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Print: How is metabolic syndrome diagnosed?
Your doctor will do a physical exam and blood tests. He or she can diagnosis metabolic syndrome if at least 3 of the following are true:
- You are overweight or obese, and you carry the weight around your middle. For men, this means a waist that measures greater than 40 inches around. For women, it means a waist that measures greater than 35 inches around.
- You have higher than normal blood pressure (130/85 mm Hg or greater).
- You have a higher than normal amount of sugar in your blood (a fasting blood sugar of 110 mg/dL or greater).
- You have a higher than normal amount of fat in your blood (a triglyceride level of 150 mg/dL or greater).
- You have a lower than normal high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level. HDL cholesterol is the "good" cholesterol. For men, this means an HDL level less than 40 mg/dL. For women, this means an HDL level less than 50 mg/dL.
The more of these risk factors you have, the higher your risk of heart disease.
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Source
Metabolic Syndrome: Time for Action by Darwin Deen, M.D., M.S. (American Family Physician June 15, 2004, http://www.aafp.org/afp/20040615/2875.html)
Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff
Reviewed/Updated: 03/10
Created: 01/05
