Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of risk factors that raise your risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke. One in five Canadians suffers from MetS, which can lead to chronic illnesses like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
MetS is diagnosed when a patient has three of the following conditions:
- High blood pressure (≥ 130/85 mm Hg, or receiving medication)
- High blood glucose levels (≥ 5.6 mmol/L, or receiving medication)
- High triglycerides (≥ 1.7 mmol/L, or receiving medication)
- Low HDL-Cholesterol (< 1.0 mmol/L in men or < 1.3 mmol/L in women)
- Large waist circumference (≥ 102 cm in men, 88 cm in women; ranges vary according to ethnicity)
The following factors increase your chances of having MetS:
- Age. Your risk of metabolic syndrome increases with age; it’s estimated 40% of people over 65 have MetS.
- Race.
- Obesity. Carrying too much weight, especially in your abdomen, increases your risk of metabolic syndrome.
- Diabetes. You’re more likely to have metabolic syndrome if you had diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) or if you have a family history of type 2 diabetes.
- Other diseases. Your risk of metabolic syndrome is higher if you’ve ever had cardiovascular disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or polycystic ovary syndrome.
If you think you’re at risk of having metabolic syndrome, you should talk to your healthcare professional about your options today.
