Syndrome X

Syndrome X

Metabolic disease or Syndrome X has been studied by doctors for around 50 years now. Surprisingly not many people are familiar with it by name, even though it is becoming very prevalent. Currently there are estimates of greater than 25% of the American population with this syndrome. It consists of several risk factors that have been proven to raise your chances of developing one or more of the following conditions:

1. Diabetes
2. Atherosclerosis
3. Hypertension
4. Stroke

These are the World Health Organizations risk factors associated with Syndrome X:

1. Insulin resistance, impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance
2. Blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg
3. Elevated triglycerides above: 1.695mmol/L
4. HDL below 0.9mmol/L (male), below 1.0mmol/L (female)
5. Central Obesity and a BMI above 30kg/m2

It is not recommended to memorize these values, what is recommended is to eat healthy, and exercise. Lack of exercise and a poor diet will eventually result in one or more of the above risk factors. If you are already experiencing risk factors, the first line of treatment should involve lifestyle changes. 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per day, and a reduced calorie diet. If this does not improve your condition then drug therapy may be indicated.

Derek Stratton DC, BS