“It was like being born again.”
These were the words that American actress and comedian Amy Schumer used 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, in which some people noted that the actress’s face looked more “full.”
Initially, Schumer had commented that the change in appearance was due to suffering from endometriosis, a condition that affects the reproductive system of women.
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 them can be fatal, even requiring surgery on the brain,” Schumer told News Not Noise.
Schumer, who is known for her comedy routines and films such as Trainwreck, noted that her diagnosis is not that delicate.
“The type of Cushing’s that I suffer from is the one that sort of resolves itself, so I’m healthy and that’s the best news I’ve ever received,” the comedian said.
Schumer’s appearance had caused a stir on social media, so she herself consulted doctors following the comments she read, especially about her face.
She herself had also reported in mid-2020 that she had been a victim of another strange condition: 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 called that because, around 1932, the American surgeon Harvey Cushing reported it as a possible disorder after conducting several investigations.
Cushing, known as a pioneering doctor of 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 began research into the syndrome that would bear his name.
According to the United Kingdom Health Service (NHS), the syndrome is especially recorded 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 for 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 brain’s pituitary gland or one of the adrenal glands.
Cortisol is known as the hormone responsible for “fight or flight” reflexes.
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 occur 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 “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 lead to death.
Excess cortisol can damage tissues and systems critical to the body.
And here another drawback arises: it is a rare disorder that affects only 2 people in a million.
Because of this, the diagnosis is usually late.
To detect it, the patient must have 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 occur, then you may have Cushing’s syndrome.
Keep reading:
* 8 disorders that can affect the adrenal glands
* What are the most common disorders of the adrenal glands?
*Those extra kilos are not my fault
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