Cushing syndrome is a highly intricate hormonal disorder that affects various parts of the body, arising from an overproduction of hormones. The typical symptoms include skin thinning, muscle weakness, weight gain, easy bruising, bone fragility, facial swelling, and in women, the absence of menstrual cycles. Interestingly, one of the leading causes of Cushing syndrome is the use of medications similar to cortisol for treating different health conditions. Other instances of the syndrome occur due to the body's excess cortisol production, often resulting from:- An abnormal growth in the pituitary gland that can stimulate the adrenal glands;- A tumor or abnormal growth within the adrenal glands themselves, which leads to cortisol production; or- Hormone production elsewhere in the body that either directly or indirectly prompts the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol.The condition was first detailed by the neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing (1869-1939), who identified it as resulting from a benign pituitary tumor that secretes ACTH (AdrenoCorticoTropic Hormone). This tumor causes the adrenal glands to produce excessive amounts of cortisol.
