Metabolic syndrome epidemicAccording
to a new report from American Heart Association (AHA), every fourth American adult
has the condition, known as metabolic syndrome. In Finland, 10 to 14 % of middle-aged
men has it. Along with having an increased risk of developing other conditions,
people with metabolic syndrome are also more likely than others to die from cardiovascular
disease and all other causes. People are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome
if they carry at least three risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, AHA
says. These risk factors include a waist circumference that exceeds 40 inches
= 100 cm (men) or 35 inches = 90 cm (women), a relatively high level of fat in
the blood, low levels of the so-called "good" cholesterol, high blood
pressure and high blood glucose or insulin resistance. Due to the subtle nature
of some of the signs of metabolic syndrome, many adults may have it and not realize
it. Even people with a few of these characteristics at levels that "borderline"
being a health risk can have metabolic syndrome, for it is the combination of
many risks, even slight, that bring on the condition. These risk factors tend
to occur together, and when they do, it often does put someone at significant
risk. Doctors should look for the signs of metabolic syndrome in their
patients in order to find the condition and try to correct it before it leads
to life-threatening problems. Catching metabolic syndrome early is especially
important because patients can break out of it by simply removing some risk factors
from their life, perhaps through exercise or a healthy diet. CriteriaCriteria
for metabolic syndrome include having a triglyceride level of at least 150 milligrams
per deciliter of blood (mg/dL); a level of HDL, the "good" cholesterol,
below 40 mg/dL in men and 50 mg/dL in women; blood pressure of 130/85 mm Hg or
higher; or fasting glucose levels of at least 110mg/dL. The prevalence
of the condition varies with age, according to the AHA report, peaking at 44%
among adults between 60 and 69 years old, and dropping to 7% among people in their
20s. AHA is also concerned about the growing number of risk factors for heart
disease seen in children. Adolescents and children are also exercising less often
than they should, and eating large amounts of fast food, AHA notes. AHA is concerned
this is going to lead to lots of early heart disease in these people as they become
adults. | 
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