Cushing syndrome results from excessive secretion of adrenal cortex hormones (most common cause is hypersecretion of glucocorticoids).
With prolonged exposure to inappropriately high levels of the hormone cortisol or if a person takes too much cortisol or other steroid hormones, this syndrome shows its signs and symptoms.
Cushing syndrome is characterized by red, swollen face “moon face”; upper body obesity above the waist; thin arms and legs; skin infections; backache; excess hair growth on the face and other body parts of women; obesity and slow growth in children.
As most of the cases of Cushing's syndrome are caused by steroid medications, most of the patients are treated by slowly decreasing and eventually stopping the drug doses that causes the symptoms, under medical care, and by the use of cortisol-inhibiting drugs.
