BY DONNA WESTFALL

Our sometime photographer, Janice Wilson, bring us news of a new class that meets once a month at Sutter Coast Hospital. From the handout, the definition is that Metabolic Syndrome is not a disease.  It is a cluster of metabolic conditions or risk factors that occur together when there is excess body fat around the waist, increased blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels (high triglycerides or low HDL) and high blood sugar levels.

It goes on to state that having just one of these conditions doesn’t mean you have metabolic syndrome.  However, any of these conditions increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.  If more than one of these conditions is present your risk is even greater.

Here’s their Risk Test:

1.)   Is your waist circumference more than 40 inches (male) or 35 inches (female)?

2.)   Is your blood pressure equal to or greater than 130/85*?

3.)   Is your fasting blood sugar equal to or greater than 110*?

4.)  Are your triglicerides greater than or equal to 150*?

5.)  Is your HDL (“good”) cholesterol less than 40 gm/dl(male, or 50 mg/dl (female)*?

Or, are you taking medication to treat the problem?

If the answer is “yes” to 3 or more of those questions, this means you have Metabolic Syndrome.

Some of the tips you’ll learn in the class are about nutrition, goal setting, losing weight, and tips on losing weight, moving more and charting your progress.

For those interested in learning more about the class, please e-mail Faire@sutterhealth.org or call Eileen Fairbrother and leave a message at (707) 464 -8920.

Their next class is January 8, 2013; 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.