Cushing's Syndrome

Also called: Hypercortisolism

Cushing's syndrome is a hormonal disorder. The cause is long-term exposure to too much cortisol, a hormone that your adrenal gland makes. Sometimes, taking synthetic hormone medicine to treat an inflammatory disease leads to Cushing's. Some kinds of tumors produce a hormone that can cause your body to make too much cortisol.

Cushing's syndrome is rare. Some symptoms are

Upper body obesity
Thin arms and legs
Severe fatigue and muscle weakness
High blood pressure
High blood sugar
Easy bruising

Lab tests can show if you have it and find the cause. Your treatment will depend on why you have too much cortisol. If it is because you have been taking synthetic hormones, a lower dose may control your symptoms. If the cause is a tumor, surgery and other therapies may be needed.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Symptoms of Cushing's Syndrome

The following features are indicative of Cushing's Syndrome:

high blood pressure
abdominal obesity but with thin arms and legs
reddish stretch marks, a round red face
a fat lump between the shoulders
weak muscles
weak bones
acne
fragile skin
women may have more hair and irregular menstruation
changes in mood
headache
chronic feeling of tiredness

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Common Causes of Cushing's Syndrome

The following are the most common causes of Cushing's Syndrome:

excess production of cortisol hormone

Risk Factors for Cushing's Syndrome

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Cushing's Syndrome:

repeated injections for joint pain, bursitis and back pain

Prevention of Cushing's Syndrome

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Cushing's Syndrome. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:

take hot baths
monitor mental health
eat nutritious food

Occurrence of Cushing's Syndrome

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Cushing's Syndrome cases seen each year worldwide:

Common between 1 - 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Cushing's Syndrome most commonly occurs in the following age group:

Aged between 20-35 years

Common Gender

Cushing's Syndrome can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Cushing's Syndrome:

Urine and blood tests: To measure hormone levels in the urine and blood and check whether body is producing excessive cortisol
Saliva test: To check the cortisol levels throughout the day
Imaging tests: To produce images of the pituitary and adrenal glands and to detect abnormalities such as tumors
Petrosal sinus sampling: To determine whether the cause of endogenous Cushing syndrome is rooted in the pituitary or somewhere else

Doctor for Diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Cushing's Syndrome:

Endocrinologist

Complications of Cushing's Syndrome if untreated

Yes, Cushing's Syndrome causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Cushing's Syndrome is left untreated:

osteoporosis
rib fractures and fractures of the bones in the feet
high blood pressure
type 2 diabetes
frequent or unusual infections
loss of muscle mass and strength

Procedures for Treatment of Cushing's Syndrome

The following procedures are used to treat Cushing's Syndrome:

Surgery: To remove the tumor surgically
Radiation therapy: To kill cancer cells

Self-care for Cushing's Syndrome

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Cushing's Syndrome:

Increase physical activities slowly: Helps to treat condition more efficiently
Eat sensibly: Helps strengthening bones, counteracting the bone density loss

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Cushing's Syndrome

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Cushing's Syndrome:

Massage therapy: Helps alleviating some of the muscle and joint pain
Do low-impact exercises: Helps alleviating some of the muscle and joint pain
Tai chi therapy: Helps alleviating some of the muscle and joint pain

Time for Treatment of Cushing's Syndrome

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Cushing's Syndrome to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:

More than 1 year

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.

This page provides information for Cushing's Syndrome.

Adrenal Gland Disorders

The adrenal glands are small glands located on top of each ...

Adrenal Gland Disorders

Cushing's Syndrome

Symptoms of Cushing's Syndrome

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Common Causes of Cushing's Syndrome

Risk Factors for Cushing's Syndrome

Prevention of Cushing's Syndrome

Occurrence of Cushing's Syndrome

Number of Cases

Common Age Group

Common Gender

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome

Doctor for Diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome

Complications of Cushing's Syndrome if untreated

Procedures for Treatment of Cushing's Syndrome

Self-care for Cushing's Syndrome

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Cushing's Syndrome

Time for Treatment of Cushing's Syndrome

Related Topics

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Related Topics

Adrenal Gland Disorders

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