys)
Some types of cancer (these include colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer)
Type 2 diabetes
Chronic (long-term) inflammation and immune system problems
Erectile dysfunction (ED)
Problems with thinking and memory
Pregnancy complications (including eclampsia, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and others)

The previous list does not contain a complete list of complications, but you can talk with your doctor about measures to reduce the risk or even prevent them. Mostly, doctors can prevent the previous complications because there are treatments that can reverse metabolic syndrome.

How to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome?

While it is not possible to manage all factors that contribute to metabolic syndrome (including genetics and age), doctors may recommend some lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk of developing it. Furthermore, if you have a family history of diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol, you should perform check-ups regularly to monitor your health.

Diagnosis

In most cases, the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome begins with a physical examination to check for abnormalities linked to the disease. Sometimes, doctors may also ask some questions about your symptoms and family history to get more information about your condition. Check below some types of blood tests that doctors use to diagnose metabolic syndrome:

Lipid panel – It is used to measure 4 different cholesterol types and triglycerides.
Basic metabolic panel (BMP) – It helps measure 8 substances in the blood that give an overall view of your health.
Fasting glucose test – Doctors may take a blood sample for testing to check your blood sugar after fasting for 8 to 12 hours.

The previous blood tests are usually routine tests that doctors often perform to check for metabolic syndrome.

In most cases, doctors use the following criteria to diagnose metabolic syndrome. You should have at least 3 of the 5 criteria for diagnosis. These include:

Excessive abdominal weight – If your waist circumference is more than 40 inches in males and 35 inches in females, it indicates an excessive abdominal weight.
Hypertriglyceridemia – It occurs when you have 150 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) or more of triglycerides.
Reduced levels of HDL cholesterol – Usually, a level lower than 40 mg/dL in males and less than 50 mg/dL in females of HDL cholesterol is considered low.
Increased blood sugar levels – People who have more than 100 mg/dL of fasting blood sugar may indicate prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
Hypertension – It occurs when a person has the values of systolic 130 mmHg or higher and diastolic 85 mmHg or higher.

Treatment

Usually, the treatment goal is to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, especially if you already do not have them. Check below some lifestyle changes often recommended by doctors to manage some risk factors for metabolic syndrome:

Try to lose weight – According to a study, losing about 7% of excess weight reduces the onset of type 2 diabetes by 58%.
Regular physical exercise – In general, physical activity has multiple benefits, including reducing the risk of insulin resistance, keeping your cardiovascular system healthy, and losing weight.
Dietary changes – Your doctor or nutritionist may recommend avoiding eating excessive amounts of carbohydrates and eating less unhealthy fat, sugar, red meats, and processed starches. They may also recommend the Mediterranean diet, which is a heart-healthy diet.
Get quality sleep – Getting quality sleep is vital for overall health. People who suffer from sleep disorders may contribute to or worsen metabolic syndrome.
Stop smoking – You should quit smoking because it causes damage to the blood vessels, which may lead to coronary artery disease. If you have problems with smoking cessation, discuss it with your doctor.
Manage stress – Prolonged, high levels of Cortisol (stress hormone) may increase triglyceride levels, blood sugar, and blood pressure. You can try yoga, physical exercise, mindfulness, or breathing exercises.

Medicines and Other Treatments

The following treatment options are often prescribed by doctors in more severe cases. Examples include:

Cholesterol medicines – In most cases, doctors prescribe statins (HMG CoA reductase inhibitors) to reduce cholesterol levels.
Antihypertensives – This group of medications is used to treat hypertension. Doctors often recommend medicines that contain thiazides, ACE inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers.
Medicines for diabetes – The most common medicines used to reduce high blood sugar are Metformin.
Bariatric surgery – This surgery is used to help people lose weight.
Sleep disorder treatments – Sleep disorders are often treated with a CPAP machine or medicines.
Psychotherapy – This treatment is also known as talk therapy, and it involves multiple techniques that help change negative and unhealthy emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you reverse metabolic syndrome?

Yes, doctors often recommend medicines and lifestyle changes to reverse the effects of metabolic syndrome. If you suspect you have this syndrome or experience symptoms that resemble it, do not hesitate to see a doctor.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

It is usually advised to visit a doctor if you have symptoms similar to metabolic syndrome or if the treatment you get does not work. For more details, discuss it with your physician.

What are the symptoms of a metabolic disorder?

People who develop this condition often experience the following symptoms. These include extreme tiredness, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, skin changes, and weight changes. If you have any other questions, ask your healthcare provider.