Anorexia nervosa (pronounced "an-uh-RECK-see-uh nur-VOH-suh") is an abnormal eating condition. Individuals who have anorexia nervosa have a severe fright of increasing weight. They gravely restrict the quantity of food they consume and can get severely underweight.
Anorexia compromises both the body and the mind. It can begin as dieting, but eventually, it grows out of control. A patient thinks about dieting, eating, and weight day in and day out. He or she has a distorted personal image. Other persons say the patient is too thin, but when the patient looks at herself in the mirror, she sees a fat person.
Anorexia generally begins in the adolescent years. Early therapy can be very productive. However, if not addressed early, anorexia nervosa can turn into a lifelong illness. Untreated anorexia nervosa may lead to starving and intense health issues, like bone reduction (osteoporosis), renal (kidney) injury, and heart troubles. Some individuals pass away from these conditions.
If you or a person you know suffers from anorexia nervosa, acquire assistance immediately. The longer this illness goes on, the more difficult it is to recover from. Using therapy, a patient with anorexia nervosa may feel healthier and live at a healthy weight.
Etiology (Causes) of Anorexia Nervosa
Eating disorders are complicated, and researchers do not really understand what causes them. Nonetheless, eating disorders like anorexia nervosa can be a result of a combination of family clinical history, social elements, and personality traits.
A person may be more likely to get anorexia nervosa if:
- Other individuals in the family are overweight, have a dieting condition, or have a mood problem like clinical depression or panicking.
- You are coping with stressful life occurrences, like divorce, relocating to a new township or school, or losing a relative.
Anorexia nervosa attacks less than one percent of the population. It is most common with:
- Adolescents: Like other eating diseases, anorexia nervosa usually commences in the adolescent years with rigorous dieting and speedy weight loss. But it can begin even earlier or in adulthood.
- Approximately nine out of ten individuals with anorexia nervosa are female. However, a few boys and young men suffer from it too.
- Many patients who have anorexia nervosa are Caucasian and come from wealthy households. Nevertheless, it may affect anyone.
Starvation and Anorexia Nervosa
As starvation sets in, the patients begin to acquire signs of severe problems in the body. For example, they may:
- Feel frail, tired, or faint.
- Have thinning hair, dried out skin surface, and fragile nails.
- Have enlarged hands and feet.
- Develop a layer of baby-fine hair all over the body.
Diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa
If the physician believes that a person may have an eating problem, he or she may compare the patient's weight with the normal weight for an individual of that height and age. He or she will also examine the patient's heart, lungs, blood pressure, and skin to look for abnormalities brought about by not eating enough.
There are no medications to deal with anorexia nervosa. However, if you are depressed or nervous, your health professional may order an antidepressant drug.
Anorexia nervosa can take a while to recover from, and it is common for victims to return to dangerous eating habits.
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References:
Agras WS. (2005). "The eating disorders." In: DC Dale, DD Federman. "Scientific American Medicine." Section 3, Chapter. 9. New York.
Fairburn CG, Harrison PJ. (2003). "Eating disorders." Lancet. 361; (9355): 407–416.
