Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions, which includes high blood sugar level, increased blood pressure, and accumulation of body fat around the waist, and abnormal level of cholesterol. All these things occur together increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Increased waistline is a visible sign. If blood sugar is very high, symptoms of diabetes might be experienced, which is increased thirst and urination, fatigue, and blurred vision. If you are also experiencing the symptoms of increased blood pressure, you are suffering from metabolic syndrome. 

It is estimated that around 20-25 % of world`s adult population may be suffering from metabolic syndrome. Thus, these people are twice as likely to die and thrice as likely to suffer from a heart attack, as compared to those without the syndrome. In addition, people suffering from metabolic syndrome have a five-fold risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The role of metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes has been extensively discussed and researched.

There are various causes that trigger metabolic syndrome and this research continues to challenge the experts, but the significant ones that are identified are:

• Insulin resistance
• Central obesity

The factors having casual effect:

• Physical inactivity
• Ageing
• Pro-inflammatory state
• Hormonal changes

Once it has been diagnosed that an individual is suffering from metabolic syndrome, the patient should undergo a complete cardiovascular risk assessment (including smoking status). Primary management for the metabolic syndrome is a healthy lifestyle which includes:

• Moderate calorie restriction (achieve 5 to 10% loss of total  body weight in the first year)
• Moderate increase in physical activity and change in dietary composition

Finnish and American ‘prevention of diabetes’ studies have come up with proof showing that increased physical activity and a small weight loss has prevented or at least delayed the conversion of metabolic syndrome to type 2 diabetes in obese people.

In case lifestyle changes do not bring about an impact, then secondary intervention in people who are at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases is necessary. Drug therapy is advised to treat metabolic syndrome in such cases. There is a definite need for treatment so that the underlying mechanisms of metabolic syndrome can be modulated, thereby reducing the risk factors and long-term metabolic as well as cardiovascular consequences. Currently, it is necessary that individual components of this syndrome be treated so that risk associated with each component is lowered, bringing about an overall positive impact on metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome has a wider impact on the health of a person. With changes in lifestyle, a positive impact can be made. All the symptoms associated with metabolic syndrome, if treated and taken care of individually, do have more impact on the overall outcome of metabolic syndrome.