When your body makes too much Cushing's syndrome, a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol. Also known as hypercortisolism, it doesn't just mean you're stressed—it means your body's natural stress system is broken. Cortisol is supposed to help you handle pressure, control blood sugar, and reduce inflammation. But when it's stuck on high, it starts eating away at your muscles, bones, skin, and even your mood.
This isn't rare. Many cases come from long-term steroid use, like prednisone for asthma, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis. But the real trouble starts when your body makes too much on its own. That usually means a pituitary adenoma, a benign tumor in the brain that tricks your adrenal glands into overproducing cortisol. Or it could be an adrenal tumor, a growth on the adrenal gland itself that pumps out excess hormone. These aren't sci-fi scenarios—they're real, diagnosable, and treatable.
People with Cushing's syndrome often look different. Rapid weight gain around the belly and face, thin arms and legs, purple stretch marks, easy bruising, and acne are common. But it's not just about looks. Muscle weakness makes climbing stairs hard. High blood pressure and diabetes show up out of nowhere. Women might stop getting periods. Men lose libido. Depression and memory problems? Those are part of it too. It's not just one symptom—it's your whole system screaming for balance.
What you'll find here isn't just textbook definitions. These posts dive into the real-world messiness: how steroid treatments can accidentally trigger it, why some people are misdiagnosed for years, how doctors spot the difference between a tumor and medication side effects, and what happens after diagnosis. You'll see how this condition connects to things like bone loss, heart risks, and even how your body reacts to infection. No fluff. No jargon. Just what matters when you're trying to figure out if what you're feeling is normal—or something deeper.
Cushing’s syndrome results from excess cortisol and requires prompt treatment. Surgery is the primary cure for endogenous cases caused by pituitary or adrenal tumors, with high success rates when performed at specialized centers.
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