Cardiac Syndrome X - Causes

Causes

There is no specific known cause for Syndrome X but a multitude of risk factors that act together. It is believed that the lack of blood flow caused by a microvascular disease and the enhanced pain perception are two of the factors that may cause it. 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. Several studies have shown that patients suffering from Syndrome X have enhanced pain perception and they usually feel more intense chest pain than the individuals without Syndrome X.

The risk factors include abdominal obesity, meaning the excessive fat tissue in and around the abdomen, atherogenic dyslipidemia which is a blood fat disorder, and elevated blood pressure. Other risk factors are the insulin resistance or intolerance to glucose, prothrombotic state or proinflammatory state. The cardiac syndrome X disease is also known as the insulin resistance syndrome because one of the most dominant risk factors is the insulin resistance along with the abdominal obesity. Older people are more at risk to develop this condition and it is proven to be a genetic disorder. Women are more prone to this condition than men, as well as those who have a history of heart disease in the family.