With all the focus on mainstream diseases: breast cancer, skin cancer, and diabetes, many other important condtions may go ignored and untreated. Ignorance may be bliss, but it's also a killer.
Cortislim. Corticel. Relacore. Any of these names sounds familiar? Starting a few years ago, these "cortisol-fighters" advertised pills that would supress the namesake hormone and help you lose weight. It seemed like a hoaz. How could there possibly be such an easy answer to weight gain?
That's how I felt when I went to an endocrinologist for suspected thyroid problems. It came out normal, but mentioned testing my cortisol levels. I thought he was positively nuts and blew him off
Two years later I'm sitting in my living room watching "Discovery Health," when a woman came on and began talking about her mysterous symptoms on a popular show, "Mystery Diagnoses." My mother nearly jumped out of her seat when she watched this woman's story. "That is you!" She exclaimed to me.
Sharmyn McGraw was a healthy, fit young woman. She was no stranger to healthy eating and exercise. But at the age of 31, everything changed. In the span of 4 days, she gained 11 pounds. Not only is this abnormal for anybody, but its especially peculiar for an active 30-year-old. Within 6 months she'd gained 85 pounds!
Sharmyn went from doctor to doctor as symptons continued to occur. Her hair began falling out. Her body became disproportioned to the point that limbs were tiny, but her abdomen was huge. Her face became round and read, and a hump grew at the back of her neck. She desperately tried to lose the weight with diet and activity.
Doctor's told her she was a hypochondriac and was lying about working out. At the end of her rope, Sharmyn requested all her medical records. She searched and searched. Finally, she found something. Every report showed that her cortisol levels were drastically high. She went online, and learned about a disease called "cushings."
Cushing's syndrome is caused by excessive cortisol in the system. Normally, the production of cortisol follows a precise chain of events. First, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain which is about the size of a small sugar cube, sends corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) to the pituitary gland.
CRH causes the pituitary to secrete ACTH (adrenocorticotropin), a hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands. When the adrenals, which are located just above the kidneys, receive the ACTH, they respond by releasing cortisol into the bloodstream.
CRH causes the pituitary to secrete ACTH (adrenocorticotropin), a hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands. When the adrenals, which are located just above the kidneys, receive the ACTH, they respond by releasing cortisol into the bloodstream.
Cortisol performs vital tasks in the body. It helps maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular function, reduces the immune system's inflammatory response, balances the effects of insulin in breaking down sugar for energy, and regulates the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. One of cortisol's most important jobs is to help the body respond to stress. For this reason, women in their last 3 months of pregnancy and highly trained athletes normally have high levels of the hormone. People suffering from depression, alcoholism, malnutrition and panic disorders also have increased cortisol levels.
When the amount of cortisol in the blood is adequate, the hypothalamus and pituitary release less CRH and ACTH. This ensures that the amount of cortisol released by the adrenal glands is precisely balanced to meet the body's daily needs. However, if something goes wrong with the adrenals or their regulating switches in the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus, cortisol production can go awryf
There are many symptoms of Cushing's, but the most common include: excessive weight gain, mood disorders, a round, red face, and a hump on the back of the neck. Usually it may be treated by removing the pituitary/adrenal tumor, or taking the patient off their mediction that causes it.
Upon watching this show, I contacted my doctor. She has written me a referral to see and endocrinologist, and I hope to find an answer to my symptoms soon.
For more information on symptoms, please visit: http://www.cushings-help.com/checklist.htm
