Have you ever heard of Cushing's syndrome?
The secret behind this syndrome lies in an imbalance in a vital hormone (cortisol), which plays an important role in regulating many body functions, turning it into an enemy that slowly attacks your body.
So if you would like to know more information about Cushing's Syndrome, its causes, and treatment methods, follow this article with me.
What is Cushing's syndrome?
Cushing's syndrome, also known as hypercortisolism, is a hormonal disorder caused by abnormally high levels of the hormone cortisol.
Cortisol is a steroid hormone, and is known as the stress hormone, because The body secretes it in abundance at those times.
- Increased heart rate.
- Raising blood pressure.
- Regulating blood sugar level.
- Regulate breathing.
- Increased muscle tension.
Cortisol also helps temporarily shut down some systems your body doesn't need during times of high stress, such as digestion and reproduction.
You may be more likely to develop this syndrome if you take high doses of steroid medications for a long time.
What are the causes of Cushing's syndrome?
This syndrome may occur when levels of the hormone cortisol rise in the body for a long period.
- Stress response
This syndrome may result from high levels of stress, or a psychological condition, such as: الاكتئاب.
- الكورتيكوستيرويدات
Use of corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone, in high doses for long periods is the most common cause of this syndrome.
Your doctor may prescribe these medications to treat a wide range of autoimmune diseases, such as:
- Lupus.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Sarcoidosis.
- Chronic asthma.
- Eczema.
It also contributes to the treatment of many other diseases that cause chronic inflammation, such as intestinal inflammation.
- Tumors
Many types of tumors may also lead to increased production of the hormone cortisol, leading to this syndrome, e.g
- Pituitary gland tumors
When this tumor occurs, the pituitary gland secretes large amounts of adrenocorticotropic hormone, which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce the hormone cortisol.
- Disorder or tumor of the adrenal gland
A disorder or tumor of the adrenal gland may produce excess amounts of the hormone cortisol, which may cause Cushing's syndrome.
- Lung, pancreas, and thyroid tumors
These tumors may increase the production of adrenocorticotropic hormone, which leads to increased production of cortisol.
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Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome?
Cushing's syndrome has some unique symptoms, as well as others that may indicate a variety of other syndromes.
Symptoms often appear gradually and include the following
- Unintended weight gain.
- Accumulation of fat, especially in the abdomen and face, causing a round, moon-shaped face.
- Round red face.
- Wounds that do not heal well.
- High blood pressure.
- Muscle and bone weakness.
- Extreme fatigue.
- داء السكري.
- Excessive hair growth on the neck, face, chest, abdomen, breasts, and thighs.
- Increased fat around the neck, or a fatty bump between the shoulders.
- Mood swings, such as feeling irritable, anxious, and depressed.
- Irregular or cessation of the menstrual cycle in women.
- Decreased sexual desire.
- Purple stretch marks on the breasts, arms, abdomen, and thighs.
- الوذمة.
- Thinning of the skin and easy bruising.
- Excessive sweating.
- Back pain.
- young love.
- Increase in the number of infections.
- Increased urination.
Cushing's syndrome is rare in children, but if a child develops it, the main symptoms may be obesity and short stature for his age.
What are the types of Cushing's syndrome?
There are two types of Cushing's syndrome, and both have similar symptoms, but the difference between them lies in the cause of the occurrence, which includes:
- Extrinsic Cushing's syndrome
The most common cause of this type is the use of corticosteroid medications for long periods and in high doses, such as prednisone.
- Chronic asthma.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Eczema.
- Sarcoidosis.
It is also used to suppress the immune system after organ transplantation.
- Internal Cushing's syndrome
This type of Cushing's syndrome is rare, and its symptoms usually appear slowly.
The hormone cortisol is produced in this type of the following
- Tumors, such as
- Tumors of the pituitary gland known as Cushing's disease.
- Lung, pancreas, and thyroid tumors.
A noncancerous tumor may usually produce large amounts of adrenocorticotropic hormone, which contributes to stimulating the adrenal gland to produce the hormone cortisol.
- Adrenal gland disorder
A tumor or disorder of the adrenal gland may produce too much cortisol, causing Cushing's syndrome.
