10 Uniquely Named Syndromes

Medical doctors and psychologists utilize the word “syndrome” to refer to a set of signs or symptoms that have been observed to occur together, pinpointing to a particular disorder, disease, or a social condition. Most syndromes are almost always named after the doctor who first learned or noticed the association of the various symptoms.

However, there are exceptions to the rule. Some of the syndromes are given alternative names, which can be quite interesting. As follows are 10 uniquely named medical and psychological syndromes:

1. Chinese Restaurant Syndrome

   

   So named as the condition, which is also called MSG symptom complex, was first observed in restaurants serving Chinese cuisines. Though medical studies have shown no link whatsoever, it is the popular belief that the monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer, causes symptoms that range from the mild, as headaches and drowsiness, to the more severe ones, as angina and palpitations. Though MSG is present in most Chinese restaurant dishes, it is also contained in common foods like canned soups, frozen dinners, junk foods and instant meals.

2. Achoo Syndrome

   

   A genetically inherited disorder that is medically known as helio-ophthalmic outburst syndrome. A person with this syndrome would experience an uncontrollable fit of continuous sneezes, around 30 and 40 times, when exposed to intense bright lights. The condition gets worse especially when one abruptly moves from an intensely dark to a brilliantly lighted area as when one is driving out from a long tunnel.

3. Restless Legs Syndrome

   

   A disorder marked by the irrepressible urge to keep the legs moving in an effort to relieve odd sensations like burning or crawling sensations. The condition usually worsens as a result of consuming certain medications like anti-depressant, anti-epileptic drugs and caffeine, and can become more pronounced during times of inactivity, causing sleeping problems.

4. Supermale Syndrome

   

   Medically known as XYY syndrome, this is a genetic anomaly wherein a human male, instead of the normal XY chromosomes, gets an extra Y chromosome. The condition does not result in any distinct physical traits or medical problems except for potential, but not necessarily, slow learning and speech development. Human males with this syndrome have been typecast in movies/books as being more prone to exhibit violent behavior or aggression but such depictions are not accurate. In fact, they are as normal as any human male; they have normal physical and sexual development, including normal levels of testosterone and fertility.

5. Stage Fright Syndrome

   

   Medically called paruresis, this syndrome is characterized by a person’s inability to pass urine due to anxiety of the perceived presence of other people, as in a public toilet, somehow a bit similar to performance anxiety. The anxiety, which surprisingly can affect members of both sexes, can be so severe that sufferers already feeling terrible discomfort would still avoid going to the toilet (e.g. during long distance flights). Alternative names of this condition are bashful bladder syndrome, pee shyness syndrome and shy kidney syndrome.

6. Punch drunk syndrome

   

   A neurological disorder medically known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy and alternatively called boxer’s dementia. And as the term suggests, it afflicts mostly boxers but can also affect athletes in contact sports where they repeatedly experience violent head blows and concussions. Symptoms include tremors, loss of coordination, mental deterioration and speech problems.

7. Dancing Eyes Dancing Feet Syndrome

   

   A father comforts his daughter with opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome.

   Image source

   An extremely uncommon neurological disorder, medically known as opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome, usually affecting children less than three years of age.Symptoms include involuntary fast eye movements (opsoclonus), uncontrollable muscle spasms (myoclonus), speech impairment, irritability, listlessness and brain and nerve damage. (For more information go here.)

8. Male Answer Syndrome

   

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   10 (More) Uniquely Named Syndromes »

   So named as this behavioral condition tend to be observed more in men than in women. It describes the compelling urge of men to reply to questions outside their sphere of knowledge and expertise in order to prove their intelligence and masculinity, and to enhance their self-esteem rather than to humiliate themselves by acknowledging their ignorance. You may marvel at why men who are unable to settle their credit card debts have suggestions on how to settle the national debt; or at why men with family relationship problems have strategies on how to achieve peace in the Middle East. Now you know why!

9. Alien Hand Syndrome

   

   Also known as Dr. Strangelove syndrome. A person with this rather unusual syndrome feels that one of his hands acts in a manner beyond his voluntary control, as if it is possessed by an outside force or spirit. This may occur in cases when one had undergone a surgical division of the two brain hemispheres, or had suffered stroke or brain trauma.

10. Broken Heart Syndrome

    

    Medically called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It describes the abrupt weakening of the heart muscle marked by symptoms comparable to a heart attack, brought about by severe emotional stress such as death of a spouse or loss of a job. This is generally a temporary condition wherein the heart muscle slowly regains normal functioning after a few months.

Click the following for more unusually named medical/psychological conditions:

·         10 Uniquely Named Syndromes 2

·         10 Syndromes Named After Literary Characters

·         10 Behavioral Complexes that Make Life Complicated