Metabolic Syndrome Symptoms

Instances of metabolic syndrome are on the rise, arousing fear amongst the common man. Having metabolic syndrome is tantamount to having three or more metabolic disorders, all at the same time! Doctors flash the danger signal on patients that manifest even minor signs of this syndrome. It poses serious risks to our health ranging from cardiac arrests and strokes to ‘type 2 diabetes’. Our metabolism is sacred but most of us tend to take it for granted. By consuming oily foods and smoking cigarettes in excess we simultaneously abuse our precious metabolism. Of course, metabolic syndrome is often triggered by factors beyond our control. However, we can try our best to alleviate the consequences. Lifestyle therapies are the finest interventions, designed to reduce the metabolic risk factors. People ignore these symptoms for short-term convenience, but regret it immensely when struck by severe infirmities such as atherosclerosis and other fatal heart diseases. Keep reading to find out the symptoms that hint the existence of metabolic syndrome. 

Metabolic Syndrome Signs

 Body Shape
What does the mirror tell you? If it reveals that you fall into the dreaded category of apple shaped bodies, you must worry. Carrying too much weight around the abdomen increases chances of contracting heart diseases and diabetes while having more weight around your hips and less accumulated at the waist (normally referred to as “pear-shaped”) lowers such vulnerabilities. As far as men are concerned, a waist circumference equal to or greater than 40 inches (102 cm) is considered elevated and dicey, while for women it should conventionally be less than 35 inches (88 cm).

High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure tends to shoot up without any significant warning, apart from headaches or nosebleeds. The occurrence of hypertension is verified by blood pressure instruments. High blood pressure is determined if and when it communicates a systolic (top reading) blood pressure measurement, higher than 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or a diastolic (bottom reading) measurement, higher than 80 mm Hg.

Elevated Triglycerides
When there is a high content of blood fat known as triglycerides (150 mg/dL or above) and a low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (40 mg/dL or lower), one’s health is at stake. A surplus of triglycerides in our plasma is called hypertriglyceridemia and is negatively attributed to the turmoil of coronary artery diseases. HDL is the cholesterol that is beneficial to our well being as it removes cholesterol from our arteries and transports it back to the liver for excretion or re-utilization. Often labeled the “good cholesterol”, a shortage of HDL would be unfavorable, leading to plaque buildups in artery walls.

Resistance To Insulin
Insulin is a vital hormone that regulates the amount of sugar and carbohydrates flowing through your body. Sugar fails to permeate through the cells due to the lack or inefficiency of insulin. Common symptoms of this adverse phenomenon, scientifically called ‘type-2 diabetes’ are excessive thirst, heightened frequency of urination and extreme fatigue.

Body Mass Index
It is medically recommended for everybody to maintain or exercise to achieve a body mass index (BMI) not more than 25. A high BMI is a menacing indicator of several health ramifications. Fitness consciousness and healthy diets are the keys to combating this tight spot.

Prothrombotic State & Proinflammatory State
Metabolic syndrome is often induced by a high level of prothrombin (a coagulation protein which converts fibrinogen into fibrin) in the blood stream. In this case, the body is in a prothrombotic state causing hypercoagulation, while a proinflamatory state is characterized by an elevated C-reactive protein in the blood.

Other Symptoms
Some of the other prominent symptoms one must watch out for are blurred vision, depression, hormonal imbalance, heart palpitations, sleep and memory problems, abnormal blood clotting, irregular menstruations for women and peripheral neuropathy (impaired nervous system).