Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of five cardiometabolic risk factors -- abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and elevated fasting glucose -- that frequently occur together and multiply the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Having three or more criteria meets the diagnostic threshold.
Symptoms
The syndrome is defined by lab values and measurements, not symptoms. Fatigue, difficulty losing weight, high blood pressure readings, and snoring with poor sleep quality are common concurrent complaints. Patients may also notice acanthosis nigricans.
Causes and risk
Central adiposity and insulin resistance drive metabolic syndrome. A sedentary lifestyle, Western diet high in refined carbohydrates and saturated fat, sleep apnea, PCOS, and genetic susceptibility all contribute. Prevalence rises sharply after age 40.
How it is evaluated
We measure waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, fasting triglycerides, and HDL-C. Additional labs include LDL particle number or apolipoprotein B, fasting insulin, liver enzymes, and uric acid to complete the risk picture.
Treatment
Lifestyle intervention targeting each component is central: weight loss reduces all five risk factors simultaneously. A Mediterranean or low-glycemic diet, aerobic and resistance exercise, sleep management, and smoking cessation are cornerstones. Medications target individual components -- statins, antihypertensives, metformin, or GLP-1 agonists -- based on overall cardiovascular risk.