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5 Sneaky Signs You May Have Metabolic Syndrome, According to Experts
It’s not always obvious if you have high blood sugar, hypertension or other conditions that make up metabolic syndrome. These are signs to connect with your doctor.
Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Some risk factors can be managed through lifestyle changes, as being sedentary, an unhealthy diet, consuming excess calories, inadequate sleep, smoking and alcohol intake all increase the likelihood of developing this group of conditions.
Thing is, unless you’re getting regular blood testing, you may not know if you have a problem with your blood sugar or lipids–and so you may have no clue you have metabolic syndrome at all. While these metrics are used to diagnose metabolic disease, there are sneakier signs that there is a problem. Here’s what to look for—and how to treat it.
Your health care provider will order routine blood work, take your blood pressure reading and measure your waist circumference. More specifically, doctors are looking at the following numbers. The benefit of knowing your numbers—even if they point to metabolic syndrome—is that you can use that info to benefit your health. “Getting regular lab work done allows you to monitor your levels so you can
take action before anything gets out of hand,” says Rhyan Geiger, RDN, a Phoenix-based dietitian. While a diagnosis can feel alarming, maintaining perspective is helpful. “While metabolic syndrome is diagnosed by these factors, it’s important to remember that no single diagnosis defines you,” says Hinojosa. “Working with a supportive team of health care providers, such as your primary care provide
r and registered dietitian, can help you explore ways to care for yourself that feel balanced and gentle, without focusing on weight or appearance,” she adds. Having three of the following indicates metabolic syndrome:
Changes to nutrition, moving more often and managing stress are effective ways to improve metabolic syndrome:
Certain signs, such as skin changes or increased thirst, may indicate that you have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increase your risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes. One of the best things you can do is to regularly see your health care provider, who can advise you on when to get blood work. Knowing your numbers will help you take action through lifestyle changes, like a healthy diet and regular exercise, that can treat metabolic syndrome and help you feel good in your day-to-day life.