Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa

Mind Recovers, Healthy Body

Anorexia Nervosa - Prevention There is no known way to prevent anorexia nervosa. Early treatment may be the best way to prevent the disorder from progressing. Knowing the early signs and seeking immediate treatment can help prevent complications of anorexia. Seeking early diagnosis and treatment improves the chances that treatment will be successful.

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric illness that describes an eating disorder characterized by extremely low body weight and body image distortion with an obsessive fear of gaining weight.

Consequences: - Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower. - Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones. - Muscle loss and weakness. - Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure. - Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness. - Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common. - Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm.

Causes It is clear that there is no single cause for anorexia and that it stems from a mixture of biological, social, and psychological factors. Current research is commonly focused on explaining existing factors and uncovering new causes. However, there is considerable debate over how much each of the known causes contributes to the development of anorexia. In particular, the contribution of perceived media pressure on women to be thin has been especially contentious.