Rediscover Personal Strength: Empowering Your Journey to Wellness
Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorder can feel overwhelming, but recovery is possible. These challenges impact not only mental well-being but also physical health, with risks ranging from malnutrition and heart disease to emotional distress. Both nervosas are potentially life-threatening eating disorders. Seeking out information and support is the first step toward recovery and restoring your health.
Eating Disorders
Individuals with bulimia nervosa engage in recurrent episodes of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors like self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives or diuretics, or excessive exercise.
Medical Complications of Bulimia Nervosa:
- Purging can lead to electrolyte abnormalities.
- Low Potassium levels (less that 2.5 mEq\L) can lead to cardiac arrhythmias.
- Vomiting can cause inflammation of the esophagus or gastric rupture or decrease in tooth enamel.
- Swelling of the parotid glands can lead to mouse-like facies.
- Dehydration g. postural changes in pulse and blood pressure, dry skin, lethargy, slowed thinking, confusion.
- Postural hypotension – 20 point difference in pulse or blood pressure resulting in dizziness, syncope, and blurred vision.
Anorexia Nervosa:
In individuals with anorexia nervosa, severe food restriction leads to malnutrition. The body responds by slowing down its metabolism to conserve energy. This can result in a variety of health problems.
Medical Complications of Anorexia Nervosa:
- Postural hypotension. Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure.
- Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones.
- Muscle loss and weakness.
- Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.
- Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness.
- Dry hair and skin; hair loss is common.
- Growth of lanugo, a downy layer of hair called all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm.
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge-eating is a condition where people lose control over their eating and have reoccurring episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food. Unlike bulimia nervosa, periods of binge-eating are not followed by purging, excessive exercise, or fasting. Most patients with Binge Eating Disorder are overweight. The combination binge eating and obesity contribute to multiple health concerns.
Medical Complications of Binge Eating:
- Heart Disease: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease are more common in overweight individuals.
- Type 2 Diabetes: Excess weight can lead to insulin resistance, elevated triglyceride levels, making , it harder for your body to regulate blood sugar levels.
- Stroke: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and increase the risk of stroke.
- Certain Types of Cancer: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of several types of cancer, including breast, colon, and endometrial cancer.
- Sleep Apnea: a sleep disorder that causes breathing interruptions.
- Joint Pain: Extra weight puts more stress on joints, particularly the knees and hips, leading to conditions like osteoarthritis.
- Gallbladder Disease: linked to an increased risk of gallstones and gallbladder disease.
- Mental Health Issues: Both Binge eating and obesity can contribute to feelings of low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.
What to Assess in an Eating Disorder Patient
- Obtain medical and mental health history, course of the patient’s illness.
- Ask if there been admissions to inpatient, residential, or other higher levels of care?
- If yes , has the patient improved?
- Is the patient restricting, purging, binging or all of these?
- Purging and restricting can cause acute medical problems, binging alone does not
- What is the member’s BMI?
- What is the trend?
- What is the member’s pulse and blood pressure, sitting and standing.
- Is there any lightheadedness?
- Does the patient have abnormalities in lab values, e.g. potassium, sodium, calcium?
- If labs aren’t available, why not?
- Do they have regular visits with their PCP
- Has the subject had a recent medical work-up?
Mental Health Disorders
Mental health disorders like depression and anxiety can have physical health implications, making it essential for eating disorder treatment to combine medical care with professional counseling.
Medical Complications of Mental Health Conditions:
- Cardiovascular Disease: Depression and anxiety can increase the risk of heart disease, including heart attacks and strokes.
- Impaired Immune Function: Chronic stress and emotional distress can weaken the immune system, making individuals more vulnerable to infections.
- Gastrointestinal Disorders: Mental health conditions can contribute to digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome.
- Sleep Disorders: Depression and anxiety often disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia and other sleep disorders.
You Are Not Alone
Healing begins with support. Join a compassionate community that understands your struggles and celebrates your victories. It’s important to recognize that mental health and physical health are interconnected. By addressing mental health concerns, individuals can improve their overall health and well-being. Your health and happiness matter.
Resources:
- National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)
Provides resources, support, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by eating disorders. - Academy for Eating Disorders (AED)
Focuses on advancing the understanding, prevention, and treatment of eating disorders through education, research, and collaboration.
- Website: https://www.aedweb.org
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Offers information on the symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options for eating disorders as part of broader mental health research and advocacy.- Website: https://www.nimh.nih.gov
Reference:
- International Journal of Eating Disorders (IJED)
A leading journal dedicated to publishing research on the etiology, prevention, treatment, and consequences of eating disorders. - Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention
Focuses on clinical approaches to treating and preventing eating disorders, featuring case studies, research, and therapeutic insights. - Journal of Eating Disorders
An open-access journal covering all aspects of eating disorders, from biological to social factors, as well as treatment innovations. - European Eating Disorders Review (EEDR)
Provides a platform for research, reviews, and clinical papers on eating disorders, focusing on scientific and therapeutic advancements. - Appetite
Explores the behavioral, psychological, and biological aspects of eating and eating disorders, addressing broader issues related to appetite regulation and food intake.
Article Citation:
Author: LeClair, Lynda
Title of the Post: Medical Consequences of Mental Health Problems
Blog Name: Infinite Psychology dot com
Date of Publication: December 4, 2024
URL: https://www.infinitepsychology.com/Medical Consequences of Mental Health Problems