Anorexia disease is an obsessive desire to lose weight, fear of obesity. This ailment is based on neuropsychological disorders. People with such a problem torment themselves with diets, resort to fasting, gastric lavage. With this disease, a person has no appetite at all, and he does not feel the need for nutrition. According to medical statistics, almost 20% of people suffering from anorexia die from this ailment. In the overwhelming majority of cases, this problem appears in young girls and adolescents. However, this disease is also common among men. People with such a problem need urgent medical attention, otherwise they can bring themselves to complete exhaustion.
Anorexia symptoms (first signs)
The disease can appear in anyone who follows fashion fanatically. The first sign of such an ailment will be the desire to lose weight. At the same time, he may not have excess weight. This compulsive desire haunts the patient, so he begins:
Count calories;
Look for new ways to lose weight;
Sit on a variety of diets.
The patient constantly refuses to eat, arguing that this is a lack of appetite. If he takes food, it is only in very small quantities. Plus, he chews every piece thoroughly. In addition, the patient develops the following symptoms of anorexia:
The desire for physical activity;
Aggressively defending one’s position;
Avoiding events where food is served.
At the same time, a person does not understand that he is causing harm to his health. He refuses help and does not consider himself sick. You can recognize a disease simply by observing it. The physiological signs of anorexia will be as follows:
Significant weight loss;
Disorder of the menstrual cycle in women;
Decreased sex drive;
Tendency to faint;
Poor circulation;
Headache;
Frequent dizziness.
Causes
Specialists identify several types of this disease. The reasons for their appearance also vary. The most common diagnosis in humans is anorexia nervosa. With this disorder, the patient develops dissatisfaction with his body, which makes him refuse food. However, anorexia can also manifest itself against the background of other diseases, for example:
Depression;
Diabetes mellitus;
Anemia;
Schizophrenia;
Drug addiction;
Hormonal disorders;
Alcoholism.
The causes of anorexia may be related to hypothalamic insufficiency. Most often, this problem occurs in children. Symptomatic anorexia is another common type of illness. It occurs with various somatic ailments that develop in the human body. For example, this form of anorexia can appear when:
Gynecological problems;
Diseases of the endocrine system;
Disorders of the stomach and intestines;
Lung disease.
In rare cases, this problem may appear due to the intake of certain medications. In such situations, doctors diagnose drug-induced anorexia. It can appear in people who take for a long time:
Antidepressants;
Psychostimulants;
Weight loss drugs.
Which doctor will help?
A patient with such a problem does not understand that he needs help. However, if you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner, the disease can cause serious disturbances in the work of internal organs and body systems. If you observe the symptoms of anorexia in your loved ones, then they must be shown to such a doctor as:
PSYCHIATRIST
These professionals can quickly recognize the problem and determine how to get rid of it. At the first visit, the doctor will examine the patient, listen to all his complaints and concerns from his relatives. The doctor can clarify the diagnosis after talking with the patient. At the same time, he will ask her a few questions:
Why do you refuse to eat?
Do you have any health complaints?
How many kilograms has the patient already lost?
Are there any chronic diseases?
Does the patient have fainting?
Do headaches bother you?
After the conversation, the doctor can make a preliminary diagnosis. However, he has the right to confirm it only after examining the patient. A person with suspected anorexia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anorexia_nervosa will have their body mass index calculated, which will make it possible to understand if they are overweight. Also, the patient will be prescribed X-ray of the skull and magnetic resonance imaging of the head. These examinations will confirm or deny suspicions of problems with the hypothalamus.
Effective treatments
After examining the patient and determining the reasons for the onset of the disease, the doctor begins to develop a therapy program for him. The doctor selects the most effective methods of treatment for each patient. If anorexia has appeared against the background of other diseases, then therapy will be aimed primarily at eliminating the root cause. Most often, people with such a problem end up in a hospital in an extremely serious condition. At the same time, doctors begin to fight against the depletion of the body. The patient is prescribed:
Mineral complexes;
High-calorie food;
Vitamin therapy.
If a person refuses to eat, then nutrients are administered parenterally. Doctors restore the ionic balance in the body, and also correct the water-electrolyte state. If you do not seek help in a timely manner, then the patient may experience the following complications:
Heart failure;
Hair loss;
Bradycardia;
Cyanosis;
Muscle tissue atrophy.
Psychological problems must be solved!
However, the treatment will not be complete if the person is not aware of their problem. The psychotherapist helps to understand this. Throughout the course of treatment, he is admitted to a hospital. There, doctors monitor his condition, control his adequate nutrition. The patient always attends the receptions of a psychotherapist who helps him:
Correct obsessions;
Develop self-respect;
Appreciate your appearance adequately;
Accept your body;
Get rid of an inferiority complex.
If you seriously approach the problem and seek help when the first signs of anorexia appear, then you can overcome it. Parents are advised to monitor what and how much the child eats.
