Blog Post #3

 

Anorexia nervosa can have severe effects on your body. Almost every system in your body can be affected by the behaviors of anorexia. When you become as malnourished as you do with anorexia, it puts every organ system in your body at risk of damage. These include your cardiovascular system, endocrine system, skeletal system, gastrointestinal system, nervous system and brain (as talked about in my last blog post), and skin, hair, and nails. The effects of the damage done to your body may not be reversible, even after recovering from anorexia.

 

Anorexia can be fatal in most severe cases. Even if an individual does not appear severely underweight, they may still face sudden death due to physical effects. One of these is an arrhythmia, which is an irregular heartbeat. This is a complication of anorexia that can lead to sudden death. Another complication is an imbalance of electrolytes. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, and sodium are essential in bodily functions and maintain the balance of fluids in the body. Having an imbalance can cause death (Anorexia Nervosa, 2024).

 

Some other common complications of anorexia are:

 

• Loss of muscle
• Kidney problems
• Anemia
• Bone loss (osteoporosis)
• Constipation, bloating, nausea
• Heart conditions
• Menstrual problems in females
• Decreased testosterone in males

 

Heart conditions associated with anorexia can lead to lifelong cardiovascular health risks. Restricting food intake can lead to an individual’s heart rate slowing down. This is due to the body adapting to a slower metabolism. It can be compared to the body reacting as if you are a bear going into hibernation. This can lead to dangerous heart rhythms. A common syndrome is postural orthostatic tachycardia (POTS) due to a reduced volume of blood returning to an individual’s heart when they stand. Symptoms of this include dizziness, rapid heartbeat, lightheadedness, and heart palpitations (Williamson, 2024).

 

If you are unsure if you or someone you know has anorexia nervosa or not, there are lots of physical symptoms that can help you detect the disease. Due to dehydration, you may have dry skin and blue fingers or yellow skin. Hair and nails may become thin and break easily as well (Anorexia Nervosa, 2024). I will list some more physical symptoms below that are associated with individuals with anorexia:

 

• Extreme weight loss
• Dizziness or fainting
• Feeling weak and tired
• Swelling of legs and arms
• Feeling cold when others are not
• Lack of focus or concentration
• Low mood
• Increased anxiety
• Stress fractures
• Feeling full after eating an extremely small portion
• Never feeling hungry

 

References

 

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2024a, August 9). Anorexia nervosa. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia-nervosa/symptoms-causes/syc-20353591

 

Williamson, L. (2024, February 26). How eating disorders can damage the heart. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/02/26/how-eating-disorders-can-damage-the-heart