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Cushing's Disease and Headaches

A rare hormonal disorder of the endocrine system with increased levels of cortisol for extended periods of time is called Cushing's disease or Cushing's syndrome. Headaches are a common side effect of Cushing's disease. The endocrine system is the glandular system in your body that produces various hormones throughout the body. The pituitary gland and the adrenal glands produce the hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is responsible for regulating the cardiovascular system and maintaining a healthy blood pressure. Headaches go hand in hand with Cushing's disease for several reasons.

  1. Signs and Symptoms of Cushing's Disease

    • There are several signs and symptoms of Cushing's disease. Most patients with Cushing's disease will have a rounded face sometimes called "moon face," weight gain in the upper back area and in the abdomen. Other signs and symptoms for Cushing's disease include chronic headaches, irritability, weak muscles, anxiety, depression, excessive body hair (especially on women), cuts that tend to heal slowly, and a tendency to bruise easily. In addition, a patient may find stretch marks on the abdomen, breast area, arms, thighs and buttocks. Also common with Cushing's disease is high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction in men and onset diabetes.

    Causes of Cushing's Disease

    • The primary cause of Cushing's disease is the increased cortisol levels in the body over a significantly long period of time. The pituitary or the adrenal glands may naturally overproduce cortisol, which in turn can cause Cushing's disease. Steroids used for inflammatory diseases will cause cortisol levels to rise above normal levels when used for prolonged periods of time. The increased cortisol levels basically cause a chain reaction, thus leading to many headaches.

    Tumors

    • Three types of tumors are associated with Cushing's disease: a pituitary gland tumor, an adrenal gland tumor and a lung tumor. The pituitary gland tumor is the primary cause of headaches with Cushing's disease. The pituitary gland is located in the brain. The location and variable size of a tumor on the pituitary gland causes increased pressure in the cranial cavity, thus causing headaches. The severity of the headaches depends on the size of the tumor.

    Increased Blood Pressure

    • High cortisol levels may increase a patient's blood pressure. The increased blood pressure may in turn cause severe headaches. A patient may reduce the frequency and severity of headaches with prescribed blood pressure medications. People with high blood pressure should monitor blood pressure at home with a portable blood pressure device, which are widely available in pharmacies.

    Time for a Visit to the Doctor

    • If you are experiencing any signs and symptoms of Cushing's disease, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Testing to identify Cushing's disease include blood, urine and saliva tests and radiological imaging.

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