Cushing's syndrome
What it means
Cushing's syndrome is a condition caused by too much cortisol in the body, which can seriously weaken bones over time.
Excess cortisol from Cushing's syndrome attacks bone-building and bone-breakdown processes at the same time, making this a key condition to manage with your doctor to protect your bones.
Cushing's syndrome is a condition where your body is exposed to too much cortisol, the hormone your body releases in response to stress. This can happen because of a problem inside the body or from long-term use of corticosteroid medications like prednisone. Either way, chronically high cortisol creates a hostile environment for your skeleton.
High cortisol works against your bones in several ways at once. It suppresses the cells that build new bone, ramps up the cells that break bone down, reduces how much calcium your gut absorbs from food, and increases how much calcium your kidneys flush out in urine. Because it attacks bone from so many directions simultaneously, bone loss from cortisol excess can add up quickly.
If you have Cushing's syndrome or take a corticosteroid medication long-term, your prescriber is the right person to talk to about managing your condition and monitoring your bone health. This type of bone loss is considered one of the more common and preventable causes of osteoporosis, which is a good reason to stay in close contact with your care team.
How sure is this?
Graded Established Science: Supported by broad scientific consensus and decades of research. Read each study with its grade in mind. One study is a piece of the picture, not the whole of it.
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Related words
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Education only, not medical advice. Decisions about tests, medications and treatment belong with your own doctor. OsteoStrong does not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
