Cushing's syndrome

For a lay person:

Cushing's syndrome is caused by too much of the hormone cortisol, most often from long-term steroid medicines and sometimes from a tumour. It causes weight gain, a rounded face, thin skin, weak muscles and high blood pressure.

For a trained medical person:

Hypercortisolism, exogenous (glucocorticoid therapy) or endogenous (pituitary ACTH, adrenal or ectopic). Screening tests include late-night salivary cortisol, dexamethasone suppression and 24-hour urinary cortisol. Treatment targets the cause: surgery, medical therapy or tapering of steroids.

In Chinese medicine:

Flaws and Sionneau's textbook differentiates this condition into these patterns: Yin deficiency with ascendant liver yang hyperactivity; Yin deficiency-fire effulgence; Ascendant liver yang hyperactivity with phlegm fire; Yin deficiency with heat toxins; Spleen qi deficiency with phlegm dampness; Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency; Yin and Yang Deficiency. Treatment follows the pattern a patient presents with, not the Western diagnosis alone.

When to get help: Never stop prescribed steroids suddenly; doing so can be dangerous.