The risks increase exponentially with each of the four horsemen that an individual possesses among high blood pressure, blood sugar, excess fat and high cholesterol. When you combine them, you must be aggressive in addressing the condition or risk a highly shortened life span.
Metabolic syndrome is hard to define, but one sure sign is a large waist circumference. Diabetics will also have the telltale signs of fatigue, blurry vision and increased thirst and urination.
Obesity and inactivity are the prime causes of metabolic syndrome. Researchers have linked the development of the condition to insulin resistance. While the digestive system normally breaks down food into glucose, those with metabolic syndrome have cells that do not respond normally to insulin. As a result, glucose can’t get into the cells, causing levels to rise in the bloodstream. The body keeps churning out insulin, which eventually burns out the glucose-generating system, resulting in out-of-control levels of glucose and the need for insulin injections.
Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome
While metabolic syndrome can happen at any age, the risk increases with age. Some 40 percent of people older than age 60 suffer from it. Hispanics and Asians have a higher propensity for developing the condition than people of other races.