People who become conscious about their physical appearance and engage in bingeing and purging are more likely to suffer from an eating disorder. If caregivers or individuals themselves exhibit symptoms correlating to anorexia nervosa should consult a psychiatrist. The individual finding a competent and reliable psychiatrist should book an appointment through oladoc.com.

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder. Women of age 18-35 are more likely to suffer from the condition. It refers to a relentless need to reduce body mass and look thin. People suffering from the disorder engage in unhealthy activities/ways to reduce body weight so.

Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa

The known signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa are:

• The individual suffering from anorexia nervosa avoids eating due to the irrational fear of gaining weight.
• The person loses weight, which can cause other physical problems but.
• There is an intense fear of weight gain and how they appear to others.
• The main symptom of anorexia nervosa is that the person engages in binge eating and purging.
• There are recurrent episodes of feeling dizzy and fainting.
• The skin color of the fingers changes to blue.
• The hair growth of the person is affected. The hair growth decreases, and the person suffers from hair fall.
• The person is more likely to suffer from hirsutism.
• Women suffering from anorexia nervosa have an absence of periods, known as amenorrhea.
• The person suffers from constipation however.
• The skin remains dry and eventually changes its color to yellow
• The tolerance levels to cold weather decreases
• The patient has distorted heart rhythms, which affects their overall physical health.
• The blood pressure remains low most of the time.
• Due to a lack of food and fluid intake, the person may suffer from dehydration.
• Osteoporosis is correlated with anorexia nervosa.
• The patient can notice swelling of the arms and legs due to nutrient deficiency so.

Known Causes of Anorexia Nervosa

The known causes of anorexia nervosa are:

• People with a family history of anorexia nervosa are more likely to develop the condition.
• The fluctuation in the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the body can cause anorexia nervosa but.
• Social media and peer pressure can cause the patient to lose weight and become thin to appear attractive. In some cases, people engage in unhealthy ways and cannot maintain a healthy BMI. It causes them to suffer from anorexia nervosa and other physical problems so.
• Psychological factors can have an influence on developing anorexia nervosa. The people who struggle in managing stress, remain doubtful of their physical appearance are prone to suffer from anorexia nervosa but.

Complications Associated with Anorexia Nervosa

The complication correlated with anorexia nervosa include:

• The person may become anemic due to a lack of food and fluid intake.
• People diagnosed with anorexia nervosa are prone to suffer from heart diseases, such as mitral valve prolapsed and heart failure.
• The bones become fragile, and the risk of fractures increases.
• Women are prone to suffer from hormonal imbalance because of amenorrhea.
• Men suffering from anorexia nervosa have low testosterone levels in the body.
• Due to nutrient deficiency, the person may suffer from kidney failure, which is life-threatening.
• The person is prone to develop gastrointestinal problems such as constipation and bloating.

Tests for Diagnosing Anorexia Nervosa

The tests that are used to diagnose a person with anorexia nervosa are:

• Physical examination to check the body BMI.
• Blood count to check if the person is anemic
• Nutrient Deficiency test to evaluate the levels of vitamins and minerals in the body.
• Body imaging to evaluate the density of the bones.

People suffering from an eating disorder should visit a psychiatrist in Islamabad for diagnosis and opt for an effective treatment plan.