Topics: Health, NHS, Podcasts, Social Media, Celebrity
Amy Schumer has opened up about the condition she would 'never have known about' unless the internet 'hadn't come for her so hard'.
Online trolls rarely have a positive impact on the world. But in this rare case, one actress' trolling actually led her to a crucial diagnosis.
After being bullied online for her 'moon face', actress Amy Schumer has admitted that she took symptoms seriously that she would have otherwise brushed off.
Advert
On a recent episode of Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast, the Snatched star opened up about her little-known health battle.
She said: "The internet really came for me after doing a bunch of press. And I was like, 'ok everybody relax', but then like doctors were chiming in [within] the comments.
"And they were like, 'no, no we think something's really up, like your face looks so crazy'... I'm like wait, I'm getting trolled by doctors?"
As a result of acting upon the hate she had been receiving, Amy was diagnosed with Cushing's Syndrome in February 2024.
It's an extremely uncommon condition, and is caused by a build-up of too much cortisol in the body. It causes symptoms such as increased fat in the face, chest, and stomach, as well as mood swings, purple stretch marks, and frequent bruising.
However, after medical investigations, it was found that Amy's condition was caused by steroid injections she had been using to treat scarring, which came after she welcomed her son in 2019.
The actress explained: "I was like f*** off and then I was like wait, I have been getting steroid injections for my scars... I had a breast reduction, a C-section, whatever...
"So, I was getting these steroid injections and so, it gave me this thing called Cushing's syndrome — which I wouldn't have known if the internet hadn't come for me so hard."
It's important to note that without treatment, Cushing's syndrome can lead to a number of potentially life-threatening complications.
This includes high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, muscle mass loss and osteoporosis.
NHS guidance adds: "See a GP if you have symptoms of Cushing's syndrome, especially if you're taking steroids. Do not stop taking your medicine without getting medical advice."
They also noted: "Lots of things can cause similar symptoms to Cushing's syndrome, so it's a good idea to get checked to find out what the problem is."
