Cushing’s Syndrome Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Cushing’s syndrome is a collection of symptoms that occur due to increased levels of the hormone cortisol. Under normal conditions, the hormone cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands (glands that are located close to the kidneys).
The hormone cortisol is often called the stress hormone because it is released by the body in response to stress. This hormone functions to increase blood sugar, helps increase the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, and suppresses the immune system.
Symptom
Significant weight gain is a major sign of Cushing’s syndrome. There is also an accumulation of fat, especially in the abdomen, face and nape. The accumulation of fat on the face causes the face to look round like the moon ( moon face ).
Symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome may also appear on the skin. The skin becomes thin and bleeds easily, purplish stretch marks appear on the abdomen and legs, swollen feet, and excessive hair growth.
Muscles and bones are also affected by Cushing’s syndrome. Muscles become weak. Bones are brittle, prone to osteoporosis, and break easily.
In addition, Cushing’s syndrome can affect a person’s psyche. People with this disease are more prone to depression and anxiety. Sexual disorders in the form of decreased libido and erectile dysfunction can occur.
People with this disease also tend to have high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. In addition, they are also easily thirsty and sweaty.
Reason
There are many causes of Cushing’s syndrome. But in general, the causes are divided into two, namely:
- Exogenous causes (from outside the body)
The existence of the hormone cortisol from outside the body that enters the body causes Cushing’s syndrome. This generally occurs in people who take corticosteroid drugs (eg prednisone, dexamethasone, or methylprednisolone) for a long time. People who need corticosteroids in the long term include people with asthma, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune diseases.
- Endogenous causes (from within the body)
Generally, the endogenous cause of Cushing’s syndrome is the presence of a tumor that stimulates the adrenal glands to produce the hormone cortisol in greater quantities than it should. These tumors can originate in the pituitary in the brain (known as Cushing’s disease), can also originate in the pancreas or lungs.
Diagnosis
To determine the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome, the patient will be referred to a specialist in internal medicine, an endocrinologist. The doctor will suggest blood or urine tests to measure cortisol levels. If an increase in cortisol levels is found, it can be ascertained that the person does have Cushing’s syndrome.
Patients with Cushing’s syndrome need to do some further tests to find out the cause. These tests can be in the form of blood tests to assess levels of the hormone ACTH ( adrenocorticotropin hormone ), CT scans, MRIs, and so on.
Treatment
Treatment for Cushing’s syndrome depends on the cause. But in general, the goal of treatment is to lower blood levels of the hormone cortisol.
If the cause of Cushing’s syndrome is long-term use of corticosteroids for asthma or autoimmune disease, the treatment is carried out by replacing the corticosteroid with another drug that does not cause an increase in the hormone cortisol.
If the cause is a tumor, then the treatment is surgery to remove the tumor.
Prevention
There is nothing that can be done to completely prevent Cushing’s syndrome. If a person needs to take corticosteroids on a long-term basis for medical indications, then these corticosteroids must be consumed according to the doctor’s instructions so that Cushing’s syndrome can be prevented or detected early.