Is your body getting bigger and your face round like a full moon? Let's talk about 'Cushing's Syndrome'!

Have you recently noticed that your body shape has changed a bit, especially around your upper body and stomach, and your face has become rounder like a full moon? Maybe you have a small lump of fat growing on the back of your neck. These are not just random things. Behind these symptoms may be a hormonal condition called Cushing's Syndrome . Don't worry, this is a condition that can often be cured. Let's talk about this simply, in a way that everyone can understand.

Simply put, what is Cushing's Syndrome?

Cushing's Syndrome, or hypercortisolism , is a condition that occurs when our body produces too much of the hormone cortisol . Now you may be wondering what cortisol is. Cortisol is a very important hormone produced by two small glands located above our kidneys, the adrenal glands. It does a lot of work in our body.

• Controls blood pressure .
• Regulates blood sugar levels .
• Reduces inflammation in the body.
• It helps convert the food we eat into energy.

Imagine, all of this happens when there is just the right amount of cortisol. But when this hormone becomes too much, the functioning of other systems in the body starts to go haywire. That's what we call Cushing's Syndrome. This condition is more common in women than men. It is especially common in people between the ages of 25 and 40.

What are the main causes of Cushing's Syndrome?

There could be several reasons for this. Let's look at the main ones.

1. Use of medications (most common cause)

The most common cause of this condition is the long-term use of high doses of medications called glucocorticoids . These are commonly called corticosteroids or simply steroids . For example, prednisoneYou can take the medicine called. Doctors recommend these medications for conditions like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or after an organ transplant. These are very powerful drugs that control inflammation. However, when these are used for a long time, Cushing's Syndrome can occur as a side effect. Also, this condition can occur due to continuous steroid injections for things like joint pain and back pain. This condition is very rare due to steroid creams used for skin diseases, but it can happen.

2. Tumors that occur in the body

Cortisol levels can also increase within our bodies. The reason for this is various types of tumors that develop in the body.

• Pituitary Tumors: If a small tumor develops in the pituitary gland at the base of our brain , it starts producing more of a hormone called ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone) . This ACTH hormone is what signals the adrenal glands to produce cortisol . So when ACTH increases, cortisol production also increases automatically. We also call this condition Cushing's Disease .
• Adrenal Tumors: Sometimes a tumor can develop on the adrenal gland itself, which can directly produce excess cortisol.
• Ectopic Tumors: Very rarely, a tumor can develop in a place where ACTH hormone is not produced, such as the lungs , pancreas , or thyroid gland , and start producing ACTH.

These tumors can be cancerous or non-cancerous.

What are the symptoms of this disease?

The symptoms may vary from person to person, but there are some common symptoms that can be seen when the disease is advanced. Let's look at these in a table. In addition, some people may notice purple or pink stretch marks on their stomach, thighs, arms, and chest. As the bones become weaker, they may experience back pain or broken ribs, not only when bending over, lifting weights, but also when getting up from a chair. If young children develop this condition, their growth will be very slow , and they may also become obese.

How does the doctor diagnose this disease?

It may take several visits for your doctor to confirm the diagnosis. First, he or she will examine you physically and ask you a few questions.

• What are your symptoms?
• When did you first see these?
• What medications are you taking? (Especially steroids)
• Do you feel a change in your mind?

Based on this information, if Cushing's Syndrome is suspected, the doctor will recommend several tests.

• 24-hour urinary free cortisol test: Measures the level of cortisol in urine collected over a 24-hour period.
• Dexamethasone suppression test: A low-dose steroid pill is given at around 11 p.m., and a blood test is done the next morning to see how much cortisol the body is still producing.
• Late-night salivary cortisol level: Measures cortisol levels in a saliva sample taken at night.

If these tests confirm that you have Cushing's Syndrome, the next step is to find the cause . To do this, a specialist may do several other tests. For example, blood tests to check ACTH hormone levels, CT or MRI scans.

What are the treatments for this?

The treatment method depends on what is causing your condition.

• • If the cause is steroid medication: Your doctor will begin to slowly reduce your steroid dose as your other medical condition (e.g. asthma, arthritis) is controlled.

Most importantly: Do not stop taking steroids suddenly without your doctor's advice. Doing so can cause serious side effects.

• If the cause is a tumor: Surgery may be needed to remove the tumor. Sometimes, radiation therapy may be given in addition to surgery.
• Other treatments: If surgery or radiation therapy is not successful, medications can be given to control cortisol production. However, these medications can also have side effects, so they should be taken under medical supervision.

How to change lifestyle and diet along with treatment?

While undergoing treatment, adjusting your lifestyle and diet can greatly help control symptoms.

• Eat a good diet:
• Eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D. This condition weakens bones. Milk, yogurt, cheese, green vegetables, and small fish (with bones) are good.
• Limit foods high in sodium and oil/fat . These can lead to high blood pressure and weight gain.
• Control pain:Things like taking a hot bath, getting a gentle massage, and doing water aerobics can help reduce muscle pain.
• Mental health: This condition can be debilitating. Talk to your family and friends about this. Ask for their support. If necessary, seek the help of a counselor. You can ask your doctor for guidance.

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