What are the symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome?
The main signs and symptoms are shown in Table 1. Not all people with the condition have all these signs and symptoms. Some people have few or “mild” symptoms – perhaps just weight gain and irregular menstrual periods. Other people with a more “severe” form of the disease may have nearly all the symptoms. The most common symptoms in adults are weight gain (especially in the trunk, and often not accompanied by weight gain in the arms and legs), high blood pressure (hypertension), and changes in memory, mood and concentration. Additional problems such as muscle weakness arise because of loss of protein in body tissues.
Table 1. Signs and symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome
| COMMON FEATURES |
LESS COMMON FEATURES |
| Weight gain |
Insomnia |
| Hypertension |
Recurrent infection |
| Poor short-term memory |
Thin skin and stretch marks |
| Irritability |
Easy bruising |
| Excess hair growth (women) |
Depression |
| Red, ruddy face |
Weak bones |
| Extra fat around neck |
Acne |
| Round face |
Balding (women) |
| Fatigue |
Hip and shoulder weakness |
| Poor concentration |
Swelling of feet/legs |
| Menstrual irregularity |
Diabetes |
