The Consequences of bulimia In health you can be physical and psychological: chemical imbalances, problems in the esophagus, problems to chew food, kidney problems, pancreatitis, osteoporosis, anemia, irritability, depression, anxiety disorders, addiction to substances, social isolation and others to I'll explain later.
When you have bulimia, you judge the shape, size and weight of your body. In order to alleviate this discontent, one begins to develop strict diets to lose weight.
However, as time goes on, hunger triggers the desire to eat compulsively. Then the binge appears, which while passing brings a sense of comfort, but soon arrive Feelings of guilt And shame that create the need to purge.
The funny thing is that people who suffer from it are so afraid of getting fat that even knowing the serious consequences that these habits have on health, they are not able to stop them.
The consequences of bulimia on health can be detrimental effects on a set of different systems and organs, with some less and other effects more dangerous to life.
We can define the bulimia Such as the presence of episodes of binge eating, or ingestion of an immense amount of food in a short period of time, followed by various strategies to avoid the weight gain that food will cause.
Purgative methods are used, for example: laxatives, diuretics, forced vomiting, or extreme physical exercise. This whole process is repeated and accompanied by great suffering and a sense of loss of control. (Here you can know the Types of bulimia that exist)
It seems that the motivation that drives this behavior is an obsession to lose weight, due to the nonconformity with the shape or size of the body.
Contrastingly, people with bulimia usually do not manifest it in their appearance. That is, they can have a body weight within normal and even overweight.
However, there are other hidden reasons for this disease: the desire for control, the Perfectionism , The desire to enter into cultural or family demands, and the need to To relieve anxiety And the stress that this generates.
Physical Consequences of Bulimia
1- Chemical Imbalances
Binge and purge cycles can affect the entire digestive system, resulting in chemical and electrolyte imbalances.
Electrolytes control essential functions of the body and some of them are potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus or sodium. They are often lost after intense loss of body fluids or dehydration, as can occur after purges.
When the balance between sodium and potassium is decomposed, changes in the electrical signaling of the heart can cause irregularities in the heart's functioning. Specifically heart failure, irregular heartbeat and even death.
If sodium is lacking, there is a drop in blood pressure and dizziness. However, if there is a lack of magnesium, muscle weakness, tingling and cramping appear.
Exposure to stomach acids
When vomiting, people with bulimia expose their mouth to the powerful acids in the stomach, which are responsible for breaking down food in the stomach.
As a result, the teeth are damaged and even lost, since the acids can destroy the enamel that protect the teeth.
It is manifested by stains on teeth, cavities, pain, unusual tooth sensitivity to very cold, hot or sweet foods, inflammation of the gums, gingivitis , etc.
In addition, continuous exposure to stomach acids can deteriorate the salivary glands causing swelling and pain in the cheeks. This looks wide and swollen.
3- Problems in the esophagus
Inflammation, deterioration and even rupture of the esophagus by frequent forced vomiting. Also by contact with stomach acids can cause ulcers and abnormal narrowing of the esophagus by inflammation of the esophagus. It can manifest with the appearance of blood in vomiting.
Sometimes a phenomenon called gastro-esophageal reflux can appear, that is to say, that the habit of vomiting the contents of the stomach returns to the mouth spontaneously.
There is also difficulty speaking or hoarseness from the wear and tear of the esophagus.
4- Difficulties to chew and swallow food
These difficulties are caused by damage to the mouth and esophagus due to frequent vomiting.
Inadequate bowel motility
The bowel presents irregular movements and by the abuse of laxatives, chronic constipation and hemorrhoids. Other gastrointestinal effects include diarrhea, cramps, and bloating.
6- Delayed stomach emptying
7- Gastric rupture
Gastric rupture can occur due to the severe periods of binge eating. There are serious situations of intestinal alterations in bulimia that can make the surgery necessary for the digestive system to function properly again.
8- Kidney problems
Prolonged use of diuretics may disrupt kidney function, causing urinary tract infections, kidney stones, kidney stones, and even kidney necrosis, leading to kidney failure.
9- Peptic ulcers
The Peptidic ulcers Are crater-like lesions that appear on the lining of the stomach or duodenum.
10- Pancreatitis Or inflammation of the pancreas.
11- Respiratory problems
Respiratory problems may occur, as a small amount of gastric acids may enter the airways when vomiting is caused. That is why it is not surprising that pneumonia or bronchitis occurs.
12- Other physical problems
Other physical aspects Include dry skin, very low blood pressure and pulse, cramps, muscle fatigue, weakness, fainting, and loss of consciousness.
13- Low body temperature
In fact, these people are usually more sensitive to cold.
14- Osteoporosis
15- Anemia or lack of iron
16- Binge eating junk food
The type of food that is usually eaten in binge eating is caloric, with little nutritional value and with a lot of sugar. Usually they are sweets, cookies, ice cream or chocolate.
Therefore, the few nutrients that the body can get to absorb are not the best for health.
17- Side Effects of Medications
Overuse of some medications to cause vomiting such as syrup of ipecac may have serious side effects like diarrhea, low blood pressure, chest pain, and trouble breathing.
