Syndrome X is more common in women than men: about 70% of patients are women who are approaching or have already gone through menopause. In the WISE study, 936 women undergoing cardiac catheterization for chest pain, 60% did not have a major blockages in the arteries of their heart. Some of the women in this study may have had chest pain that was not heart-related.
The tests that differentiate cardiac syndrome X from CAD include a baseline electrocardiagram, an exercise ECG or stress test, an exercise nuclear stress test, and coronary angiography. When patients with cardiac syndrome X undergo an exercise stress test, the results may look the same as patients who have CAD. But coronary angiography procedures, which look for blockages in the coronary arteries, show the arteries of patients with syndrome X as clear and normal. Patients may also be evaluated for other conditions that could be causing the symptoms, including high blood pressure.
Several different types of medicine may relieve the angina pain associated with cardiac syndrome X, including nitroglycerin calcium channel blockers.
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ReplyDeleteThat is very interesting regarding Cardiac syndrome X. Upon further research i have found out that those suffering from angina and not from CAD do not have damaged hearts after the angina and a little rest helps the heart recover, unlike heart attacks where the heart becomes damaged. There is one more treatment for cardiac syndrome X and that is by using beta blockers. Beta blockers block signals from the body to the heart. These signals if received by the heart make the heart worker harder and pump more oxygen. If that happens patients will suffer from the angina. The beta blockers stop the said signal and the heart does not strain itself. Great Post.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting. You state that the patients experience angina without blockage. It's strange to me how blood flow to the heart could be reduced without blockage. It would seem that blood thinners could help treat some of these patients if the angina was a result of clotting, which it often is. The main question I have is whether cardiac syndrome X is inherited or acquired. IMO, that would have a significant effect on treatment; however, I cannot find any evidence on the subject.
ReplyDeleteI read some articles and some says that estrogen protects women from developing this type of heart disease. prior to menopause, women produce sufficient amount of esterogen to decrease their risk of heaving a heart attack to much less than that of a man. after menopause, estrogen levels fall, and by age 60 to 65, men and women have approximately equal risk. also some recent data suggests that this reverses late in life, and that women over the age of 75 might be at higher riskthan men of the same age.
ReplyDeleteI did a little theory research about what occurs in instances of cardiac syndrome x. It is believed that two of the factors that may cause it are the lack of blood flow caused by a microvascular disease and the enhanced pain perception. The microvascular dysfunctions refer to the abnormalities in the very small blood vessels of the heart. The narrowing of these vessels may lead to the lack of oxygen in specific areas of the cardiac muscle which causes chest pain. Patients suffering from Syndrome X have enhanced pain perception and feel more intense chest pain than individuals without Syndrome X.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog post! I researched on the internet and found some helpful treatments in controlling Cardiac Syndrome X. Epidermally applied nitrate patches and oral nitrate preparation are often administered to patients with syndrome X due to their effectiveness as a treatment for CHD. Observational studies have suggested that nitrate use is effective in controlling symptoms in 40 to 50% of syndrome X patients. Another thing that was interesting was people who have Syndrome X do not respond well to insulin and they are insulin resistant. Their pancreas is forced to secrete excessive amounts of the insulin to dispose of glucose, or blood sugar, by moving it into muscles and fat cells. These people don't have diabetes, because they produce enough insulin to overcome the resistance, but the high insulin levels lead to elevated blood triglycerides (fatty acids), low HDL ("good") cholesterol, high blood pressure and other signs of Syndrome X.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Teela, I think that the reason for Cardiac Syndrome X is the constricted blood vessels having a lack of oxygen causes the cardiac muscles to have perceived pain. This is rather unique to see and increase with Cardiac Syndrome X in women, because we are often more stressed than men, and this could possibly be a pre-disposing factor to why women, often have the Cardiac Syndrome X.
ReplyDeleteAfter looking up the many theories that were developed as a possible cause of the Cardiac Syndrome X, I believe it is more due to the genetic makeup and hormones of women. This is the only reason I find that will explain the abscence of this in men. Maybe the presence of high amounts of estrogen or low amounts of testosterone in women can cause the disease to appear.I also found that Sydnrome X appears around the time of menopause so that hormonal imbalance can contribute to the disease as well. I believe even the smallest fibers in the arteries can be detected with the technology we have, so I do not quite understand that theory. Genetic makeup makes more sense to me.
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