What it means
Long exposure to high levels of cortisolKOR-tih-solA steroid hormone made by the adrenal glands that helps control blood sugar, blood pressure, stress and inflammation.Full entry , named after Harvey Cushing, the American surgeon who described it. The most common cause is taking corticosteroid drugs such as prednisone for a long time; others are tumors of the pituitary or adrenal glanduh-DREE-nul GLANDOne of two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys and make hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone and epinephrine.ad- toward, nearren/o kidney-al relating toFull entry . Typical features are a round face, a fatty hump between the shoulders, weight gain in the trunk with thin arms and legs, purple stretch marks, thin skin that bruises easily, high blood glucose, high blood pressure and weak bones. Its opposite is Addison diseaseAD-ih-sun dih-ZEEZA condition in which the adrenal glands do not make enough cortisol and often not enough aldosterone.Full entry .
For the nurse
Check blood glucose, blood pressure and weight, and protect fragile skin. Watch for infection, which the high cortisol can hide, and for falls. Teach clients on long-term steroids never to stop them suddenly.
Remember it
Cushing has too much cortisol, so the body looks "cushioned"; Addison needs cortisol "added".
At a glance
| Spanish | síndrome de Cushing |
|---|---|
| Also written | Cushing's syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome |
Easy to confuse with
Addison disease
A condition in which the adrenal glands do not make enough cortisol and often not enough aldosterone.
Related terms
corticosteroid
A drug that acts like the hormones of the adrenal glands, used mainly to calm inflammation and the immune system.
cortisol
A steroid hormone made by the adrenal glands that helps control blood sugar, blood pressure, stress and inflammation.
syndrome
A group of signs and symptoms that tend to occur together and make up a recognized condition.
adrenal gland
One of two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys and make hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone and epinephrine.
Addison disease
A condition in which the adrenal glands do not make enough cortisol and often not enough aldosterone.