18- Body weight fluctuating and unstable,
Fluctuating and unstable body weight, due to nutrient imbalances and periodic malnutrition.
19- Changes in the hormonal cycles of women
These changes alter menstruation and reproductive capacity. There may even be amenorrhea or absence of menstruation. In men, stagnation can be found in the reproductive system.
20- Callus on the fingers
A visible sign that appears as a result of frequent provoked vomiting is the calluses or wounds on the fingers, especially the knuckles. These signs are observed when the person is vomiting with the hands, by the pressure of the teeth.
21- Lanugo, fragility in hair and nails
Other observable signs are lanugo, or thin, long hair that covers the entire skin to protect it due to the absence of fat, hair loss, brittle nails, pallor, etc.
22- Bulimia and pregnancy:
Bulimics who are pregnant have twice the risk of having different health consequences, such as miscarriages, premature births, respiratory problems, Preeclampsia Or hypertension in pregnancy.
Other consequences are a need for cesarean section, a baby with low body weight at birth or even, that the baby dies at birth.
These people are also more at risk of developing depression during and after pregnancy.
23- Diabetes
Curiously it is usual to find adolescents with Diabetes type 1 And bulimia. This happens because when treated with insulin (to reach adequate levels of glucose) they begin to gain weight quickly, which leads some to avoid insulin to regain weight.
Because diabetes is not treated, the individual is at risk of developing multiple medical complications such as kidney failure or blindness.
Consequences of psychological type and repercussions in daily life
24- Irritability And ups and downs in humor.
25- Depression Associated with intense feelings of guilt and shame after binge eating, anxiety and obsessions.
26- Anxiety disorders as social phobia , Panic disorder , Obsessive-compulsive disorder , etc.
27- Addiction to substances: In more than one third of people with bulimia, substance abuse.
28- Personality Limit Disorder: There is a relationship between bulimia and Borderline personality disorder , With respect to other disorders of the alimentary conduct.
29- Suicidal ideation Y Suicide risk For the great discomfort these people feel continually to be dissatisfied always with their body image. Moreover, they are not alien to their situation: they are perfectly aware that they are in a vicious circle that has no way out.
30- Distorted body image: In many cases, the distortion is increasing as the disease progresses. For example, in testimonies in which those affected have recovered, they often report that one day they suddenly looked at themselves in the mirror and noticed their real appearance (evidently skinny) when they had always thought - falsely - that they were overweight.
31- Social isolation For various reasons: the person is tired, sleepy and his thoughts revolve around food. It can also happen that due to the discontent that he feels with his own body does not feel like going out or relating, although usually avoid social events because they are usually drinking or eating. They tend to be continually aware of themselves, becoming totally self-centered as a result of illness.
If you live with the family, you may have confrontations with them for wanting to disappear at mealtimes, refuse to eat or avoid them constantly.
It is also habitual a loss of the libido and lack of interest to know to possible pairs.
32- Difficulty in meeting, to concentrate And memorize.
33- Low work or school performance: Together with the above and because the person does not have enough energy. In addition, the few remaining forces are spent on ruminating their obsessions about food and their body, compensation behaviors such as excessive physical exercise or cooking or buying food.
34- Reduction of sleep or insomnia , Since the hunger and the lack of nutrients causes cold, cramps and alterations in the dream. As a result of this, the person will be even more tired, and will see things more negatively.
35- Feelings of guilt: As a consequence, can have great feelings of guilt when they begin to realize that their illness has brought them negative consequences in their life: they are not able to perform leisure activities like their peers, have lost work or left studies, have Left aside to their friends, feel bad for deceiving or hurting their relatives, etc.
Despite the severity of this disorder and its dangerous consequences, bulimia can be treated successfully. In fact, about half of the bulimic people recover completely thanks to proper treatment.
It is important to intervene as soon as possible so that damage is minor and easier to repair.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to know that the bulimia is a very persistent disorder and that produces obsessions very difficult to forget. It is not strange, therefore, that relapses occur in times of stress. Do not panic, just get help.
We must keep in mind that the recovery of a mental disorder such as bulimia is not immediate or linear, but is something that oscillates: it has its best moments and worse and relapses are normal, the important thing is to know how to get up.
If you want to know how to prevent bulimia (and anorexia) you can find information here.
References
- Anorexia and bulimia. (S.f.). Retrieved on August 02, 2016, from the Red Cross.
- Bulimia. (S.f.). Retrieved on August 02, 2016, from Orienta Red.
- Bulimia Nervosa: Causes, Symptoms, Signs & Treatment Help. (S.f.). Retrieved on August 2, 2016, from Eating Disorder HOPE.
- Health Consequences of Eating Disorders. (S.f.). Retrieved on August 02, 2016, from NEDA Feeding hope.
- Health Consequences of Eating Disorders. (S.f.). Retrieved on August 2, 2016, from IOWA State University. Student Consueling Services.
- Health Effects of Bulimia. (S.f.). Retrieved on August 2, 2016, from Elements Behavioral Health.
- THE EFFECTS OF BULIMIA ON THE BODY. (S.f.). Retrieved on August 2, 2016, from Health Line.