Could Your Symptoms Be a Sign of Cushing Syndrome?
- Oct 2
- 3 min read
Have you been feeling more tired than usual, gaining weight in unexpected places, or noticing changes in your mood or skin? These might seem like everyday issues ,but they could be signs of something more specific. Cushing syndrome is a condition that happens when your body has too much of the stress hormone cortisol for too long, and it often shows up in subtle ways.
Understanding the early signs of Cushing syndrome can help you get the right care sooner, and start feeling more like yourself again.
What Is Cushing Syndrome?
Cortisol is a hormone that helps the body handle stress, control blood pressure, balance blood sugar, and manage how it uses energy. When cortisol levels stay too high for too long, it can throw your body off balance.
Cushing syndrome can be caused by:
Taking steroid medications (like prednisone) for a long time
The body making too much cortisol on its own due to hormone-producing tumours in the adrenal or pituitary glands
Rare tumours elsewhere in the body that affect hormone levels
What Should You Look Out For?
The signs of Cushing syndrome can be easy to miss at first, they tend to build up slowly.
Common symptoms include:
Weight gain, especially around the face (creating a "moon face"), neck, or belly
A hump of fat between the shoulders ("buffalo hump")
Thinner arms and legs, even as the body stores fat in other areas
Easy bruising and slow-healing skin
Stretch marks on the stomach, thighs, or upper arms
Acne or oily skin
Feeling tired all the time, even after resting
These changes often don’t happen overnight, which makes them easy to brush off, but they may be worth checking.
How It Shows Up Differently in Women and Men
For women, signs can also include:
Irregular periods or missed periods
More noticeable facial or body hair
In men, signs may involve:
Lower sex drive
Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection
Reduced fertility
These symptoms might be mistaken for unrelated issues, which is why a closer look is sometimes needed.
Other Possible Effects
Cushing syndrome affects many parts of the body, and symptoms may also include:
Mood changes like anxiety, irritability, or depression
Trouble focusing or remembering things
High blood pressure that’s hard to control
Frequent infections
Trouble sleeping
Headaches
Weak bones or fractures
In children, it might show up as slowed growth or weight gain without growing taller.
What Causes It?
Cushing syndrome can be due to external or internal causes:
Medication-related (exogenous)
from taking steroid medications for conditions like asthma or arthritis
Body-produced (endogenous)
from tumours in the pituitary or adrenal glands, or hormone-producing tumours elsewhere in the body
Figuring out what’s causing the extra cortisol helps guide the right treatment.
Why Getting Help Early Matters
When left untreated, Cushing syndrome can lead to serious health problems, including:
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Muscle weakness
Weakened bones
More frequent infections
Getting checked early can help prevent these complications and make treatment simpler and more effective.
What to Do If You’re Noticing Changes
If you’re taking steroids and start noticing symptoms, don’t stop your medication suddenly, but do speak with your doctor. If you’re not on steroids and are seeing signs like unexplained weight gain, skin changes, or mood swings, a check-up may be a good idea.
Simple tests, like blood, urine, or saliva checks, can help determine if cortisol is the issue. Scans may also be used to check the glands that control hormone levels.
Moving Forward
Living with unexplained symptoms can be frustrating. But recognising them is the first step toward getting answers. With the right care, most people with Cushing syndrome feel better and can return to their usual routines.
If you’re concerned about how you’re feeling or have questions about possible hormone-related conditions, Cedar Endocrine Clinic offers appointments at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre and Mount Alvernia Hospital.
