This short article focuses on the buffalo hump: its meaning, causes, diagnostic methods, lifestyle consequences, prevention and treatment.
What is the buffalo hump?
The buffalo hump is an aggregation of excess fat just behind a person’s neck that produces a visual projection of a hump-shape. Also referred to as a dorsocervical fat pad, the hump is usually a sign of some underlying health condition or issues with fat metabolism and storage.
The buffalo hump should not be confused with the dowager’s hump, which is that rounded hump that occurs at the neck’s upper base and is caused predominantly by chronic forward leaning syndrome, or age-related osteoporosis.
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What causes the buffalo hump?
Three main underlying health conditions lead to the development of the buffalo hump, and they are Cushing syndrome, Cushing disease, and Madelung disease.
- Cushing syndrome is an excess cortisol disorder that directly and indirectly contributes to increased fat synthesis. Cortisol is the body’s ‘stress’ hormone that causes sleep deprivation (and, by extension, fatigue and a reduced inclination to exercise). It also causes an unhealthy craving for fat and sugary foods.
- Cushing disease is caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland, the ‘master’ gland located at the base of the brain that secretes important hormones and aids in metabolism, among other functions.
- Madelung disease is an extremely rare disorder that causes an increased rate of fat deposition in the body. Although also present in women, it has been largely linked to chronic alcohol disorder in middle-aged men (alcohol packs in high sugar content, which is later synthesized and stored as fat).
The buffalo hump can also be caused by:
- Long-term steroid use (steroids alter fat distribution and may lead to weight gain)
- Long-term use of glucocorticoid medications that raise the level of cortisol in the body. Glucocorticoid medications are used majorly to treat asthma, allergies, and chemotherapy
- Hormonal imbalance
- Obesity and genetics
- Certain antiretroviral drugs or HIV medications
How is the buffalo hump diagnosed?
Far removed from casual eye tests, medical diagnosis of the buffalo hump involves an actual physical examination performed by a health practitioner and may encompass;
- Imaging studies (x-ray, MRI, or CT scans)
- A bone density test, and/or
- A blood test – to deduce the cortisol and hormone levels in the blood.
A patient’s cortisol level can also be evaluated by other laboratory tests like the urinary-free cortisol test, late-night salivary cortisol test, and low-dose/ high-dose dexamethasone test.
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Lifestyle consequences of the buffalo hump
The buffalo hump can cause discomfort and stiffness around the neck area, which will, in turn, limit mobility and affect the quality of one’s sleep. Most onlookers could also find the noticeable lump to be an aesthetic turn-off, which may cause a patient to socially withdraw or develop a negative body image and depression.
Moreover, the hump naturally affects how clothes fit. This may limit a patient’s wardrobe choices and induce additional strain around purchasing clothes or choosing outfits to wear. More serious, however, are the effects of the underlying health conditions – Cushing syndrome, Cushing disease, and Madelung disease.
Cushing syndrome can diminish muscles and bones and, as a consequence, one’s capacity to engage in simple day-to-day activities. Cushing disease, on the other hand, leads to extreme fatigue, and the hormonal buildup it triggers may cause excess hair growth, high blood pressure, severe irritability, and thinner skin. The fatty deposits via Madelung disease can potentially constrict the carotid blood vessels or block organs around the neck like the airways, voice box, or esophagus, leading to breathing, talking, and swallowing problems, respectively.
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How can you prevent the buffalo hump?
Generally, the methods for preventing the buffalo hump are consistent with those for preventing weight gain in the first place: namely, healthy eating and exercise!
Reducing your intake of fatty/sugary, high-carb, and high-calorie foods reduces the quantity of ‘direct’ fat that is deposited in your body and the number of calories or sugars that, if unused, will later be converted and stored as fat in your body. A healthier alternative to these food groups is ‘anti-inflammatory’ foods, the bulk of which are also positively replete with proteins and fibers.
Some foods in this category are nuts, salmon, fish, vegetables, and fruits. You can also rejig your diet (or use supplements) to meet up with your daily recommended calcium and vitamin D intake and forestall bone depletion.
For exercise, regular cardio-pulmonary exercises like running and swimming contribute markedly to weight maintenance and will reduce the likelihood of a fat-induced buffalo hump developing in the future. More targeted back and neck exercises like standing push-ups, pikes, and forced arches will strengthen your muscles around the spine and neck area and improve your back posture over time.
How can you treat the buffalo hump?
Treatment options for the buffalo hump depend on the root cause or causative factors of the hump. In cases where the hump is caused by HIV or glucocorticoid medications, a simple medication adjustment will halt its progress and potentially neuter the hump over a period of time.
And if the hump is caused by obesity and genetics, lifestyle changes such as dieting, exercise/targeted physical therapy will be sufficient for some improvements. For more stubborn fat pockets, however, and in cases where the hump is caused by a tumor that affects hormone production or has directly morphed into it, cosmetic surgery may be required to remove the fat deposits.
Primarily carried out via liposuction, the surgery will target excess fat around the neck using a specialized cannula – a thin tube-like instrument designed to break up and dislodge the fat tissues.
Once the fat is broken down, it is then vacuumed out of the body. The process is carried out with extra care to preserve the natural contours of the neck and may require a general anesthetic. Please Note: Humps caused by Cushing syndrome, Cushing disease, and Madelung disease are generally removed/reduced by treating the underlying conditions.
Final takes
If you have the buffalo hump, the guides in this article will steer you on the course toward treatment and recovery. You should also speak with a trusted medical professional for advice, or join a local or online support group for psychological support. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.
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Why elegant hoopoe?
Elegant Hoopoe is a health and aesthetics center in Dubai specializing in non-invasive fat reduction, muscle building, skin appearance, and more. The company’s expert surgery team carries out cosmetic surgeries and liposuction for buffalo hump and related conditions and has some of the best technologies in the world to aid interventions and recovery.
