Day 8 - Happy Cushing's Syndrome Awareness Day and Happy Easter!

What is Cushing's?

Cushing's Syndrome is caused by an excess of cortisol production or by excessive use of cortisol or other similar steroid hormone. When too much cortisol is produced in the adrenal glands or an excess is taken in treating other diseases significant changes occur in all of the tissues and organs of the body. All of these effects together are called Cushing's Syndrome. Cushing's disease is the name given to a type of Cushing's caused by too much ACTH production from the pituitary gland.

Spontaneous overproduction of cortisol in the adrenals is divided into two groups: those due to an excess of ACTH and those that are independent of ACTH. When the source of excess cortisol production is a tumor of the adrenal gland itself, then it is not dependent on ACTH.

What are some of the Symptoms of Cushing’s? Symptoms may include but are not limited to the following changes in body habitus: abdominal obesity, face may become more round and have a swollen appearance (moon face), increased size above the collar bone (supraclavicular), protrusion (buffalo hump) at the back of the neck.

Skin and hair changes: bruise easily, purplish stretch marks (striae), red face (plethora), hair loss on head, excessive hair on face, abdomen, chest, and thighs. Depression, mood swings or anxiety. Generalized weakness and fatigue, muscle weakness. Decreased fertility or libido and menstrual disorders in women.

It is important to remember that not everyone who has Cushing's will experience the same symptoms. Also, not everyone who has the classic physical features of Cushing's will actually have the disease. Cushing's is a serious disorder and it is important to carefully exclude it from other disorders and obtain a proper diagnosis.