What are the Risk Factors for Cushing's Syndrome?

Cushing’s Syndrome: Causes, Risk Factors & Symptoms

High levels of the hormone cortisol disrupt overall body systems and result in a hormonal disorder called Cushing’s syndrome (hypercortisolism). An overdose of corticosteroids, genetic syndromes, family history, and an adrenal tumour may trigger this syndrome.

Read on to identify risk factors for Cushing's syndrome and common symptoms to opt for the treatment of managing cortisol levels.

Risk Factors for Cushing’s Syndrome

Here are the key risk factors for developing Cushing’s syndrome:

1. The primary risk factor is an overdose of corticosteroids for a longer period. People who take this medicine and have rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, an organ transplant and lupus are more susceptible to developing Cushing’s syndrome.  
2.  Non-cancerous tumours in the pituitary gland and adrenal glands release excessive cortisol. It increases the risk of Cushing's syndrome.
3. Adults, especially those aged between 30-50 years, are more likely to develop this syndrome.

Untreated Cushing's syndrome can be fatal. Cushing's syndrome can pose a life-threatening risk, including kidney stones, changes in mental or brain function, osteoporosis and unusual blood infections.

Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome 

Common symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome are:

• Weight gain in the face
• Gaining weight in the trunk but having thin legs and arms
• A lump between your shoulders
• Purple or pink stretch marks on hips, stomach, breast, thighs and underarms
• Excessive acne
• Slow wound healing
• Frail and thin skin
• Sleeplessness and headache
• Muscle weakness
• Skin darkening
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Concentration issues

Specific symptoms women may experience may include:

1. Dark and thick hair on the body and face
2. Irregular periods

Possible symptoms among men with Cushing’s syndrome are;

1. Low sex drive
2. Erection problem    

Cushing's syndrome sometimes causes a growth failure (short stature) + weight gain. in children; other symptoms include,

• Weight gain in the upper back and middle body
• Facial roundness
• Arms and legs become thin
• Stretch marks
• Easily skin bruising

Treatment of Cushing’s syndrome 

Cortisol helps regulate blood sugar and blood pressure, lowers inflammation and transforms food into energy in the body. Without treatment, hypercortisolism restricts these systemic functions and causes serious complications, including bone loss, type 2 diabetes, and infections.   

To mitigate serious complications, this syndrome needs medicines and technical therapies, which are:

• Adding medicines or drugs that reduce the release of cortisol can treat this syndrome. For example, doctors prescribe Cortisol-lowering drugs or ketoconazole to slow down cortisol production.
• Depending on the tumour's condition, either benign or malignant, doctors may prescribe different therapies. For example, Chemotherapy slows down the growth of cancerous tumours.
• A six-week session of radiotherapy can remove pituitary tumours, ectopic tumours and adrenal tumours effectively.

The primary risk factor for developing Cushing's syndrome is taking an overdose of corticosteroids for a long time. Moreover, tumour cells in the adrenal and pituitary glands, obesity, and medical conditions like lupus and asthma increase the risk of Cushing's syndrome.

Facial weight gain, thinning of arms and legs, gaining fat in the middle body, purple stretch marks and excessive acne are common symptoms.