Cushing's Disease

592 Words2 Pages

Although Cushing’s syndrome is rare, some symptoms include: thin arms and legs, severe fatigue and muscle weakness, high blood pressure, high blood sugar (high blood glucose levels), easy bruising, upper body obesity (most commonly on the face), a round, red, or full face (moon face), acne or skin infections, purple marks (1/2 inch or more wide) on the skin of the abdomen, thighs, or breasts, and thin skin. Some symptoms vary by gender. Men can experience symptoms, such as decreased or no desire for sex or even impotence while women can experience excess hair growth on the face, neck, chest, abdomen, and thighs. Women’s menstrual cycles can also become irregular or stop completely. Just because a patient may experience one or two of the symptoms above does not mean that they have Cushing’s syndrome, but it may mean they need to seek medical attention for further testing.
Cushing's syndrome happens when tissues in the body are exposed to high levels of cortisol for too long. Cortisol is produced by the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex of the adrenal gland and ...

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