What age does Cushing syndrome start?

Cushing’s syndrome is a hormonal disorder that occurs when your body makes too much of the hormone cortisol over a long period of time. This condition is sometimes referred to as hypercortisolism.

Cushing’s syndrome is fairly rare and it most often affects adults aged 20 to 50, but it can also occur in children. It affects about three times as many women as men. In people who have type 2 diabetes and blood glucose levels that stay too high over time, along with high blood pressure, Cushing’s syndrome may be the cause.

People who take medicines called glucocorticoids, which are similar to cortisol, can also develop Cushing’s syndrome. This type of Cushing’s syndrome is called “exogenous”. More than 10 million Americans take glucocorticoids each year, but it’s not known how many of them develop Cushing’s syndrome.

The symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome can vary depending on the level of extra cortisol. Common symptoms include weight gain in the trunk, with thin arms and legs, a round face, increased fat around the base of the neck, a fatty hump between the shoulders, easy bruising, wide purple stretch marks on the stomach, hips, thighs, breasts and underarms, thin, frail skin that bruises easily, slow wound healing, and acne.

Women may experience thick, dark hair on the face and body, irregular or stopped periods. Men may experience lower sex drive, reduced fertility, and problems getting an erection. Other possible symptoms include extreme tiredness, muscle weakness, depression, anxiety and irritability, emotions that are hard to control, trouble concentrating or remembering, sleeplessness, high blood pressure, headache, infections, skin darkening, bone loss, which can lead to broken bones, stunted growth in children.

If left untreated for a prolonged period, Cushing’s syndrome can lead to serious health problems such as heart attack and stroke, blood clots in the legs and lungs, infections, bone loss and fractures, long-term high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, severe infections, and kidney stones.

Although Cushing’s syndrome can usually be cured, it can be fatal if not treated. Therefore, if you have symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome, especially if you’re taking glucocorticoid medicine to treat a health issue such as asthma, arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.