What are the physiological effects of bulimia?

What are the physiological effects of bulimia?

Physiological effects of bulimia nervosa on the gastrointestinal tract include dental caries and enamel erosion; enlargement of the parotid gland; esophagitis; changes in gastric capacity and gastric emptying; gastric necrosis; and alterations of the intestinal mucosa.

What are three physical effects of bulimia?

This can cause an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), and in some severe cases, a weakened heart muscle and heart failure. The electrolytes that tend to go missing from constant vomiting are potassium, magnesium, and sodium. Bulimia can cause low blood pressure, a weak pulse, and anemia. Vomiting can be a violent event.

Which physical health problems often occur with bulimia?

Physical Effects of Bulimia Nervosa

  • Severe Dehydration.
  • Fluctuating weight.
  • Heart Arrhythmia.
  • Constipation and Other Gastrointestinal Issues.
  • Difficulty Sleeping.
  • Dry Skin.
  • Increased Risk of Stroke.
  • Dental decay.

What is the primary goal of psychotherapy for a person with bulimia?

The primary goal when treating bulimia and binge-eating disorders is to cut down on or even eliminate binge eating and purging. Treatment, therefore, typically involves nutritional counseling, psychological support, and medication. A combination of medication and psychotherapy is often the most beneficial approach.

What is bulimia and how does it affect the body?

Over time, bulimia can affect your body in the following ways: Stomach damage from overeating. Electrolyte imbalance (having levels of sodium, potassium, or other minerals that are too high or too low, which can lead to heart attack or heart failure) Ulcers and other damage to your throat from vomiting.

What are some characteristics for someone who may have bulimia nervosa?

Bulimia signs and symptoms may include:

  • Being preoccupied with your body shape and weight.
  • Living in fear of gaining weight.
  • Repeated episodes of eating abnormally large amounts of food in one sitting.
  • Feeling a loss of control during bingeing — like you can’t stop eating or can’t control what you eat.

What is characteristic for both anorexia and bulimia nervosa?

Both are serious conditions. Bulimia nervosa is a cycle of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or severely restricting food intake. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by severe food restriction. This could be limiting the amount of food or types of food.

What part of the brain is affected by bulimia nervosa?

The MRI brain scans of the women with bulimia showed that as they viewed the food cues shown to them after the stress task, there was a decrease in blood flow through the precuneus, which is a brain region associated with thinking about the self.

How bulimics brains are different?

The MRI images showed that women with bulimia had decreased blood flow in a part of the brain called the precuneus while viewing food images after completing the stressful math problems, whereas blood flow significantly increased in that part of the brain among women without bulimia.

What you should know about the long-term effects of bulimia?

One of the most common long-term side effects of bulimia is tooth damage and decay. Regular vomiting can erode the enamel of your teeth, causing decay, damage, and even tooth loss. Gum disease and long-term damage to the salivary glands in your mouth (the ones that produce saliva) are also potential issues.

What are short term and long term effects of bulimia?

Short term effects of bulimia. 1. Digestive system suffers because of vomiting. People experience bloating, indigestion, bad taste in the mouth, breath smells, pains and aches in the stomach, reflux, heart burn and nausea. 2. Swallowing can be painful if throat gets damaged while vomiting.

Are signs that someone may be suffering from bulimia nervosa?

Common symptoms of bulimia nervosa include (8): Recurrent episodes of binge eating, with a feeling of lack of control. Recurrent episodes of inappropriate purging behaviors to prevent weight gain. A self-esteem overly influenced by body shape and weight. A fear of gaining weight, despite having a normal weight.

How does bulimia effect the body and mind?

Bulimia nervosa causes a great deal of stress and strain on the body and mind. Often a patient will face an internal struggle regarding his or her overall self-esteem and body image. This coupled with the exhaustion from the body’s coping with the fluctuations in nutrition and diet causes a person to become irritable and experience mood swings.