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Acid Reflux

What are the effects of bulimia on the body?

By BS MediaTwitter Profile | Updated: Sunday, 31 March 2019 11:36 UTC
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Bulimia may took a decade from your life.
Bulimia may took a decade from your life.

Bulimia nervosa, or bulimia, is a feeding disorder that leads to bingeing, purging, and other symptoms. The adverse physical side personal effects of bulimia may not be noticeable at first, but over time they can take their toll on the body.

Bulimia can besides disrupt a person's mental and emotional health. The side personal effects of this condition may be dangerous, especially if the individual does not receive treatment.

In this article, learn about the signs of bulimia and its personal effects on the body.

Effects of bulimia

Bulimia can affect galore areas of the body, including:

Figure 1216.1 Effects of Bulimia
Figure 1216.1: Effects of Bulimia on the body

Face and mouth

Purging by self-induced vomit can cause a few noticeable personal effects in the face and mouth, including:

  • Tooth decay: Strong stomach acids may break down the gums and tooth enamel over time, which could lead to tooth sensitivity and cavities.
  • Puffy cheeks: Puffy cheeks may be a sign of swollen secretion secretory organs, called sialadenosis.
  • Red eyes: Forceful vomit can burst blood vessels in the eyes.
  • Raspy voice: The stomach acid in vomit may damage the vocal cords.
  • A cough: on-going acid irritation to the throat can cause coughing.

Bulimia can besides cause sores, pain, and swelling in the mouth and throat.

Digestive tract

Frequent purging may besides cause issues throughout the digestive system. galore people with bulimia experience digestive problems, including acid reflux and stomach pain.

The anatomical sphincter dominant the oesophagus may become weaker, allowing acid to back up into the oesophagus and causation GI symptoms. Other possible digestive issues include diarrhoea, bloating, and constipation.

Bloody vomit can occur if continuing retching and vomit result in a tear through the oesophagus. This is best-known as a Mallory-Weiss tear, and it can cause dangerous bleeding.

Frequent purging may besides injure blood vessels near the anus, causation hemorrhoids.

People who use diuretics or laxatives to purge may have other digestive issues. Abexploitation these substances may lead to dependency, making it difficult or impossible for the person to have a normal intestine movement without exploitation them.

Overexploitation diuretics that lower K and cause dehydration may besides damage the excretory organs, possibly leading to degenerative excretory organ illness or excretory organ failure.

Bulimia is a mental health condition. The sensitivity of guilt, shame, lack of control, and distorted body image that galore people with bulimia experience seem to fuel the binge-purge cycle.

The burden of keeping the condition secret may besides cause a person to feel extra stress and anxiety.

Other mental health concerns that normally affect people with bulimia include:

  • major mood swings
  • depressive thoughts or actions
  • obsessive-compulsive behaviors
  • general anxiety
  • self-isolation
  • acts of self-harm
  • impulsive behaviors
  • low self-esteem

A lack of calories and nutrients may cause secretion imbalances in the body, which could lead to changes in the generative system.

Abnormally low oestrogen and Lipo-Lutin levels could cause people to stop menstruating. Some women's ovaries may shut down and stop cathartic egg, making gestation impossible. A person with bulimia may besides experience a loss of sex drive.

Pregnant women who binge and purge put themselves and their babies at risk of significant complications, including:

  • low birth weight
  • miscarriage
  • birth abnormalities
  • premature birth
  • postpartum depression

Lower levels of generative hormones may besides lead to bone loss or increase the risk of pathology and broken bones.

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