( Cushing Syndrome )
“It was like being born again.”
These were the words used by American actress and comedian Amy Schumer to describe the moment she received her diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome.
Schumer had been the subject of comments about her body on social media in recent weeks, with some people noting that the actress’s face looked “fuller.
“Schumer had initially said that the change in her appearance was due to her suffering from endometriosis, a condition that affects a woman’s reproductive system.
However, in recent days he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome, a disease that can alter the functioning of the body as a result of high levels of cortisol .
“There are several types of Cushing’s, some of which can be fatal and even require brain surgery,” Schumer told News Not Noise.
Schumer, who is known for her comedy routines and films like Trainwreck, said her diagnosis is not that delicate.
“The type of Cushing’s that I have is the one that sort of resolves itself, so I’m healthy and that’s the best news I could have ever received,” the comedian said.
One of the causes of Cushing’s syndrome may be a tumor in the adrenal glands
Schumer’s appearance had caused a stir on social media, so she consulted doctors herself following the comments she read, especially about her face.
She herself had also reported in mid-2020 that she had been the victim of another strange disease: Lyme disease , which is caused by an insect bite.But what is Cushing’s syndrome and why can it be fatal?
• A rare disease
Cushing’s syndrome is so named because, around 1932, the American surgeon Harvey Cushing reported it as a possible disorder after conducting several investigations.
Cushing, known as a pioneer in neurosurgery, had observed that certain tumors caused the body to produce more cortisol than normal and analyzed the consequences this had on the body.
This gave rise to research into the syndrome that would bear his name.According to the National Health Service (NHS), the syndrome is especially common in people who take steroid medications for a long time , because they contain a synthetic version of cortisol.
Now, although the syndrome had been observed by Cushing through his work in neurosurgery, the truth is that in very rare cases the condition can be caused because the body itself produces high amounts of cortisol.
In these cases, it is usually due to the presence of a tumor in the pituitary gland of the brain or in one of the adrenal glands.
Cortisol is known as the hormone responsible for the “fight or flight” reflexes.
|| Cushing’s syndrome can cause body problems that may be mistaken for other diseases.
When it sends alarm signals to the brain in response to stress, it can influence almost every system in the body, from the immune system to the digestive system.
This causes some symptoms to appear in the body that are related to this disorder, such as increased fat in the chest and stomach while maintaining thin arms and legs.
Also the accumulation of fat in the back of the neck and shoulders, which is known as the “buffalo hump.”
|| Another symptom may be a red, swollen and inflamed face, as in Schumer’s case.
• Difficult diagnosis
Although it is usually benign, if left untreated, Cushing’s syndrome tends to worsen and can even cause death.
Excess cortisol can damage essential tissues and systems in the body.
And here another problem arises: it is a rare disorder that affects only 2 people in a million.
|| Because of this, diagnosis is often late.
To detect it, the patient must undergo a urine, blood or saliva test.According to the NHS, the saliva test is most accurate if done at midnight, so the person should be admitted to hospital.
For the urine test, the patient must take dexamethasone, a synthetic corticosteroid.
If the person is healthy, this medication lowers cortisol levels.If this does not happen, then you may have Cushing’s syndrome.