Cushings syndrome

[hopefulnurse11]

Need clarity. Saunders books associates hypokalemia with cushings syndrome, while the CD associates hyperkalemia with cushings. Which one is it?

[Sirius14]

In short, high cortisol levels decrease potassium levels (Lots of technical stuff too complicated to explain). Thus hypokalemia.

[caliotter3]

I did an internet search and found references to both conditions, but the predominant one seems to be hypokalemia.

[Tree525]

Too much aldosterone= retention of na and water, with loss of potassium. It's hypo

[sherilync25]

its hypokalemia

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

In short, high cortisol levels decrease potassium levels (Lots of technical stuff too complicated to explain). Thus hypokalemia.

This.

Just remember that pts with Cushing's are "too cushy" - ^BP, ^Na+, ^H2O, ^blood glucose...except for K+, which is low.

And I know you didn't ask about Addison's, but for those pts, just remember that you have to "ADD" everything to them (Na+, H2O, blood glucose and BP are all low...but K+ is high).

[Turd Ferguson]

This.

Just remember that pts with Cushing's are "too cushy" - ^BP, ^Na+, ^H2O, ^blood glucose...except for K+, which is low.

And I know you didn't ask about Addison's, but for those pts, just remember that you have to "ADD" everything to them (Na+, H2O, blood glucose and BP are all low...but K+ is high).

Excellent... I was wondering if somebody was going to bring up "Cushy Cushing" and "Addy Addison". Remember that calcium is the same as potassium in these two (K and Ca up in Addison's, K and Ca down in Cushings)

[Tree525]

Loving these

[Jenni811, RN]

i just remember it as...well you know they hang on to sodium & Water. So if they are hypernatremic, they will be hypokalemic.

Sodium/Potassium work opposite of each other. This way if you get a question about addisons (opposite of cushing) then you can answer. Addison is hyponatremia and hyperkalemia

[JeffreyS]

Had a hard time remembering Cushing's too - Found this photograph online which made things more visual :

http://img2.tfd.com/mk/C/X2604-C-74.png

Then putting the pieces together - Too much Cortisol = Insulin Resistance - HYPERglycemia

= Bone breakdown/Osteoporosis - HYPOcalcemia

=Fluid/Na+ Retention (visualize the weight gain) = HYPERnatremia

Then As mentioned by above comments since already have Hypernatremia they will have HYPOkalemia