Metabolic Syndrome, or Syndrome X, is made up of a variety of signs and symptoms. The presence of one or more of which increases the patient’s risk of having a serious diseases like coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease or diabetes.
Some of the more common signs and symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome include: obesity, high blood pressure, abnormal lipid profile (low HDL levels, high triglycerides), inability of the body to use insulin or blood sugar properly (i.e. glucose intolerance or insulin resistance), high levels of C-reactive protein in the blood, elevated blood levels of fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor.
There are a handful of risk factors that could lead to Metabolic Syndrome:
- Obesity BMI25; abdominal obesity; apple shaped body
- Race (Asians and Hispanics in particular)
- Age
- Family history of diabetes or gestational diabetes
- Hormonal imbalance
- Physical inactivity