This is because they can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes over any independent risk factor for these conditions. For example, cholesterol changes and these would be high triglycerides. So for example, triglycerides above 1.7 or low HDL. HDL is the good cholesterol in the blood.

This is because they can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes over any independent risk factor for these conditions. For example, cholesterol changes and these would be high triglycerides. So for example, triglycerides above 1.7 or low HDL. HDL is the good cholesterol in the blood.

Elevated waist circumference is another risk factor. This would be a waist circumference above 80 centimeters in women and above 94 centimeters in men. Elevated blood pressure is also a risk factor, and this would be a blood pressure of greater than 130 over 85.

And finally, elevated blood sugars, and these would be blood sugars of greater than 5.6. It’s important to note if you have three or more of these conditions, as one in four people will have a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.

If you feel you do, it’s important to speak with your family physician, because there are some things you can do. These include aggressive nutritional changes to reduce waist circumference, improve your cholesterol profile or blood pressure and prevent your onset of diabetes. These also include fitness goals to reduce your risk factors as well.

Through aggressive lifestyle management you can not only delay the onset of cardiovascular disease or diabetes if you have metabolic syndrome, but you may also prevent it. If you feel that you may have metabolic syndrome, it’s important to go speak with your family physician.