Metabolic syndrome is a condition that puts one at a risk of developing stroke, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease. The following article provides some information on the symptoms.
A syndrome is defined as the collection of more than two symptoms that occur together in one body, and the metabolic syndrome is one such deadly condition. Also known as ‘syndrome X’, or ‘insulin resistance syndrome’, it includes a group of abnormalities which when occur together, give rise to further severe conditions like cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and heart attacks. This is one of the most serious health problems found in adults and has started to affect children as well.
Some of the abnormalities found in people affected by this syndrome include insulin resistance, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and abdominal obesity. All these conditions have their own causes, symptoms, and treatment and therefore, this syndrome can be treated with proper medication.
Symptoms
The causes of this syndrome can be obesity, unhealthy lifestyle, smoking, and alcohol, or simply a diet that is high in fats and carbohydrates. It could even be hereditary, that is if one has diabetes and hypertension in the family. Therefore, there can be various causes for all the diseases that are included in this syndrome.
The symptoms would vary, depending on the underlying cause. Thus, it is very important to track down all the conditions before the affected person is prescribed the treatment.
Major Symptoms
There are a few symptoms which are mainly observed during this condition due to which there can be further complications. The major symptoms are as follows:
- Abdominal obesity (deposition of fat around the abdominal area leading to an increase in the waist size)
- Depression
- Abnormal blood clotting (the blood doesn’t clot in 3 to 8 minutes, which is the normal coagulation time)
- Blurred vision (can’t see long distances accurately)
- High prothrombin level
- Fatigue
- Hypercholesterolemia (a rise in the level of triglycerides which also means fall in the level of HDL)
- Impaired glucose tolerance
- Insulin resistance (insulin is less effective in lowering blood sugar)
- Low HDL cholesterol level
- Obesity
- High blood pressure/Hypertension (systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated)
- Peripheral neuropathy (damaged nerves in the peripheral nervous system)
- Type 2 Diabetes (body doesn’t produce enough insulin)
Minor Symptoms
On the other hand, there are some symptoms which are not very predominant but can be seen in a few cases. These symptoms also depend on individual body mechanisms. These are as follows:
- Hormonal problems
- Difficulty losing weight
- Abnormal fasting glucose
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Microalbuminuria (kidney leaks small amounts of albumin in urine)
- Memory problems
- Excessive waist circumference
- Skin tags
- Heart palpitations
- Sleep apnea (sleeping disorder with abnormal breathing intervals)
- High body mass index
On observing the aforementioned symptoms, it is recommended to consult the concerned doctor as soon as possible so as to avoid any further complications.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
