9. High Blood Pressure: The Silent but Potent Indicator
High blood pressure might not show itself as dramatically as a moon face or weight gain, but it’s a clear and present danger. Often dubbed the “silent killer,” high blood pressure is typically asymptomatic until it’s too late. That’s what makes it so menacing.
You might not even know you have it unless you regularly monitor your blood pressure or until it starts causing other, more severe health problems. A sudden stroke or heart attack often serves as a jolting wake-up call, but ideally, you’ll identify this symptom before it escalates to that point.
Here we go again—yes, excessive cortisol levels are also responsible for elevating blood pressure. The hormone causes your arteries to constrict and makes your heart beat faster, a double whammy for hypertension.
In the context of Cushing’s syndrome, this isn’t just a casual link; it’s a glaring red flag. The danger lies in high blood pressure’s ability to silently damage your body over time, affecting everything from your cardiovascular health to your kidneys and eyes.
While medication may control high blood pressure to some extent, addressing the root cause—excessive cortisol—is essential for a lasting solution. Moreover, lifestyle changes can significantly affect your blood pressure. (9)