How is Cushing's syndrome diagnosed?
Cushing's syndrome can be very difficult to diagnose because many of its symptoms, such as weight gain or fatigue, may have other causes.
The doctor may ask you to undergo the following tests
24-hour urinary cortisol test
This test measures the amount of cortisol in micrograms in urine over a 24-hour period.
Midnight salivary cortisol test
Cortisol levels in the body decrease late at night.
Low dose dexamethasone suppression test
This test determines whether your adrenal glands are responding to dexamethasone by suppressing the amount of cortisol they secrete. If you have this syndrome, your cortisol levels will remain high.
blood test
This test is used to determine the levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone in your blood. If levels are low, you may have an adrenal gland tumor.
High-dose dexamethasone suppression test
This test is similar to the low-dose test, but your doctor may use higher doses of dexamethasone.
When your doctor is sure you have Cushing's syndrome, he or she may want to determine the cause.
Computed tomography or abdominal magnetic resonance imaging
The doctor uses this test;
Magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary gland
This test takes pictures of the pituitary gland to check for a tumor.
Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus biopsy
This examination reveals the source of adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion, and its accuracy ranges from 95% to 98%.
Computed tomography of the chest
The doctor performs this examination;
How to treat Cushing's syndrome?
The goal of treating Cushing's syndrome is to reduce cortisol levels in the body, and the type of treatment depends on the underlying cause of this syndrome and the severity of its symptoms.
Treatment options include the following
- pharmaceutical
If your condition is caused by taking steroid medications, your doctor may advise you to reduce the dose, or may suggest another non-steroidal alternative treatment.
The doctor may also prescribe some medications that help regulate the level of cortisol, as some medications may reduce the production of cortisol in the adrenal gland, or the production of adrenocorticotropic hormone in the pituitary gland.
Examples of these medications are
- Ketoconazole.
- Mitotan.
- metyrapone.
- pasireotide.
- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is necessary if the tumor is cancerous and has spread to other parts of the body.
- Radiotherapy
If the cause of this syndrome is a pituitary tumor, your doctor may recommend surgery For radiotherapy For six weeks, it may take several years for cortisol levels to return to normal.
- Surgery
Surgery for pituitary and adrenal tumors may be effective.
If this syndrome is treated properly, the disease may disappear after two to eighteen months.
Some lifestyle and diet changes may help you control cortisol levels and prevent complications.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- ممارسة التمارين الرياضية بانتظام.
- Get at least 7 hours of quality sleep every night.
- Control blood sugar levels.
- Get enough calcium and vitamin D.
- Limit sodium intake.
Book your consultation now at Diabetes and Endocrinology Center At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.
Complications of neglecting treatment of Cushing's syndrome?
If this syndrome is left untreated, it can lead to a variety of potentially serious health problems, including:
- High blood pressure.
- ضمور العضلات.
- داء السكري من النوع الثاني.
- Recurrent infections.
- stroke.
- Heart attacks.
- الاكتئاب.
- القلق.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- High cholesterol.
- Memory problems.
- زيادة الوزن.
- هشاشة العظام.
- جلطات الدم.
Frequently asked questions about Cushing's syndrome
If you have Cushing's syndrome, you may seek answers to some questions related to this syndrome, such as:
Does Cushing's syndrome affect pregnancy?
Yes, pregnancy is rare in women with Cushing's syndrome, because excessive secretion of cortisol and androgens suppress the secretion of gonadotropins.
Does Cushing's syndrome affect weight?
Yes, rapid weight gain is the most common symptom of this syndrome, because it may lead to the accumulation of fat, especially in the abdomen and face, causing a round face similar to the shape of the moon.
Does Cushing's syndrome cause psychological disorders?
Yes, as it may lead to mood swings, such as irritability, anxiety, and depression, in addition to cognitive impairment, such as difficulty concentrating and memory problems.
In conclusion, I now realize, dear reader, what Cushing's syndrome is?
Therefore, Al Mousa Specialist Hospital may help you treat this difficult-to-bear syndrome. With appropriate treatment, there may be a cure for this health problem.
Sources
Everything to Know About Cushing Syndrome – healthline
Cushing Syndrome – clevelandclinic
