The term given to describe collectively the symptoms of a certain disease
process or signs of an abnormal condition is called a syndrome. Therefore, to
describe the roles played by duslipidemia, intolerance to sugar, hypertension,
excess fat in the abdomen, and resistance to insulin in relation to coronary
heart disease, the term Syndrome X is given.
Syndrome X elevates the risk of a person to develop diabetes mellitus. It is
also a risk factor in developing cardiovascular diseases such as
atherosclerosis, similar to the effect of having an elevated cholesterol level
in the blood. Heart attacks are usually common with this syndrome, in spite of
the fact that cholesterol levels are within the normal range. As you positively
diagnose Syndrome X in a patient, measures are taken to treat this condition. It
is easy to recognize Syndrome X from its three main symptoms:
1. Excess fat in the abdomen. Syndrome X may be present in people with a
waistline measurement of more than thirty nine inches.
2. An HDL cholesterol:total cholesterol ratio more than five is suggestive of
Syndrome X.
3. Triglyceride levels reaching more than 150 mg/dl, together with normal levels
of total cholesterol, high levels of LDL cholesterol, and low levels of HDL
cholesterol are indicative of Syndrome X.
When a positive diagnosis is made of Syndrome X, treatment is required
immediately to reverse the risks that threaten the health of the patient by
treating the symptoms that cause this syndrome. Treatment includes dieting and
exercise to lose weight, lower abdominal fat in the abdomen, and improve
sensitivity to insulin. Be careful of taking medications since there are some
that are contraindicated to Syndrome X, increasing its risk even further.
Examples of these medications are hypertension medications such as diuretics and
beta blockers.
