What is Syndrome X – and have you got it?

Written by Kay Blackiston


Syndrome X orrepparttar X factor as it is sometimes known was first described in 1988 by Professor Gerald Reaven , an endocrinologist at California’s Stanford University after twenty years of study. Since this first identificationrepparttar 115227 understanding of Syndrome X has come a long way.

Before we define Syndrome X we need to clarifyrepparttar 115228 role of insulin inrepparttar 115229 body. When we eat carbohydrates – which are basically sugars,repparttar 115230 glucose levels in our blood start to rise. In response to this,the pancreas gland produces insulin. The insulin takesrepparttar 115231 glucose and changes it into glycogen, which it stores inrepparttar 115232 muscles and liver cells for future use as energy. Whenrepparttar 115233 muscles andrepparttar 115234 liver cells are full,repparttar 115235 glucose is converted into fat and stored inrepparttar 115236 fatty tissues.

Syndrome X is caused whenrepparttar 115237 body becomes resistant to insulin and so higher and higher levels of insulin need to be produced to have any effect. So what causes this insulin resistance to happen? A diet high in refined carbohydrates such as white flour, white bread, sugar, cakes and biscuits in conjunction with large amounts of trans fatty acids which are used to bulk up processed foods is one ofrepparttar 115238 major causes of Syndrome X. Other causes are excess weight, hormonal imbalance, some genetic factors, lack of exercise and some medications.

When insulin resistance has developed,repparttar 115239 ingestion of more refined carbohydrates causesrepparttar 115240 release of higher and higher levels of insulin. The insulin does not work as effectively as it used to; it is still capable of depositingrepparttar 115241 glucose as fat, but not so capable of putting glucose intorepparttar 115242 muscles and liver cells to be used as energy. So more glucose becomes fat and less is used up as energy.

So, how do you know if you have Syndrome X? To have Syndrome X officially diagnosed would require a blood test by your doctor. Amongrepparttar 115243 many things to be tested would be cholesterol levels, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance. Perhaps an easier approach is to considerrepparttar 115244 following list of symptoms – if you answer yes to three or more it is very likely that you have Syndrome X:

do you find it impossible to lose weight? do you find low-fat low-calorie diets don’t work? are you a yoyo dieter? are you hungry allrepparttar 115245 time, even shortly after eating? do you crave carbohydrates and sugary foods? do you tend to put on weight around your abdomen? do you have high blood pressure? do you suffer with cholesterol problems? do you have high levels of insulin? do you have problems with blood sugar levels? do you have a family history of diabetes?

Behavioral Manifestations of Alzheimer’s Dementia

Written by Michael G. Rayel, MD


Alzheimer’s Dementia has a combination of cognitive and behavioral manifestations. Cognitive impairment isrepparttar core problem which includes memory deficits and at least one ofrepparttar 115226 following: aphasia or language problem, agnosia or problems with recognition, apraxia or motor activity problem, and impairment in executive functioning (e.g. planning, abstract reasoning, and organizing).

Asrepparttar 115227 disease advances,repparttar 115228 cognitive decline becomes associated with behavioral manifestations. What are these behavioral manifestations of dementia?

Behavioral syndromes in Alzheimer’s can be grouped into two categories: psychological and behavioral. Major psychological syndromes consist of depression, anxiety, delusions, and hallucinations.

Depression in dementia is very common. Up to about 87% of patients develop some form of depression. It is characterized by tearfulness or crying episodes, feelings of sadness, and neurovegetative signs and symptoms such as inability to sleep, lack of appetite, poor energy, and thoughts of death. Irritability is also common. Depression can occur even inrepparttar 115229 early or mild phase ofrepparttar 115230 illness.

About 50% of demented patients show delusions or false fixed beliefs. Such delusions include beliefs that a relative is stealing, that a spouse is just an impostor or is having an affair with a neighbor, or that friends and relatives are conspiring to cause trouble.

Moreover, many patients with dementia may experience hallucinations. Most of these hallucinations are visual — seeing strangers inrepparttar 115231 house, an animal or insects inrepparttar 115232 living room, people inrepparttar 115233 bedroom or on top ofrepparttar 115234 TV set. Occasionally, auditory hallucinations may be experienced — hearing footsteps or knocking onrepparttar 115235 door or even people singing church hymns.

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