Final answer:
Medication-induced Cushing syndrome is typically caused by prolonged use of corticosteroid medications leading to excessive cortisol levels, resulting in symptoms such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and a moon face. Treatments focus on reducing cortisol levels through medication adjustment, surgery, or other therapies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medication-induced Cushing syndrome is primarily caused by the hypersecretion of cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone. This condition often arises as a result of long-term use of corticosteroid medications. These medications, including pills, injections, or cortisol ointments, are used to treat various conditions like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. When administered in high doses or over a prolonged period, they can cause the body to exhibit symptoms similar to those of Cushing's disease. In patients with Cushing syndrome, common signs include obesity, high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, a rounded "moon face," fat accumulation between the shoulders, weak muscles, and bone pain due to the breakdown of proteins.
Various treatments focus on reducing the excessive cortisol levels. Options may include tapering off the corticosteroid medication, surgical removal of tumors in case of Cushing's disease (hypersecretion due to a pituitary tumor), radiation therapy, or medications that regulate cortisol production. Managing and treating Cushing syndrome requires careful medical attention to the underlying cause and the restoration of cortisol to normal levels.