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Nearly one-quarter of Americans have a syndrome that dramatically raises their risk of developing other serious health conditions. It's called metabolic syndrome, and you have it if you meet three or more of the qualifying criteria:
A waist circumference greater than 40 inches in men, and greater than 35 inches in women
High triglycerides: 150 mg/dl or higher
Low HDL cholesterol (the "good" kind): less than 40 mg/dl in men; less than 50 mg/dl in women
High blood pressure, defined as a reading of 130 mm Hg or higher for systolic pressure (the top number), or 85 mm Hg or higher for diastolic pressure (the bottom number)
High blood sugar: a reading of 100 mg/dl or higher for a fasting blood glucose test
Why does metabolic syndrome matter? If you have it, your risk of developing heart disease doubles, and you're five times more likely to develop diabetes. You also have a higher chance of developing fatty liver disease or polycystic ovary syndrome If you're overweight, losing 10 percent of your body weight can cut your risk of diabetes and heart disease and raise your life expectancy. Exercise, the way you eat and proper supplementation are ways you can improve your health and risk of disease. |
Health & Fitness 
