Cushing’s syndrome is a rare disorder triggered by an excess of the stress hormone cortisol.

Health · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Often mistaken for common metabolic issues, Cushing’s syndrome occurs when the body is flooded with cortisol for too long. While frequently caused by external steroid medications, it can also stem from internal tumors. Recognizing this condition is vital, as untreated cases can lead to severe, life-threatening health complications.

Cortisol, frequently termed the stress hormone, is essential for regulating blood pressure, glucose levels, and energy metabolism. Produced by the adrenal glands, it typically helps the body navigate stress. However, when levels remain chronically elevated, the body experiences a systemic disruption known as Cushing’s syndrome. This condition is rare, with estimates suggesting it affects about 40 to 70 people per million.

The most common cause is exogenous: the long-term use of glucocorticoid medications, such as prednisone or hydrocortisone, which mimic cortisol. Endogenous cases, where the body produces excess cortisol itself, are often driven by tumors. Pituitary adenomas—noncancerous growths on the pituitary gland—are responsible for roughly 80 percent of non-medication-related cases, a specific condition termed Cushing’s disease. Other, rarer causes include ectopic tumors, often found in the lungs, or tumors directly on the adrenal glands.

Diagnosis is notoriously difficult because symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, and mood changes mirror other conditions like metabolic syndrome or polycystic ovary syndrome. Clinicians typically rule out medication use before employing diagnostic tools like 24-hour urinary free-cortisol tests, late-night salivary tests, or low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests. These tests aim to determine if the body’s natural cortisol rhythm has been lost.

The physical manifestations are often distinct, including a round face, a fatty hump between the shoulders, easy bruising, and wide purple stretch marks. If left untreated, the syndrome can be fatal, leading to heart disease, stroke, severe infections, and bone loss. Fortunately, once identified, the condition is often treatable through medication adjustments, surgery, or radiotherapy, allowing many patients to return to normal health.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Cortisol is not just a stress hormone; it is a master regulator of life.
• Why your body might stop producing the essential hormones that keep you alive
• Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory tools, but they require careful management to avoid systemic side effects.
• Why Addison's disease can tan skin that never sees the sun
• Stress is the body fighting to restore its steady state
• Beyond allergies, this first-generation antihistamine acts as a versatile, multi-purpose pharmacological tool.
• A CT scanner builds body slices from thousands of X-ray angles
• Cystic fibrosis is named after cysts, yet involves none
• How extreme cold serves as a scalpel for diseased tissue
• The virus named for giant cells carries one of the longest human-virus genomes
• The seal-like bark of croup once signalled a deadly disease
• Michael Jackson's Dangerous began life as a greatest-hits package

More in Health, medicine and disease · More in Health · Latest · A–Z · All topics