Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment And Complications Of Anorexia Nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is a health problem in which the sufferer is obsessed to have a skinny body and very scared if they look fat. With fear, their bodies even always considered less skinny or fat still though the reality is not like that.
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Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment And Complications Of Anorexia Nervosa |
Age sixteen to seventeen years of age which is considered to be prone to this disorder to start appearing, and the majority of people with anorexia comes from among young women and adult women.
To make their bodies remain as skinny as possible, people with anorexia will try hard limit servings eat and exercising may be minimal. Some of them will even be trying to regurgitate food back that has been consumed.
Symptoms Of Anorexia Nervosa
Because the person with anorexia is very obsessed to loose their weight as low as possible, then the main symptoms of this condition is the weight that drops dramatically to be under the limit.
In an effort to satisfy their obsessions to the body very thin, people with anorexia will do a variety of things, including by limiting the portion of food, spewing back the food was eaten, and lie if asked whether they've eaten.
Anorexia sufferers commonly wears clothes that are loose and routine measurements, weighing, or observation of their bodies in front of the mirror. In addition, they will often be doing excessive exercise and drinking appetite suppressant medications or laxative.
From any of these symptoms, it is clear that the disease anorexia is not just a matter of physical health, but also with regard to the problem of psychology.
Dissatisfaction would body weight makes the person with anorexia have less confidence. They feel that their self-esteem is affected by weight. As a result of distrust this self makes them isolate themselves and no longer interested in socializing with others. Because it's not a little person with anorexia that ultimately have a problem in conjunction with others, especially in the family, friendship, education, or employment.
Health problems that arise
Perceived health problems people with anorexia are caused by lack of food intake, especially in a long period of time. Some health problems are:
- Headaches and dizziness
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Hands and feet are visible undergoes a color change due to poor circulation
- Fever
- Hair loss
- Dry skin
- Problems on physical growth and puberty in children and adolescents
- Insomnia
- Irregular heartbeat
- Dehydration
- Low blood pressure
- The growth of the fine hair on the entire body
- Nails that break easily
- Abdominal pain
- Menstrual disorders in women.
The Causes Of Anorexia Nervosa
The exact cause of anorexia is still unclear. Most specialists believe the disorder arises from the combined a number of factors, such as psychological factors as well as genetic, environmental, or biological.
Psychologically, the fears and concerns of the body fat, has raised an obsession and powerful force in the person with anorexia to self dealing with the Agency. In addition,people with anorexia is also more emotionally introverted and easily stressed.
The influence of the environment against anorexia nervosa
A mindset that is formed due to the influence of the environment can trigger anorexia, for example, is advertising in the mass media. Today this skinny body considered the terms of the absolute beauty. The thinking is then amplified and propagated by advertisements, so that not a few of the affected communities, especially teenagers.
The reason why people with anorexia are mostly from among teenagers is the abundance of body changes, hormonal changes and periods of stress or anxiety. At this time, the teen's confidence is very low so they often wavering and easily influenced. In addition due to the influence of hormones, ridicule and pressure experienced by a teenager at school can also trigger the onset of anorexia.
Meanwhile, anorexia nervosa can also arise due to the demands of the job and the disappointing events, such as a breakup.
Anorexia due to heredity and biological
Someone who has a family history of people with eating disorders, depression, or addicted to illegal drugs, is believed to have a greater risk for severe anorexia.
In addition to heredity or genetics, anorexia is suspected to be due to changes in hormone levels and the function of the brain as well. These changes may only affect parts of the brain that control appetite or trigger feelings of guilt and worry due to lots of eating.
The Diagnosis Of Anorexia Nervosa
In diagnosing anorexia, first the doctor will first ask about diet and weight loss patients, for example, how far he's worrying about her weight and are often regurgitate back food that has been consumed.
After that the doctor will also collect data about the weight of the patient, especially if the patient has a significant weight loss.
To determine a healthy weight, the doctor will calculate your body mass index or body mass index (IMT). IMT is calculating weight refers to the ratio of weight and height of a person. The benefit calculation was to IMT knowing whether someone experiencing excess, deficiency or a healthy body weight.
The formula used in the calculation is the weight of the body in the IMT kilograms divided by height in meters squared (m2). For example if the patient's weight is 66 pounds and the height is 1.65 meters, then the calculation is 66/1.65 × 1.65 = 24,24 kg/m²
IMT is normal for adults is at the range of final results 19-25, while the IMT is normal for children and adolescents depends on their age. In adults, the condition of anorexia can be suspected if IMT is under 17.5.
No special tests in the diagnosis of anorexia
The doctor may not need to do special tests to diagnose anorexia nervosa, but usuallythe doctor will do a simple examination to find out whether the patient hascomplications due to anorexia. Things that need to be checked for the doctor are:
- Blood pressure
- Pulse
- Hands and feet
- Body temperature
The doctor also will usually ask the patient perform physical movement is simple to see the strength of the muscles of the patients. Simple physical movements that question is like squat, stand, and move when sitting.
Someone vulnerable exposed problems in the heart if severe anorexia. The heart problem one is an irregular heartbeat. Usually to determine the matter, doctors perform an electrocardiogram examination.
