What is the difference between Cushing syndrome and Cushing disease?

Cushing’s syndrome and Cushing’s disease are two related conditions that both involve the hormone cortisol, but they are not the same thing. Cushing’s syndrome is a condition that occurs when your body is exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol for a long period of time.

This can happen for a variety of reasons. For example, it can be caused by taking certain medications that contain cortisol, such as prednisone. It can also occur if your body produces too much cortisol. This can happen if you have a tumor in your adrenal glands, which are the glands that produce cortisol.

On the other hand, Cushing’s disease is a specific type of Cushing’s syndrome. It occurs when a tumor in the pituitary gland causes the body to produce too much of a hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH then causes the adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol.

So, the main difference between Cushing’s syndrome and Cushing’s disease is the cause of the excess cortisol. In Cushing’s syndrome, the excess cortisol can be caused by medication use or by the body producing too much cortisol for a variety of reasons. In Cushing’s disease, the excess cortisol is specifically caused by a pituitary tumor leading to overproduction of ACTH.

Both conditions can have serious health effects if not treated, including high blood pressure, bone loss, type 2 diabetes, and increased risk of infections. However, with proper treatment, people with these conditions can lead healthy lives. If you suspect you may have either of these conditions, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.