Metabolic Syndrome

Question 1

Metabolic syndrome is said to exist when 3 out of the following 5 metabolic risk factors are present?

Answer 1

G - elevated fasting blood Glucose levels
W - large Waist circumference
H - low HDL cholesterol
T - elevated Triglycerides
B - High BP
(Gerry Wants His Tires Blown = acronym)

Question 2

What is Metabolic Syndrome?

Answer 2

A collection of risk factors increasing the risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other health conditions
Metabolic: biochemical process involved in essential body function

Question 3

How is MS diagnosed?

Answer 3

Physical exam and blood tests: Large waistline: >40” men, >35” women;
Low HDL (<40 mg/dL men, <50 mg/dL women); Blood pressure >130/ 85mmHg (or on medicine to treat high blood pressure); High fasting glucose >100 mg/dL; High triglycerides >150 mg/dL

Question 4

What are medical risk factors for MS?

Answer 4

Obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, and medications for inflammation, HIV, depression; also polycystic ovarian syndrome

Question 5

What are the lifestyle risk factors for MS?

Answer 5

smoking, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, obesity

Question 6

What are the non-modifiable risk factors for MS?

Answer 6

genetics (sibling or parent w/diabetes), race (mexican americans followed by whites then blacks), sex (women higher risk)

Question 7

What is the treatment for MS?

Answer 7

The main goals of treating metabolic syndrome are to lower your risk of heart disease and to prevent type 2 diabetes if it hasn’t already developed. Weight loss, healthy eating like DASH, regular physical exercise, meds (statins, bp meds, blood sugar lowering meds), manage stress, quit smoking.