Featuring Dr. Peter House, MD

Duration: 1 minute, 30 seconds

Metabolic syndrome is a term that's been coined by health professionals around the world.

It is considered to be the commonest, most serious epidemic the world has ever seen, and really what it is it's a measure of obesity and its risk in activity and sedentary lifestyles and their risks.

It comprises five parameters that are measurables. Those measurables are how large the waist is, which is by far the most important parameter as it drives all the other parameters that I'm going to speak of.

It then looks at different components of the cholesterol molecule, called HDL cholesterol, which is the so-called good cholesterol, and triglycerides, which are fats. It looks at blood sugar, and looks at blood pressure. These factors are then combined to make the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Three of those factors of the five make that diagnosis.

Metabolic syndrome is important because it is a cardiovascular or heart disease equivalent. So if you are unfortunate enough to have this condition it is the same as saying that you're at high risk for a heart attack. It can be managed well by lifestyle modifications, particularly exercise and diet.

Presenter: Dr. Peter House, Family Doctor, Vancouver, BC

Local Practitioners: Family Doctor