A buffalo hump is most commonly a result of Cushing syndrome, a disorder of excess cortisol, a naturally occurring hormone that is involved in a variety of bodily processes, such as metabolism.
Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome
One of the main signs is weight gain and more body fat, such as: increased fat on your chest and tummy, but slim arms and legs. a build-up of fat on the back of your neck and shoulders, known as a "buffalo hump" a red, puffy, rounded face.
Common signs and symptoms of higher-than-normal cortisol levels include: Weight gain, especially in your face and abdomen. Fatty deposits between your shoulder blades. Wide, purple stretch marks on your abdomen (belly).
Adding in cardio, such as a brisk walk will help lower your cortisol levels and control your stress. Once you have your stress under control, you can add interval training and sprints two or three times a week to reduce your belly fat.
Results also showed that lower vitamin D levels are associated with higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that is elevated in Cushing's.
As the body's primary stress hormone, cortisol surges when we perceive danger, and causes all the symptoms we associate with “fight or flight”—increased blood pressure and heart rate, muscle tension, and the digestive system slamming to a halt, resulting in nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
If a person believes they have high or low cortisol levels, they may wish to take a cortisol test. Usually, these tests take place at a medical practice. However, several at-home cortisol tests are available to purchase. A person can take these tests at home by providing a urine, blood, or saliva sample.
Cortisol Can Lead to Weight Gain
Cortisol stimulates your fat and carbohydrate metabolism, creating a surge of energy in your body. While this process is essential for survival situations, it also increases your appetite. Additionally, elevated cortisol levels can cause cravings for sweet, fatty and salty foods.
Too much cortisol can cause some of the main symptoms of Cushing syndrome — a fatty hump between the shoulders, a rounded face, and pink or purple stretch marks on the skin. Cushing syndrome also can cause high blood pressure or bone loss. Sometimes, it can cause type 2 diabetes.
Cushing's syndrome can be caused by overuse of cortisol medication, as seen in the treatment of chronic asthma or rheumatoid arthritis (iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome), excess production of cortisol from a tumor in the adrenal gland or elsewhere in the body (ectopic Cushing's syndrome) or a tumor of the pituitary gland ...
Surgical resection of the causal lesion(s) is generally the first-line approach. The choice of second-line treatments, including medication, bilateral adrenalectomy, and radiation therapy (for corticotrope tumors), must be individualized to each patient.
It can be caused by a variety of underlying medical conditions, like Cushing syndrome, as well as certain medications. Additional symptoms may accompany a buffalo hump depending on the underlying cause. Diagnosis may require a physical exam, review of medical history, lab work, and imaging studies.
Obesity (usually causes more generalized fat deposition) High level of the hormone cortisol (caused by Cushing syndrome) Certain genetic disorders that cause unusual fat accumulation. Madelung disease (multiple symmetrical lipomatosis) often associated with excess alcohol intake.
Blood tests
The first step is to measure ACTH levels in the blood. If ACTH levels are low, the cause is probably an adrenal tumor. People with adrenal tumors don't need further blood tests. If ACTH levels are normal or high, the cause is probably a pituitary or ectopic tumor.
There is, in fact, a chemical reason why you get more stressed, as when you're even mildly dehydrated cortisol levels in the body increase. Cortisol production is triggered by the stress response. And one way to balance these chemicals in your brain? Drink more water.
Yes, cortisol can be lowered naturally through positive lifestyle changes, specifically healthy sleep hygiene and stress reduction techniques.
Medicines to control cortisol production at the adrenal gland include ketoconazole, osilodrostat (Isturisa), mitotane (Lysodren), levoketoconazole (Recorlev), and metyrapone (Metopirone).
“Eating foods such as processed meats, high sugar foods, caffeine and alcohol, which provide little nutritional value, have been associated with more psychiatric symptoms and can increase cortisol levels—our primary hormone responsible for stress,” she said.
Remember magnesium will help lower cortisol, if you do not have adequate levels of magnesium your body cannot relax and remove excess cortisol.
I have personally dealt with adrenal fatigue in the past, and I can vouch for magnesium and cortisol's role in calming stress levels and rehabilitating hormonal systems. Magnesium helps to regulate cortisol levels, allowing for more balanced hormone production which is essential in our fast paced culture.