Diagnosis

At best, a metabolic syndrome is detected by the doctor in a preventive examination and not if consequences such as a heart attack or stroke have already occurred. Especially previous illnesses and illnesses in the family serve as an indication of the presence of a metabolic syndrome. Special focus is placed on diseases such as diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack.

Subsequently, a physical examination is very important for diagnosis. During this examination, blood pressure is measured and the abdominal girth and weight are determined. With the help of a blood test the blood fat and cholesterol values can be determined.

The liver values are also examined. A so-called glucose tolerance test to determine fasting blood glucose is also carried out. For this test, the patient must drink a certain amount of sugar solution.

Before and after each test, the blood sugar is measured. Indications for the presence of the metabolic syndrome are overweight (BMI greater than 25), an increased waist circumference (men over 104 cm, women over 88 cm), elevated blood sugar levels (fasting blood sugar over 100 milligrams per deciliter), elevated blood lipids (fasting triglycerides over 150 milligrams per deciliter and HDL cholesterol under 50 milligrams per deciliter) and elevated blood pressure (over 130/85 mmHg). In the case of an existing metabolic syndrome, the effects on the heart and other organs should be monitored by means of ECG and ultrasound examinations.

Symptoms

Since the symptoms of the metabolic syndrome do not usually cause pain or other discomfort at first, they remain undetected for a long time. A striking feature is overweight, which is part of the syndrome and is indicated by a body mass index (BMI) of over 25. In patients with the metabolic syndrome, the fat starts predominantly at the abdomen, which is why a waist circumference of over 88 cm for women and over 104 cm for men is also one of the symptoms.

In addition, arterial hypertension above 130/85 mmHg is an indication of the presence of the metabolic syndrome, which can cause headaches, dizziness or nosebleeds. The disturbed fat metabolism can be detected by a blood test. For this, the fasting values for triglycerides must be above 150 milligrams per deciliter and those for HDL cholesterol below 50 milligrams per deciliter.Insulin resistance, which is also part of the metabolic syndrome, can be detected by determining fasting blood glucose. This must be above 100 milligrams per deciliter to indicate insulin resistance.