Metabolic Syndrome: What Is It?

Metabolic syndrome is not a disease in itself. Instead, it's a group of risk factors -- high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and abdominal fat.

Obviously, having any one of these risk factors isn't good. But when they're combined, they set the stage for many problems. These risk factors double your risk of blood vessel and heart disease, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. They increase your risk of diabetes by five times. But the good news is that it can be controlled, largely with changes to your lifestyle.

Metabolic Syndrome: The Risk Factors

According to the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, there are five risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome.
1--Large Waist Size
For men: 40 inches or largerFor women: 35 inches or larger
2--Cholesterol: High Triglycerides (150 mg/dL or higher)
3--Low Good Cholesterol (HDL)-For men: Less than 40 mg/dLFor women: Less than 50 mg/dL
4--High Blood Pressure (130/85 mm Hg or greater)
5--Blood Sugar: High Fasting Glucose Level (100 mg/dL or higher)

To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, you would have at least three of these risk factors.