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Cushing's syndrome
- A syndrome caused by an excess of corticosteroids, especially cortisol, in the blood, characterized by obesity, muscle and skin atrophy, facial fullness (known as moon facies ), hypertension, and other physical changes. Glucocorticoid excess is usually caused by a tumor of the adrenal cortex, excessive intake of ACTH or glucocorticoids, or increased production of ACTH from a tumor of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Cushing's syndrome is named after its discoverer, American neurosurgeon Harvey Williams Cushing (1869鈥1939).
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Or to use a perhaps more realistic scenario: Mifepristone, an abortion-inducing drug, is also commonly used to treat Cushing鈥檚 syndrome, and researchers say it has tremendous potential to treat other illnesses, too, from various cancers to PTSD.
Actress and director Amy Schumer has revealed she has Cushing's Syndrome, caused by an over-abundance of the hormone cortisol in her body.
Cushing's syndrome occurs when a person has elevated levels of cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone, inside the body for a long time.
The Pituitary Foundation, which provides support about Cushing's Syndrome in the UK, told the BBC they were sorry to hear about Schumer's diagnosis, saying it was "encouraging to see her raising awareness of her condition".
"Cushing's syndrome is rare, affecting only a few people in every million, per year," a spokeswoman said.
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