What Is The Role Of Corticosteroids In Cushing’s Syndrome?

Do you regularly take high doses of corticosteroids?

Then be aware with Cushing’s syndrome! When your body is exposed to cortisol hormone for a prolonged period of time, then it possibly results in Cushing’s syndrome.

It can mainly occur when your adrenal glands, present above your kidneys, makes too much of cortisol.

However, Cushing’s syndrome, also called as hypercortisolism, is one of the most rarely caused health condition and almost 5 in a million people gets it every year.

Adults aged between 20-50years of age, usually becomes the victim of this kind of rare disease. It is also believed that women are more prone to develop Cushing’s syndrome when compared with men.

Role of corticosteroids in Cushing’s syndrome!

Apart from your body’s own production, accumulation of cortisol hormone also takes place due to several external factors like overdose of corticosteroids.

Taking higher doses of corticosteroids for an extended or prolonged period of time also results in Cushing’s syndrome or hypercortisolism. These cortisol medications are mainly prescribed by your doctor to treat many inflammatory diseases such as lupus, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis. Corticosteroids are also used to prevent your body from refusing any transplanted organ.

So, when you take these corticosteroids for treating various health conditions, the cortisol amounts present in medications, gets added up with already existing cortisol levels in your body. This over accumulation of cortisol in your body can significantly result in Cushing’s syndrome.

Cortisol! Is it essential for our body?

Cortisol hormone is mainly produced by the adrenal glands located in kidneys and it is considered as vital for our life process.

It can mainly help you in regular functioning of your body. Cortisol mainly regulates the blood pressure and helps in proper functioning of immune system. To get perfect balance between insulin releases in response to fluctuating blood sugar levels, cortisol plays a vital role. It also helps your body in response to stress.

So, whenever your body secretes abnormal levels of cortisol hormones, it can potentially lead you to many abnormal health conditions. When these abnormal levels of cortisol or hypercortisolism are left untreated, it can possibly results in stones in kidney, high blood pressure, diabetes, and various unusual infections.

When you are experiencing any sort of abnormal health conditions during your treatment for inflammatory diseases with corticosteroids, immediately consult your health care provider to prevent further complications.

Muscle weakness, facial flushing, pink or purple stretch marks, fatigue, weight gain are some of the manifestations associated with Cushing’s syndrome. Even if you are not undergoing any treatment with corticosteroids, you have a chance to develop Cushing’s syndrome.

So, whenever you notice all those signs of hypercortisolism (Cushing’s syndrome), immediately consult your general physician and take necessary measure to control cortisol levels in your body.