It is possible for people to struggle with high blood pressure and weight gain for no clear reason. These symptoms might point to a condition known as Cushing Syndrome. This condition affects about 2 to 3 people per million each year.
Cushing syndrome occurs when the body produces too much cortisol, a hormone that helps to regulate various bodily functions like metabolism, blood pressure, and immune response. When cortisol levels are too high for extended periods, people may experience weight gain around their face and abdomen.
Background of Cushing Syndrome
The condition Cushing Syndrome is named after Dr. Harvey Cushing, a pioneering American surgeon who studied this condition in detail in the early 1930s. Cushing discovered that many patients with tumors in their pituitary glands had high cortisol levels. His research helped establish this syndrome as a serious medical issue.
Although Cushing syndrome is a rate, its effects are profound. It mostly affects adults between 20 and 50 years old and it’s more common in women than men.
The Process of Cushing Syndrome
This syndrome happens when the body makes too many cortisol hormones. The cortisol is typically produced by small glands on top of the kidneys called the adrenal glands. However, making cortisol starts from the brain. The hypothalamus sends a signal to another part of the brain called the pituitary gland, telling it to release a hormone called the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH travels to the adrenal glands, where it tells them to produce cortisol.
Sometimes, a noncancerous tumor in the pituitary gland makes too much ACTH, which causes the adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol. Tumors on the adrenal glands themselves or even on other parts of the body like the lungs, can cause cortisol production. When there’s too much cortisol in the body for a long time it may cause weight gain, and other symptoms which develop slowly.
Symptoms of Cushing Syndrome
- Weight gain
- Fatty deposits (buffalo hump)
- Thinning skin
- Stretch marks
- Muscle weakness
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- Mood changes
- Bone loss
- Slower healing
- Irregular menstruation
- Decreased fertility in men
- Excessive hair growth
- Fatigue
Causes of Cushing Syndrome
The main cause of Cushing syndrome is when there’s a lot of cortisol in the body. This increase in cortisol levels can be caused by things inside or outside the body.
Causes Inside the Body (Endogenous Causes)
Pituitary tumor: A small, noncancerous tumor can form in the pituitary gland (a gland in the brain) which can make too much of cortisol. This is called ACTH, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone. This extra ACTH tells the adrenal glands to make more cortisol than needed, which causes Cushing syndrome.
Tumors in other parts of the body: Sometimes, tumors outside the brain; often in the lungs or pancreas, can produce ACTH. When that happens, it causes the adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol.
Adrenal tumors: Tumors in the adrenal glands where the cortisol is made, can make too much cortisol directly, without needing ACTH from the pituitary gland.
Causes Outside The Body (Exogenous Causes)
Long-term use of corticosteroid medication: Using corticosteroid drugs like Prednisone for a long time can cause Cushing syndrome. These drugs act like cortisol in the body and are often prescribed for asthma and arthritis patients. If taken for too long, the drug can lead to the same symptoms as high cortisol levels.
Conclusion
Cushing syndrome is a rare condition where the body has too much of a hormone called cortisol. This can cause symptoms like unexpected weight gain, high blood pressure, and weak muscles.
The extra cortisol can come from growths (tumors) in glands in the body or from taking certain medicines for a long time. Although it’s uncommon, Cushing syndrome has serious effects that need proper medical care.
