Cushing's syndrome is a rare hormonal problem. It happens when there is too much of the hormone cortisol in your body. It may be caused by using steroid medicine for a long time. Having tumors on the pituitary gland or adrenal glands can also cause it.
Symptoms often appear slowly over time. They may include weight gain, skin changes (such as bruising, acne, or stretch marks), and muscle and bone weakness. Cushing's syndrome can also cause sex hormone changes. In women, this can cause irregular periods and facial hair growth. In men, it can cause erection problems.
Treatment depends on the cause of the syndrome. If it's caused by steroid medicine, your doctor may change the amount of medicine you take. If it's caused by tumors on the pituitary or adrenal glands, your doctor may treat it with surgery, medicine, or radiation.
Cushing's syndrome is a disorder that happens when you have too much cortisol in your blood. Cortisol is a hormone that helps control blood pressure and metabolism. Cushing's syndrome can lead to serious health problems. But treatment can often help.
Cushing's syndrome can be caused by taking steroid medicines. It can also happen if you have a tumor that causes the adrenal gland to make too much cortisol.
The symptoms of Cushing's syndrome vary and often appear slowly over time. You may have:
Cushing's syndrome can also lead to other health problems, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, glaucoma, and cataracts.
If long-term use of steroid medicine is the cause of Cushing's syndrome:
If a pituitary tumor is the cause:
If an adrenal tumor is the cause:
If a tumor of the lungs or another organ is the cause, the tumor will be removed or treated with radiation or medicines.
Cushing's syndrome can be hard to diagnose because many things can make your cortisol level higher than normal. You may need to see a doctor who specializes in hormone disorders (endocrinologist) to diagnose or treat Cushing's syndrome.
To find out if you have Cushing's syndrome, a doctor will:
A doctor can usually find out from these exams if steroid medicine is causing the problem.
If you don't take steroid medicine or your doctor thinks something other than medicine is causing your symptoms, you may have tests, such as:
To avoid health problems from Cushing's syndrome, there are many things you can do.
The most common cause is taking steroid medicines, such as prednisone, for a long time. These medicines act like cortisol in your body. They are used to treat many diseases, including lupus, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis. They are also used after an organ transplant.
You can also get Cushing's syndrome because your body makes too much cortisol. This can happen if you have:
Cushing's syndrome is a rare problem that happens when you have too much of the hormone cortisol in your body. Cortisol is especially important in controlling blood pressure and metabolism. But it affects almost every area of your body.
Normally, your body keeps the level of cortisol in balance through a complex system that involves three glands.
If something upsets this system, your cortisol level can get too high. If it's high for too long, it can cause symptoms and can lead to serious problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and osteoporosis.
Another name for Cushing's syndrome is hypercortisolism.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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