- Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Arteriovenous Malformations
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Back Pain
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Tumors
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Childhood Brain Tumors
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
- Ischemic Stroke
- Memory
- Meningitis
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Movement Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuroblastoma
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome
- Speech and Language Problems in Children
- Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attack
- Tremor
- Walking Problems
- West Nile Virus
- A1C
- Blood Glucose
- Diabetes
- Diabetes and Pregnancy
- Diabetes Complications
- Diabetes in Children and Teens
- Diabetes Medicines
- Diabetes Type 1
- Diabetes Type 2
- Diabetic Diet
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- Diabetic Nerve Problems
- How to Prevent Diabetes
- Hyperglycemia
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Prediabetes
- Abortion
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Diseases
- Breast Reconstruction
- Breastfeeding
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Cesarean Delivery
- Childbirth
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Female Infertility
- Health Problems in Pregnancy
- High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
- HIV and Pregnancy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- HPV
- Hysterectomy
- Infections and Pregnancy
- Mammography
- Mastectomy
- Menopause
- Menstruation
- Miscarriage
- Ovarian Cancer
- Ovarian Cysts
- Ovarian Disorders
- Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Pelvic Pain
- Period Pain
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Drug Use
- Pregnancy and Opioids
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Prenatal Care
- Prenatal Testing
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
- Sexual Problems in Women
- Stillbirth
- Teenage Pregnancy
- Trichomoniasis
- Tubal Ligation
- Uterine Cancer
- Uterine Diseases
- Uterine Fibroids
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- Vaginal Diseases
- Vaginitis
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- Yeast Infections
- Alcohol
- Calcium
- Child Nutrition
- Cholesterol
- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
- Cholesterol Medicines
- DASH Eating Plan
- Eating Disorders
- Food Allergy
- HDL: The “Good” Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
- How to Lower Cholesterol
- How to Lower Cholesterol with Diet
- Infant and Newborn Nutrition
- LDL: The “Bad” Cholesterol
- Malabsorption Syndromes
- Nutrition for Older Adults
- Pregnancy and Nutrition
- Toddler Nutrition
- Triglycerides
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Brain Malformations
- Cerebral Palsy
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
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- Cystic Fibrosis
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- Vaccines
- Viral Infections
- Adhesions
- Ankle Injuries and Disorders
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- Burns
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- Concussion
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- Dislocations
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- Foot Injuries and Disorders
- Fractures
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- Rotator Cuff Injuries
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- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Wrist Injuries and Disorders
- Acute Bronchitis
- Bird Flu
- Chronic Bronchitis
- COPD
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- Croup
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- Male Infertility
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- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate Diseases
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- Sexual Problems in Men
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- Abdominal Pain
- Bad Breath
- Bleeding
- Breathing Problems
- Bruises
- Chest Pain
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- Chronic Pain
- Constipation
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness and Vertigo
- Edema
- Fainting
- Fever
- Frostbite
- Gas
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Heat Illness
- Hives
- Hypothermia
- Indigestion
- Itching
- Jaundice
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Pain
- Rare Diseases
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Sciatica
- Speech and Communication Disorders
- Stuttering
Cushing’s Syndrome
Summary
Cushing’s syndrome is a hormonal disorder. The cause is long-term exposure to too much cortisol, a hormone that your adrenal gland makes. Sometimes, taking synthetic hormone medicine to treat an inflammatory disease leads to Cushing’s. Some kinds of tumors produce a hormone that can cause your body to make too much cortisol.
Cushing’s syndrome is rare. Some symptoms are:
- Upper body obesity
- Thin arms and legs
- Severe fatigue and muscle weakness
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- Easy bruising
Lab tests can show if you have it and find the cause. Your treatment will depend on why you have too much cortisol. If it is because you have been taking synthetic hormones, a lower dose may control your symptoms. If the cause is a tumor, surgery and other therapies may be needed.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Encyclopedia
- 17-hydroxycorticosteroids urine test Medical Encyclopedia
- Cortisol level Medical Encyclopedia
- Hump on upper back (dorsocervical fat pad) Medical Encyclopedia
Patient Handouts
- ACTH blood test Medical Encyclopedia
- Cortisol – urine Medical Encyclopedia
- Cushing disease Medical Encyclopedia
- Cushing syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Cushing syndrome due to adrenal tumor Medical Encyclopedia
- Dexamethasone suppression test Medical Encyclopedia
- Ectopic Cushing syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Exogenous Cushing syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
Diagnosis and Tests
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) National Library of Medicine
- Cortisol Test National Library of Medicine
- How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Cushing’s Syndrome? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Cushing Syndrome National Institutes of Health
Genetics
- Cushing disease: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Children
- Cushing Syndrome (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
Start Here
- Cushing’s Syndrome National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Cushing’s Syndrome American Academy of Family Physicians
- Cushing’s Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Related Issues
- Cushing’s Syndrome: Other FAQs Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Reference Desk
- Endocrine System (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
Find an Expert
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Find an Endocrinologist Endocrine Society
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Treatments and Therapies
- Is There a Cure for Cushing’s Syndrome? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Medications to Treat Cushing’s Cushing’s Support and Research Foundation
- What Are the Treatments for Cushing’s Syndrome? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Statistics and Research
- NIH Researchers Find Potential Genetic Cause of Cushing Syndrome Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Journal Articles
Symptoms
- What Are the Symptoms of Cushing’s Syndrome? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Specifics
- What Causes Cushing’s Syndrome? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development