Metabolic Syndrome vs. Cardiometabolic Risk

For the last decade (or longer) cardiologists have been enamored of the metabolic syndrome. Here’s an extract from the American Diabetes Association’s website that clarifies the situation.

“You may have heard the term "metabolic syndrome" to describe cardiometabolic risk. The term has been used to describe cardiometabolic risk factors, primarily overweight, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. It's better to think of these factors simply as raising your cardiometabolic risk. There doesn't seem to be enough evidence to say that these factors represent a "syndrome," and scientists don't even agree on what the various components of the "syndrome" are. The important thing for you is to know whether you have any of these risk factors, and if so to take active steps to improve them.”

Of course, in a few years the experts will replace the term “cardiometabolic risk” with something else. But in the meantime, address your cardiometabolic risks by appropriate lifestyle modifications – diet, exercise, no smoking, etc.