Cushing's syndrome
The pattern of symptoms in Cushing's syndrome can be highly unpredictable.
In some cases, the symptoms can develop quickly and be very severe. In other cases, the symptoms can develop gradually and be much milder.
Weight gain is the most common symptom of Cushing's syndrome, particularly on the chest, stomach and face. It occurs because cortisol causes fat to be redistributed to these areas.
People with Cushing's syndrome tend to have:
Children who develop Cushing's syndrome tend to be Obesity and have slow growth rates.
Symptoms that affect the skin include:
People with Cushing's syndrome often have muscle weakness in their hips, shoulders, arms and legs.
Too much cortisol can also cause the bones to become weakened or brittle (osteoporosis) . This may lead to problems, including:
Depression is common in people with Cushing's syndrome. It'salso common to feel unusually tired all the time, which can contribute to feelings of depression.
People with Cushing's syndrome may also experience rapid mood swingsor have emotional reactions that may seem inappropriate, such as laughing or crying for no apparent reason.
Other symptoms of Cushing's syndrome include:
Cushing's syndrome is a collection of symptoms that develop as the result of very high levels of a hormone called cortisol in the body.
The pattern of symptoms in Cushing's syndrome can be highly unpredictable. The symptoms can vary from being very mild to very severe.
Iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome is more common than endogenous Cushing's syndrome. Iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome is usually related to corticosteroid use.
Diagnosing Cushing's syndrome can often be challenging, particularly when the symptoms are mild.
Treatment for Cushing's syndrome will depend on what is causing the high levels of cortisol to accumulate in your body.