Which condition is known as an overactive adrenal cortex disorder?

Cushing's syndrome is an overactive adrenal cortex disorder characterized by excessive production of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. This condition results from various causes, including pituitary tumors that stimulate the adrenal glands or adrenal tumors directly secreting cortisol. The symptoms of Cushing's syndrome may include weight gain, increased fat deposition in specific areas such as the face and abdomen, thinning skin, and easy bruising, among others.

Understanding Cushing's syndrome as an overproduction of cortisol helps to distinguish it from conditions like Conn's disease, which involves excess aldosterone leading to hypertension and electrolyte imbalances, rather than a broad overactivity of the adrenal cortex. Acromegaly is caused by excess growth hormone, typically due to a pituitary tumor, and myxedema is associated with severe hypothyroidism, none of which are directly related to adrenal cortex activity.