Overview? Tests Treatment More Details

Treatments
The primary “treatments” for metabolic syndrome are for patients to lose excess weight, exercise regularly, and stop smoking. Weight reduction and exercise can:

• Decrease blood pressure levels
• Increase insulin sensitivity
• Decrease triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels
• Raise HDL cholesterol levels
• Decrease risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke

Drug treatment may be necessary to address hypertension and high cholesterol levels. Some doctors also recommend aspirin to decrease the risk of clotting, and a few doctors prescribe medications to increase insulin sensitivity (although there is not widespread agreement on this).

Patients with metabolic syndrome should work with their doctor and develop an individualised treatment plan and to monitor its effectiveness.

On This Site

Tests: hs-CRP, Lipid Profile, Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides, Cardiac Risk Assessment, Insulin, Glucose and Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT), DLDL

Elsewhere On The Web

American Academy of Family Physician, Familydoctor.org: Metabolic Syndrome
CDC: Nutrition and Physical Activity
CDC: Overweight and Obesity
The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
The Practical Guide: Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults
FDA: Better Health Information for Better Nutrition
NIDDK: Nutrition
Boston Obesity/Nutrition Research Center
Clinical Nutrition Research Center at Harvard
Steps to a Healthier US Initiative
National Cholesterol Education Program: ATP III Guidelines At-A-Glance