Anorexia: Symptoms, Complications, and Treatment

What is Anorexia?

Anorexia, or Anorexia Nervosa, as is medical knows is an eating disorder that majorly is a result of self-inflicted dietary irregularities. Patients with anorexia symptoms are mostly people with a psychological fear of gaining too much weight. This irrational fear invariably forces the patients to excessively alter their eating patterns which, if continued for a long time, can have lasting impacts on the entire nutritional system of the body, and may easily go out of the control of the patient requiring medical attention. It is believed that genetics and imbalanced hormonal functions can also result in the manifestation of Anorexic symptoms, yet in more than 80 percent of cases worldwide the irregularities in dietary habits are self-inflicted amongst patients.   

The disease and related anorexia symptom are getting more common in the modern times with over 1 million registered cases annually, and in severe cases, the disease can be fatal. The Indian medical community almost unanimously agrees that the cases of Anorexia in metro cities are increasing by as much as 5 to times in India. The result of advanced anorexia is extremely low body weight in relation to height and/or body type, difficulty in digesting even moderate quantities of solid and liquid diet, and rapid and possibly life-threatening weight loss. 

How Does Anorexia Occur?

Unfortunately, there are no certain theories about the exact causes of anorexia nervosa so far. However, studies have shown a relationship between several factors and symptoms of the disease. There are cases of social causes affecting the dietary habits of patients, for example, young women who have a close relationship with an eating disorder have a much stronger inclination to develop an eating disorder themselves. Other psychological and environmental factors can also contribute to the development of anorexia symptoms. 

• The easiest way to explain the development of anorexia is the automatic rejection of food by the digestive system after a prolonged denial of food.
• Low self-esteem and unrealistic beauty standards can force patients to alter their dietary patterns in impractical and dangerous ways, to lose weight.
• Given the constant influence of the web-media young ladies find themselves fixated on the idea of looking slim and ‘sexy.'
• People in the early stages of anorexic development tend to eat too little, or vomit the food immediately after eating to prevent the food from digesting and “resulting into weight gain.”
• The medical term Anorexia Nervosa the same as anorexia, which means lack of appetite and/or self-starvation.

 What increases the risk of Anorexia in people? 

• Psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, pathological perfectionism, etc.
• Social and cultural trends such as the influence of media, prevalent standards of beauty.
• Biological factors such as hormonal imbalances that may affect dietary patterns and digestive efficiency.
• Genetic heritage may also result in an increased risk of anorexia.

A brief about Anorexia Symptoms and Diagnosis

Other than behavioral indications such as restrictive diet etc. some signs of Anorexia Symptoms are as follows,

• Extreme and rapid weight loss
• Abnormal blood counts
• Perpetual Fatigue
• discoloration of the fingertips and toes
• Thinning of hair, 
• Irregular cycle or absence of menstruation
• Dry or yellowish skin
• Eroded teeth and calluses on the knuckles from induced vomiting

Diagnosis 

BMI is usually the commonest definer of a hormonal imbalance or eating disorder. Additionally, the observations of apparent irregularities in eating patterns, behavioral patterns, and other personality traits may indicate the onset of anorexia.

Complications of Anorexia

Anorexia affects the very core of a person's health through irregularities with nutrition. It is natural then that this lack of proper nutrition should result in a weakened immune system, and reduced core strength. Prolonged lack of nutrition can also have an impact on the development of the body and manifest symptoms such as thinning of hair, and dryness of the skin, etc. Further, other than the apparent ill effects of lack of nutrition, there are a number of other complications like:

• Cardiovascular issues such as arrhythmia, refeeding syndrome ;
• Digestive system related such as constipation and indigestion;
• Infertility, thyroid imbalances;
• And neurological as well such as cerebral atrophy etc.

What is the treatment for Anorexia?

Anorexic patients majorly are treated through medication and supervised nutrition to restore normal BMI and regular bodily functions. Other than medication psychological counseling and talk therapy etc. can help boost the self-esteem in the patient and resolve emotional trauma, and help with dangerous behavioral patterns.

Some Home Remedies 

• Ginger, lime juice, and rock salt: helps aid digestion and stimulates taste buds and boosts appetite.
• Trikatu Powder and Honey: Trikatu is an Ayurvedic blend of ginger, black pepper, and pippali. It gently revives the heating tract and restores digestive functions.
• Cucumber: Cucumber is gentle on the stomach, and helps with the digestion of food. 
• Tamarind and Salt:  Titillates taste buds, and revives interest in tasty food.
• Most importantly enhancing the self-esteem and confidence of the patient helps tremendously.

Did you know?

• Social media plays an essential role in the deterioration of self-esteem.  
• Creating a positive environment around the patient increases the success rate of treatment
• Home cooked food may help not only with nutrition but also with the development of positive emotional bonds within the patient’s immediate environment.

 Video links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvSLeoUVb54

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzvTB4NOo2c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgohmVarAxc