Metabolic syndrome is a combination of several lifestyle diseases and symptoms that together increase the risk of other potentially fatal diseases. Learn how to spot the “Deadly Quartet.”
The metabolic syndrome combines several of the biggest diseases of civilization of our time. Together they form a dangerous metabolic disorder that not only restricts the quality of life of those affected, but above all greatly increases the risk of other, sometimes fatal, diseases. Below you will find out which underlying diseases and symptoms belong to the metabolic syndrome.
Table of Contents
Metabolic syndrome: 4 symptoms of metabolic disorder
1. Obesity with belly fat
While being slightly overweight is less of a problem if you lead an otherwise healthy lifestyle with a diet rich in vegetables and regular physical activity, all alarm bells should go off if you are obese and especially if you have fat accumulations in the abdomen . Because the so-called visceral fat tissue, which settles around the organs in the abdomen, is hormonally active, promotes inflammation and increases the risk of all cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, abdominal obesity (apple shape) is classified as more dangerous than hip obesity (pear shape). A waist circumference of at least 88 cm in women and 102 cm in men is considered a criterion for metabolic syndrome .
2. Hypertension
High blood pressure increases the risk of arteriosclerosis, which in turn can lead to heart attacks or strokes. Normally only blood pressure values from 140 mmHg (systolic) and 90 mmHg (diastolic) lead to the diagnosis of high blood pressure . In combination with obesity and the other components of the metabolic syndrome, however, “high normal values” of 130-139 mmHg (systolic) and 85-89 mmHg (diastolic) are considered alarming. Therefore, have your blood pressure checked regularly by your family doctor and consider changing your lifestyle if the values are elevated or in the high normal range.
3. Elevated blood sugar levels
In order to find out whether there is a budding insulin resistance, the blood sugar value of the patient is measured in the fasting state. If this is at least 100 mg/dl, one speaks of an increased blood sugar level – a possible sign of the diabetes type 2 diabetes. The increased level indicates that the insulin produced by the pancreas can no longer cope with the amounts of sugar that arrive in the body . In this case, one speaks of reduced insulin sensitivity , which is part of the metabolic syndrome and, in the worst case, leads to complete insulin resistance – type 2 diabetes .
4. Elevated blood lipid levels
In addition to the sugar metabolism, the fat metabolism can also be disturbed. In addition to a genetic component, the excessive intake of saturated animal fatty acids and trans fats leads to hypercholesterolemia – too much harmful LDL cholesterol compared to too little healthy HDL cholesterol. This lipid metabolism disorder, also known as dyslipoproteinemia, increases the risk of hardening of the arteries, heart attacks and strokes. In the context of the metabolic syndrome, fasting HDL cholesterol values of less than 50 mg/dl in women and less than 40 mg/dl in men are of concern. Elevated triglyceride values of at least 150 mg/dl also indicate a disturbed lipid metabolism.
Important: If at least three of the factors mentioned here apply, one speaks of the metabolic syndrome. It is significantly more dangerous than the individual risk factors taken on their own.
