Which statement best describes metabolic syndrome?

Which statement best describes metabolic syndrome?

• A. A collection of diseases or risk factors, including high blood glucose, high blood pressure, excessive fat around the waist, and high cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.
• B. A single disease that only affects blood sugar.
• C. A transient condition caused by dehydration.
• D. A genetic mutation causing immune deficiency.

Answer: (B)

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that tend to occur together and raise the risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These factors usually include excess fat around the waist (central obesity), elevated fasting blood glucose, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and high blood pressure. When three or more of these factors are present, the condition is diagnosed as metabolic syndrome. It’s not a single disease that only affects blood sugar; the combined abnormalities interact to worsen metabolic and cardiovascular risk. It isn’t a transient condition like dehydration, nor is it a genetic immune deficiency.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that tend to occur together and raise the risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These factors usually include excess fat around the waist (central obesity), elevated fasting blood glucose, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and high blood pressure. When three or more of these factors are present, the condition is diagnosed as metabolic syndrome. It’s not a single disease that only affects blood sugar; the combined abnormalities interact to worsen metabolic and cardiovascular risk. It isn’t a transient condition like dehydration, nor is it a genetic immune deficiency.