Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of interrelated metabolic risk factors that together increase a person’s likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Key features of metabolic syndrome include:
- Abdominal obesity: Excess fat around the waist, particularly visceral fat.
- Insulin resistance or elevated blood glucose: Impaired ability of the body to use insulin effectively.
- Dyslipidemia: High triglycerides and low HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
- Hypertension: Persistently high blood pressure.
These factors often occur together and synergistically increase cardiovascular and metabolic risk. Lifestyle interventions—such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, weight management, and smoking cessation—along with medical management of blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipid levels, are essential for preventing complications associated with metabolic syndrome.