Treatment Of Anorexia Nervosa
Occasionally treatment must be done by force if the condition anorexia had already entered the stage of dangerous and threatening people with. In such a case, you should immediately bring the person with family to the hospital so quickly dealt with.
Treatment of anorexia nervosa is usually done by way of combining psychology therapy with supervised weight restoration. It is very important to perform the treatment as early as possible, especially if the patients have already lost large amounts of weight. In addition, the handling of ASAP can lower the risk of complications.
Handling of anorexia through psychological aspects
A number of psychological treatment can be applied to treat anorexia. Usually the treatment will last up to one year and a half of even longer, depending upon the severity of the condition or person with anorexia. Below are outlined a number of therapies being done as part of the handling.
Cognitive analytic therapy by tracing the past patients
This therapy is based on the theory that mental health issues including anorexia caused by thought patterns and unhealthy behaviour which was formed since the patients were children or teenagers. This therapy involves three stages of the process.
The first stage is reformulating. At this stage of reformulating, usually specialist therapy will find out the patient's experience in the past that might be the reason why the patterns of unhealthy can be developed.
The second stage is the introduction. An occupational therapist will help patients see and understand how the patterns of such unhealthy contribute to anorexia.
The third stage or the last stage is the revision. At this stage, a number of changes which can stop the patterns that the unhealthy are identified, assessed, and then applied.
Change negative thought patterns with behavior therapy
The person's behavior is usually a fruit from a pattern she thought. Vice versa, the behaviour can shape the mindset as well. Many unrealistic things which is believed to be something right by the person with anorexia. For example, they feel their self-worth is dependent on their weight. They are very afraid of ridiculed or not appreciated by other people because it is considered obese.
Therefore, through cognitive behavioral therapy, the therapist will try to help patients change the negative thoughts about food and the appearance of a positive mindset and realistic, so the expected behavior of distorting patients can be lost.
Examines interpersonal therapy person with environment
This therapy is basing the theory to environmental relationships with anorexia, in which the environment and people around has a very strong influence in shaping the psychological state of the person with. The theory concludes that low self-esteem and anxiety experienced by the person with arise from interactions with people around.
During this therapy, the therapist will attempt to elucidate the negative things associated with the patient's interpersonal relationships and find out how to overcome negative things.
The role of the family as part of the treatment of anorexia
The role of the family is essential for healing people with anorexia because usually families is the party that most feel the impact of anorexia itself. In addition to the need to strive to understand the conditions that are experienced by the person with, families can also work closely with doctors in helping speed up the healing process.
Raise the weight regularly and safely
As part of the treatment plan, doctors will include advice on how to raise a patient's weight safely. The doctor will also continue to monitor the physical health of the patient. For patients older children and teenagers, their height will be checked periodically to make sure they grow normally.
Raise the weight normally should be done gradually. As a first step, the therapist will usually ask the patient to try to eat regularly, though in a slightly bigger portion. This therapy is considered successful after the patient's return to normal diet with sufficient nutrition intake, including vitamins and minerals. It is hoped through this therapy, the patient can go back as many as half the weight of raising up to one kilogram per one week.
Handling of anorexia by using drugs
If anorexia just coped with taking any medication, usually the result will not be effective. The use of new drugs will be effective if combined with other therapies. The drugs are also used to treat psychological problems associated with anorexia, such as obsessive compulsive disorder and depression. The drugs include selective serotonin reuptake and olanzapine in habitors (SSRIs).
SSRIs is a type of antidepressant. This medication can help relieve depression andanxiety-related anorexia. Usually the doctor will give this medication if a patient'sweight has returned to normal. The giving SSRIs to patients with body weight below normal are feared will cause bad side effects.
Whereas olanzapine is a medicine that is given to people with anorexia are not responding to other treatment methods. This medication can help relieve anxiety related to diet or weight loss.
Anorexia treatment cannot be done instantly. To recover fully, the person with can takes several years due to the concomitant treatment, some of them still having an eating disorder.
Complications Of Anorexia Nervosa
Some health problems or even death can occur if anorexia is not immediatelyaddressed. Complications arise due to the lack of nutrients needed by the body, in this case from the intake of food.
In addition to anorexia nervosa, there is a similar condition called bulimia nervosa.Some sufferers of anorexia bulimia experience further. People with bulimia usually packed as many before they release it back to the way spewed out or taking laxatives.
Examples of the complications that can arise due to anorexia include anemia, low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and even heart failure. People with anorexia have also threatened to damage on the liver and kidneys.
In children and teens, anorexia may inhibit physical development. In adults, particularly women, this condition can cause osteoporosis, menstrual disorders, and infertility.While on a grown man, anorexia can cause impotence and erectile dysfunction.
Anorexia during pregnancy
A pregnant woman who suffered from anorexia can be at risk of experiencing a miscarriage, premature babies, gave birth to a baby weighing process, and sometimes low lying should be helped with surgery. A pregnant woman who suffered from anorexia usually will continue to be monitored by a doctor, either during her pregnancy and after the birth.
Not only the pregnant woman could be the person with anorexia, people with anorexia are former women pregnant still need to get the surveillance, as well as get support during their pregnancy.
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