Medical Complications of Eating Disorders
The following is a list of possible medical complications that accompany Eating Disorders.
If left untreated the physical complications from practicing an eating disorder can become life threatening.
CARDIOVASCULAR
Slow pulse
Low blood pressure
Electrocardiogram abnormalities
Hypovolemia
Myocardiopathy and CHF (especially with use of ipecac)
CHEMISTRIES
Uric acid elevated
Cholesterol is abnormal (elevated or depressed)
Carotene is elevated
Deficiencies of trace minerals
Low blood glucose
Hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis
DENTAL AND MOUTH
Increased dental caries
Highly sensitive teeth from gingival deterioration
Pyorrhea
Lacerations and contusions of the oral cavity from use of objects to induce emesis
Tooth Loss
Erosion of enamel
Altered bite
Bleeding gums
Oral sensitivity
DERMATOLOGIC
Dry skin
Loss of subcutaneous tissues and fat in general
Scars (such as on knuckles due to inducing emesis)
Fine lanugo hair
Acrocyanosis
EFFECTS ON BRAIN AND CNS
Lack of REM sleep
Affected hypothalamus (lower body temperature, loss of shivering response, cold intolerance, and malfunction of entire temperature regulating system) due to chronic malnutrition
EEG abnormalities
ENDOCRINE
T-3 deficiency (leading to bradycardia, sluggish reflexes, dry skin, cold intolerance, hypercarotenemia, and various abnormalities of the hair)
Abnormal calcium levels and symptoms
Hypogonadism
Partial diabetes insipidus condition and the inability to concentrate urine normally
Addisons disease or hyperaldosteronism
FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE ABNORMALITIES
Effects of resultant metabolic alkalosis, potassium and chloride deficiencies
Electrolyte Imbalance
Skeletal muscle weakness
Diminished reflexes
Abnormal gastrointestinal motility
Cramps
Paresthesia
Polyuria and oliguria
Nocturia
CNS abnormalities
Constipation
Cardial effects (conduction abnormalities, irregular rhythms and sudden death)
Impaired kidney function
Emotional lability and lassitude
Potassium increase due to diuretic abuse causing cardiac abnormalities
Depletion of sodium (hyponatremia)
Dehydration
Hyponatremia
Edema
GASTROINTESTINAL
Abdominal pain, bloating, and fullness
Esophageal perforations and lacerations (Mallory-Weiss Syndrome)
Irritable bowel syndrome
Ulceration of the bowel
Malabsorption of nutrients leading to hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and calcium deficiency
Fatty infiltration of the liver
Pancreatitis
Exacerbation of hemorrhoids
Esophagitis
Melanosis coli
Gastritis
Gastric ulceration
Intestinal injury
GYNECOLOGIC
Menstrual irregularity
Amenorrhea
Infertility
Atrophic vaginitis
Breast atrophy
HEMATOLOGIC ABNORMALITIES
Anemia
Leukopernia
Thrombocytopenia
Bone marrow may be deficient or hypocellular
OPHTHALMOLOGIC
Transient blurred vision
Dark circles, puffiness under the eyes
ORTHOPEDIC AND MUSCULOSKELETAL
Osteoporosis
Loss of muscle mass leading to muscular weakness
PULMONARY
Aspiration pneumonia
RENAL
Prerenal and renal azotemia due to diminished renal pertusion and chronic dehydration
Tubular and collecting system abnormalities due to electrolyte abnormality
Predisposition to renal stones
Kidney failure
MISCELLANEOUS
Bacterial and fungal infections
Bilateral parotid gland swelling
Copyright © BrainMeta. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use | Last Modified Tue Jan 17 2006 12:39 am