Cushing Syndrome Essay

Cushing syndrome refers to the complex clinical manifestations resulting from chronic exposure to excess cortisol. Cushing disease is overproduction of pituitary ACTH by a pituitary adenoma (McCance, Huether, Brashers, & Rote, 2014, p. 754-755). Cushing’s disease is defined by Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) hypersecretion, induced by a corticotrophic adenoma, leading to cortisol and androgen hypersecretion. Cushing’s disease may lead to death if untreated; it is responsible for increased morbidity and mortality, due to cardiovascular complications, infections and psychiatric disturbances. Signs and symptoms of hypercortisolism are usually non specific: obesity, signs of protein wasting, increased blood pressure, variable levels of hirsutism, …show more content…
Through my research and personal experience with the condition, I discovered that many go long periods before they are correctly diagnosed. Many general practitioners attribute many of the symptoms of cushing syndrome to simple inactivity. True, those with the condition gain weight, have hypertension, and display symptoms of depression, but general practioners are urged to order imaging to look for pituitary tumors. Simpler, less non-invasive testing may include urine cortisol testing and low-dose dexamethasone suppression testing ("Cushing support & Research Foundation," 2015). NIH-supported scientists are conducting intensive research into the normal and abnormal function of the major endocrine glands and the many hormones of the endocrine system. Importance lies with the identification of the corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), which instructs the pituitary gland to release ACTH, this method is increasingly being used to identify the cause of Cushing's syndrome. Nurses are able to participate in this research by collecting data on patients and identifying symptoms of Cushing's in patients that will aid physicians in diagnosing the disease ("Medicinenet.com",