Left untreated, Cushing syndrome can result in exaggerated facial roundness, weight gain around the midsection and upper back, thinning of the arms and legs, easy bruising, and stretch marks.
Cushing syndrome occurs when your body has too much of the hormone cortisol over time. This can result from taking oral corticosteroid medication. Or your body might produce too much cortisol.
Too much cortisol can cause some of the hallmark signs of Cushing syndrome — a fatty hump between your shoulders, a rounded face, and pink or purple stretch marks on your skin. Cushing syndrome can also result in high blood pressure, bone loss and, on occasion, type 2 diabetes.
Treatments for Cushing syndrome can return your body's cortisol levels to normal and improve your symptoms. The earlier treatment begins, the better your chances for recovery.
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Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of Cushing syndrome can vary depending on the levels of excess cortisol.
Common signs and symptoms of Cushing syndrome
- Weight gain and fatty tissue deposits, particularly around the midsection and upper back, in the face [moon face], and between the shoulders [buffalo hump]
- Pink or purple stretch marks [striae] on the skin of the abdomen, thighs, breasts and arms
- Thinning, fragile skin that bruises easily
- Slow healing of cuts, insect bites and infections
- Acne
Signs and symptoms women with Cushing syndrome may experience
- Thicker or more visible body and facial hair [hirsutism]
- Irregular or absent menstrual periods
Signs and symptoms men with Cushing syndrome may experience
- Decreased sex drive
- Decreased fertility
- Erectile dysfunction
Other possible signs and symptoms of Cushing syndrome
- Severe fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Depression, anxiety and irritability
- Loss of emotional control
- Cognitive difficulties
- New or worsened high blood pressure
- Headache
- Infections
- Skin darkening
- Bone loss, leading to fractures over time
- In children, impaired growth
When to see a doctor
Contact your doctor if you have symptoms that suggest Cushing syndrome, especially if you're taking corticosteroid medication to treat a condition such as asthma, arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease.
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What is Cushing's syndrome [hypercortisolism]?
Cushing's syndrome is a disease caused by increased production of cortisol, or by excessive use of cortisol or other steroid hormones.
Cushing's syndrome is a condition that results from an excess of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. The most common cause of Cushing's syndrome is Cushing's disease, caused by excessive production of the hormone ACTH by the pituitary gland. ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol.
Treatment depends upon the cause of the disorder. In Cushing's syndrome caused by a tumor secreting ACTH, removal of the tumor is the best way to treat the Cushing's syndrome. Cortisol replacement therapy is needed after surgery until cortisol production resumes. In some cases, life-long therapy with cortisone drugs becomes necessary.Which of the following would most likely cause Cushing syndrome?
Which condition is a predisposing factor for Cushing's syndrome?
Is being male a risk factor for Cushing's disease?