Cortisol redistribute fat to areas particularly the chest, stomach and face. Which causes weight gain in these areas to be the most common symptom of Cushing's disease. People who are suffering from this disease may have 'buffalo hump' a red, puffy and rounded face, which is fat deposited on the back of the neck and shoulder. Thus, they may have very slim arms and legs compared to their chest and stomach.
Cortisol may also cause the breaking down of proteins in the skin and weakens the tiny blood vessels, which led to skin being easily bruised. Cortisol may make the skin to be fragile. Resulting in:
- Skin infection
- Acne
- Reddish-purple stretch marks on the thighs, stomach, buttocks, arms, legs or breasts.
- Spots on the face, chest or shoulders.
- Darkened skin on the neck
- Swelling of the legs due to a build-up of fluid (oedema)
- Heavy sweating
- Bruises, cuts, scratches and insect bites can take a long time to heal
Symptoms in men
Additional symptoms in men include:
- decreased interest in sex
- erectile dysfunction – not being able to get or maintain an erection
- infertility
Additional symptoms in women include:
- excessive facial and/or body hair (hirsutism)
- irregular periods or absent periods
Children who develop Cushing’s syndrome may experience delayed or missing growth.
Bones and muscles
People with Cushing's syndrome often have muscle weakness in their hips, shoulders, arms and legs.
Too much cortisol can also weaken the bones (osteoporosis). When doing daily activities like bending and lifting, the affected bones may break.
Mental health
Common symptoms of this disease may be feeling unusually tired all the time. This may contribute to depression. Some people may also experience mood swings and unstable emotional reactions. One may laugh or cry for no apparent reason.
Other symptoms
Other symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome include:
- kidney stones
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- an increase in blood sugar levels
Labels: symptoms
