Syndrome X - Are You Next?
Are you as active as you were in your younger years? Do you struggle with excess weight that sits around your middle? Is your blood pressure considered a bit too high? Are you battling against increasingly high cholesterol?
Clustered together, these factors are called "Syndrome X". Syndrome X is actually a collection of metabolic abnormalities, which dramatically increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes.
But Syndrome X can also cause a multitude of other health problems!
And according to the American Heart Association, roughly 47 million adults have this syndrome, commonly known as Metabolic Syndrome.
Risk Factors
Syndrome X occurs in one out of every ten people in their mid-thirties and older, but it is not a classification solely for adults. In fact, one to three percent of American toddlers and school-aged children experience asymptomatic high blood pressure – or high blood pressure with no symptoms - and at least fourteen percent of these children are overweight, the most common problems associated with heart disease.
Carrying around those few extra pounds can increase risks.
A decrease in activity level, especially with progressive weight gain only improves the odds of health problems.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, especially uncontrolled and coupled with insulin resistance and obesity greatly increase the risks of heart disease.
Prevention
Syndrome X is a way to identify those with an increased risk for developing heart disease. It is no absolute diagnosis. And among its common names, Metabolic Syndrome and Syndrome X, this classification has been referred to as Insulin Resistance Syndrome, Disabesity and Dysmetabolic Syndrome.
And thankfully, there are steps you can take to lower your risks! The National Cholesterol Education Program in 2001 suggests behavioral interventions promoting weight loss and increased physical activity are the basis for treatment of Syndrome X.
Syndrome X is best treated by taking preventative measures to increase your overall health and well-being. Taking control over your diet, physical activity and stress can greatly reduce your risks.
If you would like to learn more, please feel free to log onto guidinghealth4u.com, an health and wellness informational website designed for women – and those they love.
BIO: Sandee Koehler is a licensed physical therapist, certified massage therapist, educator and business owner with over sixteen years in the healthcare industry. Her dedicated career has encompassed pain management, physical rehab and promotion of overall health. Her website, guidinghealth4u.com is designed to provide helpful health and wellness information.