Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology.SyndromeHow to say it:Syndrome(sin-dro-mm)What it means: The signs and symptoms that characterize a condition.Where it comes from: From Greek,syndromē, “combination"Robina Weermeijer/UnsplashWhere you might see or hear it: There are some diseases or conditions that have “syndrome” in the name (such asDown syndrome), but the word itself refers to the signs and symptoms that a person with a specific condition usually has.For example, a child with Down syndrome typically has certain physical features and developmental delays that are common in most people who have the condition.When you might want to use it: You might use the word syndrome when you are talking about the formal name of a condition that you have—for example, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).The word syndrome is also used to talk about a group of signs and symptoms that, when they happen together, are typical of a specific condition or disease.For example, if you havehigh blood sugar,high cholesterol, and areoverweight, your provider might tell you that you have metabolic syndrome. Having these conditions at the same time increases yourrisk of developing heart disease.What Does Having Metabolic Syndrome Mean?

Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology.

Syndrome

How to say it:Syndrome(sin-dro-mm)

What it means: The signs and symptoms that characterize a condition.

Where it comes from: From Greek,syndromē, “combination”

Robina Weermeijer/Unsplash

A model of a human heart on an open medical textbook.

Where you might see or hear it: There are some diseases or conditions that have “syndrome” in the name (such asDown syndrome), but the word itself refers to the signs and symptoms that a person with a specific condition usually has.

For example, a child with Down syndrome typically has certain physical features and developmental delays that are common in most people who have the condition.

When you might want to use it: You might use the word syndrome when you are talking about the formal name of a condition that you have—for example, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The word syndrome is also used to talk about a group of signs and symptoms that, when they happen together, are typical of a specific condition or disease.

For example, if you havehigh blood sugar,high cholesterol, and areoverweight, your provider might tell you that you have metabolic syndrome. Having these conditions at the same time increases yourrisk of developing heart disease.

What Does Having Metabolic Syndrome Mean?

SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster.Definition of syndrome.

Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster.Definition of syndrome.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Merriam-Webster.Definition of syndrome.

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