While most laypeople may not have heard of metabolic syndrome, it is estimated that up to one-third of Americans may actually live with this highly concerning cluster of common conditions and risk factors that can prove extremely deleterious to your health.
If you’re concerned about decreasing your risk of having a stroke, a heart attack (myocardial infarction, or “MI”), or developing diabetes, then understanding how to avoid the conditions that can lead to these life-altering — and potentially life-threatening conditions — is extremely wise.
The Cluster of Four
The disturbingly common conditions that, when experienced together, constitute metabolic syndrome are:
- High blood pressure
- Elevated blood sugar
- High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, and elevated triglycerides
- Excess abdominal body fat
While these physiological manifestations can be strongly influenced by genetics, we know that lifestyle modifications can fight back against their effects — and often reverse them significantly, if not altogether.
Let’s break these four dangerous factors down:
High blood pressure (hypertension) occurs when the force of the blood coursing through your blood vessels is higher than it should be. Nearly half of all Americans have hypertension, and since it’s one of the leading causes of heart attacks and strokes, it’s often referred to as “the silent killer”.
Elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is a sure sign that something is…