You may have heard it called syndrome X, insulin resistance syndrome, hypertriglyceridemic waist, or obesity syndrome. But, the fact remains that metabolic syndrome puts your health at risk. Today, retired compounding pharmacist, author, and women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm answers a few questions about metabolic syndrome.
Q: What is metabolic syndrome?
Marla Ahlgrimm: Metabolic syndrome is not a single condition. Instead, it is a collection of risk factors that can significantly increase a person’s risk of many serious health complications. People with metabolic syndrome may have a higher risk of stroke, diabetes, and heart disease.
Q: What are some metabolic risk factors?
Marla Ahlgrimm: There are many, but the five that are most predominant are a large waistline, high triglyceride levels, lower-than-normal HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar, even during fasting.
Q: What are some lifestyle choices that contribute to metabolic syndrome?
Marla Ahlgrimm: While there are some metabolic risks that can’t be changed, such as age and genetics, men and women alike put themselves at a higher risk of these collective symptoms when they are extremely overweight and with a sedentary lifestyle. Those with sleep apnea, gallstones, polycystic ovary syndrome, and a fatty liver may be at higher risk of metabolic syndrome.
Q: How is metabolic syndrome treated?
Marla Ahlgrimm: It starts by addressing each symptom individually, which, fortunately, is often done using the same methods. The vast majority of healthcare providers will first recommend that people with metabolic syndrome take control of their weight. This will include a combination of eating fewer calories and more whole foods and spending more time active. Doctors will likely also recommend quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption.
Metabolic syndrome is a serious set of conditions. However, by knowing your risk and understanding how it’s treated, you can take better care of yourself today so that you’ll have a brighter future.
Marla Ahlgrimm has co-authored two ground-breaking books,