American comedian Amy Schumer has been diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome, a rare hormonal condition caused by excess cortisol in the body that can cause the face to swell.
- American actress Amy Schumer has announced that she suffers from Cushing’s syndrome, a hormonal condition which affects one to three people in a million per year and results in facial swelling, muscle weakness and even skin fragility.
- This rare but reversible disease is caused by an excess of cortisol (ACTH), the stress hormone, in the body, secreted by the adrenal glands. In Amy Schumer’s case, this excess cortisol is due to her prolonged use of steroidal anti-inflammatory medications to combat her endometriosis.
- The examinations taken by the actress revealed “a type of Cushing’s which will resolve on its own”, she reassured.
It was while reading comments on social media about her puffy face that Amy Schumer realized that “something was wrong”. After undergoing a series of medical examinations, the American actress and comedian finally announced, in an interview with the media News Not Noisesuffer from Cushing’s syndrome, a hormonal condition that affects one to three people in a million per year, and mostly women.
Cushing’s syndrome, a rare disease caused by excess cortisol
This rare but reversible disease is caused by an excess of cortisol (ACTH), the stress hormone, in the body, secreted by the adrenal glands. We speak of hypercortisolism. “Untreated, [le syndrome] induces excess mortality and significant morbidity, particularly cardiovascular, writes the High Authority of Health. Its diagnosis and treatment remain delicate.” Generally speaking, this excess cortisol is linked to a benign tumor located in the pituitary gland which will produce excess cortisol, but it can also be due to prolonged taking of anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids – such as this is the case for Amy Schumer, who takes it to fight her endometriosis.
The symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome are weight gain on the upper body, swelling of the face, muscle weakness, chronic fatigue, menstrual or fertility problems in women, or even fragility of the skin, which is more prone to bruises and stretch marks. The disease can also result in type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, behavioral problems or increased hair growth. In children, a slowdown in growth can also be a warning sign of the syndrome.
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Cushing’s disease: 80% remission after surgery
In France, “around 130 people per year” would be affected by Cushing’s disease, estimates the French Society of Endocrinology. If you have symptoms, it is advisable to consult an endocrinologist, specialized in this type of pathology. Depending on the case, treatment can be surgical (brain operation or removal of the adrenal glands), radiotherapy (depending on the profile of the tumor) or medication. Note that, if Cushing’s syndrome can recur, “remission is observed in 80% of cases after surgery”, according to the Hospices Civils de Lyon.
Fortunately for her, the exams taken by Amy Schumer showed “a type of Cushing’s that will resolve on its own”, said the actress. She concludes her interview by calling the women “to love themselves and to fight tirelessly for their own health, in a system that generally does not believe them.”
