Actor Amy Schumer says she has Cushing’s syndrome: What is this disorder?

American actor and director Amy Schumer has revealed she is diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome.

The disorder is caused by having steroid injections in high doses.

The 42-year-old made the revelation after she faced a barrage of comments about her "puffer" face following her recent TV appearances.

Here’s all we know about the condition.

The revelation

Initially, Schumer attributed the change in her appearance to endometriosis.

“There are a few types of Cushing. Some that can be fatal require brain surgery or removal of adrenal glands,” the actor said in an exclusive statement to the News Not Noise newsletter, adding, “I have the kind of Cushing that will just work itself out, and I’m healthy (which) was the greatest news imaginable."

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Notably, during the promotional tour, Schumer appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to talk about season two of her sitcom, Life and Beth. She faced backlash for her looks while some speculated about her medical condition.

“I’ve enjoyed feedback and deliberation about my appearance,” she said on Instagram, while adding that she endured such speculation "for almost 20 years (...) as all women do."

Cushing’s syndrome

Cushing’s syndrome occurs due to elevated levels of the hormone cortisol inside the body for a long time.

Also known as your "fight or flight" hormone, cortisol sends out alarm signals to the brain in response to stress. BBC News explained that it can influence almost every system in the body, from the immune system to digestion and sleep.

The syndrome can also be triggered by steroid medications.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, also known as hypercortisolism, the syndrome is a “fairly rare” hormonal disorder. While the actor is diagnosed with Cushing syndrome, the advanced level of cortisol production can lead to Cushing's disease.

The condition affects mostly adults aged between 20 and 50 years. It impacts roughly three times as many women as men, though it can also occur in children, says the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

A spokesperson of the Pituitary Foundation, which provides support for Cushing's syndrome in the UK, told BBC News that the condition is “rare and affects only a few people in every million per year.”

Causes

The condition happens when one has too many corticosteroids in the body.

This is usually the result of a growth (tumour) in the pituitary gland or a tumour in one of the adrenal glands above the kidneys. The tumours are usually non-cancerous (benign) and they are most common in young women.

The gland makes too much adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), which causes the adrenal glands to make too many corticosteroids, as per NDTV.

Symptoms

The symptoms of the disorder can differ from person to person, as per Johns Hopkins Medicine.

The most common signs are fatigue, muscle weakness, a round and puffy face, upper body obesity, high blood pressure, fragile skin that is slow to heal, increased fat around the neck and shoulders, known as a “buffalo hump,” and high blood sugar, according to Healthline.

Other symptoms include thinning skin that bruises easily, large purple stretch marks on the breasts, arms, abdomen, and thighs, reduced libido and fertility problems, irregular periods, depression, and mood swings.

According to the website, women with Cushing syndrome may also develop extra facial and body hair, while men may have erectile dysfunction and a loss of sexual interest.

It can also cause complications, such as bone loss, high blood pressure, type two diabetes, serious or multiple infections and loss of muscle mass and strength.

Treatment

According to the UK-based National Health Service, the rare syndrome can be serious, if not treated.

Mayo Clinic claims that in some cases, it can also be fatal.

The overall goal is to lower the cortisol levels in the body. This can be done in various ways.

Treatment also depends on the cause of the disorder.

Your doctor may prescribe a medication to help manage cortisol levels. Some medications decrease cortisol production in the adrenal glands or decrease ACTH production in the pituitary gland. Other medications block the effect of cortisol on your tissues, as per Healthline.

In cases of tumours, surgical intervention may be necessary to remove the growths.

With inputs from agencies