Metabolic syndrome is a combination of several medical issues. They increase the risk for heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Twenty five percent of people of the United States have metabolic syndrome. The term "metabolic syndrome" dates back to at least the late 1950s, but came into common usage in the late 1970s to describe various associations of risk factors with diabetes mellitus that had been noted as early as the 1920s. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels.Having just one of these conditions doesn't mean you have metabolic syndrome. But it does mean you have a greater risk of serious disease.