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Consequences and Symptoms of Cushing's Disease

Cushing's disease, or syndrome, is a disorder that is caused by repeated and prolonged exposure to high levels of the cortisol hormone. The use of oral corticosteroid medications is the most common cause of Cushing's disease. However, the disease sometimes occurs when an individual's body produces excess cortisol. Early treatment of Cushing's disease may reverse some of the symptoms.

  1. Appearance Changes

    • According to uptodate.com, the most common symptom of Cushing's disease is weight gain. Specifically, individuals with Cushing's disease may develop extra fatty tissue between the shoulders and around the midsection. Also, their face may become rounder and acne may be present. Purple or pink stretch marks may appear on the skin and the skin may become more fragile. Women with Cushing's syndrome often develop symptoms associated with excess androgen (male) hormones. The result of excess androgen hormones generally include thicker body and facial hair as well as oily, acne-prone skin.

    Fatigue and Weakness

    • Cushing's disease may cause an individual to feel fatigued. Also, muscles may become weaker. Specifically, the upper arm and legs muscles may become thin and weak. Individuals with Cushing's disease may notice that they have more difficulty getting out of chairs due to increased muscle weakness in the legs.

    Other Symptoms

    • Individuals with Cushing's disease bruise easily. They may also heal slowly. Many experience anxiety and depression. Females may stop having menstrual periods, and men may develop erectile dysfunction. In addition, cortisol interferes with the immune system and in turn causes infections to occur more frequently.

    High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease

    • Excess cortisol may trigger high blood pressure. It may also make blood pressure worse in individuals who already have high blood pressure. High blood pressure then puts more stress on the heart, which may in time result in heart disease.

    Bone Loss

    • Bone loss may occur as a consequence of Cushing's disease. The excess cortisol can damage bones and cause osteoporosis. Overtime the bones may thin so much that some of the bones fracture. Usually the bones most affected are those of the spine, ribs and long bones in the legs.

    Diabetes

    • Some individuals may develop diabetes as a consequence of Cushing's. Large amounts of cortisol can cause glucose levels to soar. Thus, cortisol may cause glucose intolerance which over time can develop into diabetes. Glucose intolerance is a condition when the body produces enough insulin, but the body no longer reacts to the insulin properly.

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