5 Medical Markers for Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome is a cluster of the most dangerous medical markers, which together or independently,  raise a person's risk of developing cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, vascular or neurological complications such as stroke. Your doctor can order a blood test and talk to you about the results.

If you tick off 3 of the following 5 medical markers below, you meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome. 

1. High blood pressure over 135/85 some medicals say over 140/90
2. Abdominal obesity/waistline  Males: over 102cm [40 in], Females: over 88cm [35 in]
3. Elevated triglycerides (fat in the bloodstream) over 150 mg/dL or 1.7 mmol/L 
4. Elevated fasting blood glucose: over 100 mg/dL or 5.5 mmol/L
5. Low level of HDL (high density lipoprotein) Males less than 40 mg/dL or 1 mmol/L; Females less than  50/dL or 1.2293 mmol/L

Don't despair! You can improve your medical markers by changing your lifestyle behaviours (stress, sleep, physical activity) and food choices.

Its good to know you metabolic numbers and monitor them - for example, I have a blood test each year just after my birthday. I started  a yearly testing and consulting with a good doctor when I turned 50, as my dad had a triple coronary bypass at 51 (he had been training for marathons/quite fit at this time). My mother has high blood pressure, so keeping track of my metabolic markers helps motivate me to maintain a healthy lifestyle to avoid chronic diseases that are in my genetic makeup.

Caron x