About Metabolic Syndrome
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​​​​​​​​​​​​What is metabolic syndrome?​

​Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors, or conditions, that increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Over 34% of U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome.1

How do I know if I have metabolic syndrome?​ 

To make a diagnosis, doctors look for the presence of at least three of the following risk factors:​

 

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High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) means the pressure in your arteries is higher than it should be. For this trial, a blood pressure of 130/85mm Hg or above ​is considere​d high.​​

High Blood Sugar

High blood sugar (prediabetes) means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal. For this trial, fasting blood sugar levels are considered high if they are between 100mg/dL and 125 mg/dL.


​High Triglycerides

Triglyc​erides are a type of fat found in your blood. For this trial, fasting trigl​yceri​​de levels of 150​mg/dL or above are considered to be high.

Low HDL Cholesterol

A high-density lipoprotein (​HDL) is a special protein in your cholesterol. HDL is known as the good cholesterol. You want a higher HDL score to improve your health. For this trial, fasting HDL cholesterol less than 40mg/dL for men and less than 50mg/dL for ​​wom​en are considered low.

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Larger Waist

Larger waist refers to the extra inches around your waist. For this trial, a waist measurement 40 inches or above for men and 35 inches or above for women is considered a risk factor.​​​​​​
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Learn more about metabolic syndrome.

Download printable Ans​wers by Heart sheet from the American Heart Association: What is Metabolic Syndrome? (PDF)

American Heart Association (AHA):  http://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/metabolic-syndrome

Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/metabolic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351916

1 Moo​re JX, Chaudhary N, Akinyemiju T. Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence by Race/Ethnicity and Sex in the United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–2012. Pre​v Chronic Dis 2017;14:160287. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd1​4.160287​ ​​