Symptoms and Diagnosis of Cushing’s Syndrome

Prolonged exposure of the tissues of the body to the cortisol hormone leads to a hormonal disorder called Cushing’s syndrome. Though this condition is rare, it mostly affects adults aged between 20 and 50. It can also affect people suffering from type 2 diabetes and obesity. Those who suffer from high BP can also be prone to developing the disorder.

General symptoms of this disease include increased fat in the neck region, slender legs and arms and a rounded face. Children who may be affected by this condition may be obese and have slower growth rates when compared to their counterparts. Other signs include fragile and thin skin which may heal slowly when bruised. There may be bluish or pink stretch marks on areas such as thighs, abdomen, arms and breasts. People suffering from this condition may also suffer from fractures easily as their bones may be weak.

Excess hair growth can be noticed on the face, chest and thigh areas in women suffering from this condition. They may also have irregular menstrual periods which can stop after a period of time. Men may suffer from disinterest in sex or decreased fertility. They can also suffer from erectile dysfunction. Other notable symptoms of this condition include weak muscle, severe fatigue, high blood glucose, high BP, anxiety and depression and others.

Cushing’s syndrome can also develop due to long term use of glucocorticoids—steroid hormones for various problems such as lupus, asthma, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

Glucocorticoids may also be prescribed on people who have undergone a surgery to prevent the body from rejecting the new tissue or organ and for suppressing the immune system.

Lab tests, physical examination and a review of the person’s medical history will be recommended for diagnosis of the Cushing’s syndrome. Tumors can be located through X rays of the pituitary or adrenal glands. Several tests may be needed for diagnosing this syndrome. The most popular tests for checking the existence of Cushing’s syndrome are the late nigh salivary cortisol, 24-hour urinary free cortisol test and late-night salivary cortisol. There are other tests that may be performed to differentiate Cushing’s syndrome from other conditions resulting owing to excess cortisol.