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The most common cause of Cushing’s syndrome is taking high doses of steroid medicine, such as hydrocortisone or prednisolone for a long time.
Sometimes, a small, non-cancerous growth in the pituitary gland (near the brain) or adrenal glands (near the kidneys) can also cause too much cortisol to be released.
These glands help control the amount of certain hormones in your body, including cortisol.
If the problem is caused by the pituitary gland it’s called Cushing’s disease. If it's caused elsewhere in the body, it’s called Cushing's syndrome.
Anyone can get Cushing’s syndrome, but it’s much more common in women than in men.
The symptoms often come on gradually and include:
Cushing's syndrome is rare in children. If a child does get it, the main symptoms are obesity and being short for their age.
If a GP thinks you might have Cushing’s syndrome, they can arrange for the amount of cortisol in a sample of your blood, pee or spit (saliva) to be checked.
If you have high cortisol, you may be referred to a hormone specialist (an endocrinologist) for further tests to check for problems with your pituitary or adrenal glands.
These may include blood tests and scans of your brain and kidneys.
Treatment for Cushing’s syndrome depends on what’s causing it and how severe your symptoms are.
Treatments can include:
After having treatment for Cushing’s syndrome, the amount of cortisol in your body will be checked. If it’s still high, you may need further treatment.
If Cushing’s syndrome is not treated it can cause serious health problems including:
The Pituitary Foundation provides help and support for people affected by pituitary conditions like Cushing’s syndrome.
Their services include:
