Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome

General information about symptoms of Cushing's syndrome: The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible symptoms of Cushing's syndrome. This symptom information has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of symptoms of Cushing's syndrome. Furthermore, symptoms of Cushing's syndrome may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of symptoms and whether they are indeed symptoms of Cushing's syndrome.

List of symptoms of Cushing's syndrome: The list of symptoms mentioned in various sources for Cushing's syndrome includes:

Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome: Symptoms vary, but most people have upper body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, and thinning arms and legs. Children tend to be obese with slowed growth rates.

Other symptoms appear in the skin, which becomes fragile and thin. It bruises easily and heals poorly. Purplish pink stretch marks may appear on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, arms and breasts. The bones are weakened, and routine activities such as bending, lifting or rising from a chair may lead to backaches, rib and spinal column fractures.

Most people have severe fatigue, weak muscles, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Irritability, anxiety and depression are common.

Women usually have excess hair growth on their faces, necks, chests, abdomens, and thighs. Their menstrual periods may become irregular or stop. Men have decreased fertility with diminished or absent desire for sex. ¹

Common features of Cushing's syndrome include upper body obesity, severe fatigue and muscle weakness, high blood pressure, backache, elevated blood sugar, easy bruising, and bluish-red stretch marks on the skin. In women, there may be increased growth of facial and body hair, and menstrual periods may become irregular or stop completely. ²

More symptoms of Cushing's syndrome: In addition to the above information, to get a full picture of the possible symptoms of this condition and its related conditions, it may be necessary to examine symptoms that may be caused by complications of Cushing's syndrome, underlying causes of Cushing's syndrome, associated conditions for Cushing's syndrome, risk factors for Cushing's syndrome, or other related conditions.

Medical articles on symptoms: These general reference articles may be of interest:

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Cushing's Syndrome: NIDDK
2. excerpt from NINDS Cushing's Syndrome Information Page: NINDS

Last revision: May 26, 2003

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