Before people seek treatment for Anorexia, they often know (or are pretty sure they know) that they’re suffering from Anorexia.
Usually they’ve either self-diagnosed by doing research online or they’ve talked to a family physician or someone else who knows about Anorexia.
However, it’s not uncommon to be unsure what specific type of eating disorder you are struggling with. If you’re not sure what kind of eating issue you might have (or what a loved one my be suffering with), here is a quick overview.
What is Anorexia?
Anorexia is a condition commonly defined as self-induced starvation. This definition can be misleading because a person with Anorexia is often hungry but will refuse to eat by denying their own hunger and need for food as a result of an intense and distorted fear of being fat.
Other symptoms include excessive weight loss, restrictive control of caloric and fat intake, as well as obsessive thoughts of food/preparation and extreme worry about body shape and size.
Some Physical Complications Of Anorexia Nervosa
- Heart damage (murmur, rhythm disturbance, heart failure)
- Kidney problems (stones, kidney failure)
- Bone density problems
- Low blood sugar, low pulse, low respiratory rate, elevated cholesterol
- Electrolytic imbalances
- Dehydration and malnutrition
- Constipation or slower emptying of food from the stomach
- Changes in menstrual cycle
- Low body temperature, slowed circulation
- Deteriorating hair and nail quality
- Sleep disturbances
- Skin rash, lanugo hair (soft hair that appears on the body for warmth)
- Water retention, bloating, abdominal pain
- Depression and mood swings
- Reduced energy
Why should you seek treatment for Anorexia?
Looking at the list above, it’s pretty obvious why you should seek Anorexia treatment from experienced professionals – your life literally may be on the line!
In fact, 5% – 10% of people battling Anorexia will lose that battle. Thousands of young women and men die each year because their health gets so bad that there is simply no recovery.
It shouldn’t be that way however.
Eating disorder treatment centers, like Canopy Cove, can offer true hope for Recovery. The doctors and therapists that make up the staff at Canopy Cove can help you overcome issues with food and get you back to a more ‘healthy relationship’ with food and self!
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