Eating Disorders - Anorexia Nervosa Effects

In this next article in our continuing series we're going todiscuss the effects of Anorexia Nervosa on a person, as well asgoing over some facts and figures.The main assault of this disease is that it focuses on selfstarvation. Since the body needs food as a basic means forsurvival, the effects of this disease are numerous to say theleast. Because the body is not getting enough nutrition, it isforced to slow down in order to compensate for this. Thisslowing down can have serious consequences on a person's body.There are a number of health consequences from Anorexia Nervosa.The main ones are as follows:1. People suffering from this disease, after an extended periodof time, suffer from an abnormally slow heart rate and very lowblood pressure. This causes the heart muscle itself to change.The chance of heart failure rises as heart rate and bloodpressure decrease.2. Because of the lack of calcium in a person's diet, since theyare not getting enough food in general, there is a great risk ofreduced bone density, which is known as osteoporosis. Thisresults in very dry and brittle bones which makes them verysusceptible to breaking.3. Again, because of the lack of nutrition, a person sufferingfrom this disease will suffer from muscle weakness and potentialmuscle loss. This can lead to more serious muscular disorders.4. Most people who suffer from this disease not only don't eatenough but also don't even drink enough water. This can resultin severe dehydration which can ultimately lead to kidneyfailure.5. Less serious symptoms, but certainly cause for concern, areoverall weakness including fatigue and fainting, which in itselfcan be dangerous when behind the wheel of a car.6. People suffering from this disease also suffer from thin anddry hair. Hair loss is very common.7. Because of the overall deterioration of the body, a coveringof hair begins to grow over the body in an effort to keep thebody warm.And now a few statistics about this disease that you may or maynot be aware of.a. About 90-95% of the people who suffer from this disease arewomen, most of them young girls.b. About 1% of all American women suffer from Anorexia Nervosa.c. Of all the psychiatric disorders, Anorexia Nervosa is themost common diagnosed in women in general.d. The mortality rate of people suffering from Anorexia Nervosais between 5 and 20%. The probability of death increases withthe length of time the person has been suffering from thedisease.e. Anorexia Nervosa has one of the highest rates of death of allmental disorders.f. The disease itself usually shows itself in early to midadolescence.The treatments for this disease are similar to the treatmentsfor Bulimia. It is important that immediate psychiatric help isgotten for the sufferer. The quicker the diagnosis and treatmentthe greater the chance for survival.