CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) Practice Exam

High systolic pressure is a significant symptom of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. One of the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome includes elevated blood pressure, specifically systolic blood pressure.

Systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and pumps blood. High systolic pressure indicates that the heart is working harder than normal to circulate blood, which can result from various factors, including obesity, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation commonly associated with metabolic syndrome. Elevated systolic pressure is particularly important because it is a strong predictor of cardiovascular risk and is often treated to mitigate potential health complications.

The other options related to blood pressure do not appropriately characterize the symptoms associated with metabolic syndrome. High diastolic pressure may not have the same clinical implications as high systolic pressure, while low diastolic pressure and normal blood pressure do not align with the diagnostic markers of metabolic syndrome. Thus, the association of high systolic pressure with metabolic syndrome emphasizes the critical role of blood pressure management in this condition.