Metabolic Syndrome: Could You Have It?
Millions of Americans have a health condition that could increase their risk of developing 10 other serious medical problems, and they don’t even know it. The condition is called metabolic syndrome (also known as syndrome Xor insulin resistance syndrome), and it may affect as many as 47 million Americans.
The list of health problems that metabolic syndrome can lead to is long and concerning. It doubles a person's risk of both heart attack and stroke and also may lead to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fatty liver disease, cholesterol gallstones, asthma, and even some forms of cancer.
But here's the good news: Adding a brisk walk to your routine every day may be enough to help stop this syndrome -- and all of the accompanying health ills -- in its tracks.
Do You Have It?
Unfortunately, most of the symptoms of metabolic syndrome operate silently and are hardly noticeable from the outside. Finding out if you have the syndrome requires knowing several health measures obtained only through medical testing. Ask yourself the following questions to help determine whether a doctor's visit is in order:
· Are you overweight?
