How Do You Treat Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome -- a group of risk factors that include abdominal fat, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol levels -- has, perhaps surprisingly, no special treatment regime.

Instead, treatment is focused on simply tackling each risk factor. The goal is to cut your odds of blood vessel and heart disease, as well as diabetes.

In most cases, the best treatment for metabolic syndrome rests with you. Changes to your behavior - such as eating healthier and getting more exercise -- are the first things your doctor will suggest.

Unhealthy habits may have led you into this trouble. But by changing your ways, you may be able to completely negate your risk factors.

Lifestyle Changes: Changing Your Metabolic Syndrome Risk

Experts say that changing your habits is the main treatment for metabolic syndrome.

• Get some exercise. Exercise is a great way to lose weight. That's key if you're heavy. But don't get down if the scale isn't showing progress. Even if you don't lose a single pound, exercise can lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and improve insulin resistance.
  
  If you're out of shape, start slowly. Try walking more. Work more physical activity into your day. When you're on foot, allow a little extra time to take the scenic route to get some extra steps. To keep track, buy a pedometer or "step counter."
  
  Ideally, you should increase your physical activity until you're doing it on most days of the week. But don't get too ambitious. If you try a workout regime that's too tough, you may just give up. You need to find a level of exercise that fits with your personality.
• Eat a healthy diet. Eating a healthy diet can improve your cholesterol, insulin resistance, and blood pressure -- even if your weight stays the same.
  
  Ask your doctor about what sort of diet you should eat. People who have heart disease or diabetes may need to have special meal plans. In general, a diet that's low in saturated fats, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium and high in fruits and vegetables has been shown to help people with high blood pressure and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Many doctors suggest a "Mediterranean diet." This meal plan emphasizes "good" fats (like the monounsaturated fat in olive oil) and a balance of carbohydrates and proteins.
  
• Lose some weight. Obviously, this is often a byproduct of exercising and eating well. But it's a key goal in itself if you're overweight or obese. Weight loss can improve every aspect of metabolic syndrome.
• If you smoke, quit. It's not a risk factor for metabolic syndrome itself. But smoking greatly increases your risk of blood vessel and heart disease.

Medicine and Metabolic Syndrome

Some people with metabolic syndrome will also need medicine. Drugs might be needed if lifestyle changes aren't enough to reduce your risk factors. Some medicines you might use are:

• High blood pressure medicines,which include medicines such as ACE inhibitors (like Capoten and Vasotec), angiotensin II receptor blockers (like Cozaar and Diovan), diuretics, beta-blockers, and other drugs.
• Cholesterol medicines,whichinclude statins (like Crestor, Lescol, Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol, and Zocor), niacin (like Niacor, Niaspan, and Nicolar), bile acid resins (like Colestid and Questran), Zetia, and other drugs.
  
• Diabetes medicines, whichmay be necessary if you have glucose intolerance. Drugs include Glucophage, Actos, and Avandia.
  
• Low-dose aspirin, which can reduce the risks of heart attacks and strokes. It may be especially important for people who are "prothrombotic," or prone to blood clots.

Keep in mind that all medicines can have side effects and risks. Talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of using any of these medicines.