Disorders Part 1

Hi again Female Muscle Fans. In this time we will address one of the subjects that have caused many shock around all societies because they can affect any person, no matter the economical position. So let's begin with the article.

Now in this article, the first disorder we want to analyze is one of the most shocking in mental and physical health, we are talking about anorexy, and is moment to comprehend all things that surrounds this disease.

Anorexy

It is an eating disorder in which people who suffer this disease is losing more weight of normal health parameters for their age and height. People with this disorder can have an intense fear of gsining weight, even when they are with insufficient weight. Is possible that they do diets or exercise in an excesive way or that they use other methods to lose weight.

Causes

The exact causes of the anorexia are not known. Many factors probably are involved. Genes and hormones can play a role. Social attitudes that promote very slim body types can also contribute. The risk factors for anorexia include:

1.- Being more concerned or pay more attention to weight and shape.

2.- Having a childhood anxiety disorder.

3.- Having a negative self-image.

4.- Having eating problems during infancy or early childhood.

5.- Have certain cultural or social ideas about health and beauty.

6.- Trying to be a perfectionist or too rule-focused.

Anorexia often begins during the pre-teen or teenage years, or early adulthood and is more common in women, although it can also be seen in men.

Symptoms

A person with anorexia generally:

1.- It has an intense fear of gaining weight or fattening, even when its weight is insufficient.

2.- It refuses to maintain weight in what is considered for its age and height (15% or more below normal weight).

3.- The patient has a body image that is very distorted, the patient is very focused on body weight or shape, and refuses to admit the danger of weight loss.

The people with anorexia can limit a lot the amount of food they eat, or they eat and later they make themselves vomit. Other demeanors include:

1.- Cutting the food in small pieces or change them of place on the plate instead of eating them.

2.- Doing exercise every hour, even when there is a bad weather, they are injured or they are so busy.

3.- Going to bathroom after the meals.

4.- Refusing to eat with other people.

5.- Using pills that make them urinate (diuretics), have a bowel movement (enemas and laxatives), or decrease their appetite (diet pills).

Other anorexia symptoms can include:

1.- Yellowish or blotchy skin that is dry and covered with fine hairs.

2.- Confused or slow thinking, along with poor memory or anility to discern.

3.- Depression.

4.- Dry mouth.

5.- Extreme sensitivity to cold (wearing multiple layers of clothing to stay warm).

6.- Thinning of the bones (osteoporosis).

7.- Muscle atrophy and loss of body fat.

Tests And Exams

Tests should be done to help determine the cause of the weight loss or to see what damage has been done. Many of these tests will be repeated over time to monitor the person.

These tests may include:

Albumin

Bone density tests to look for thin bones (osteoporosis)

Complete blood count

Electrocardiography (ECG)

Electrolytes

Kidney function tests

Liver function tests

Total protein

Thyroid function tests

Urine analysis

Treatment

The biggest challenge in anorexia treatment is helping the person to recognize that he or she has a disease. Most of the people that suffer this illness deny they have an eating disorder and often seek treatment only when their condition is severe.

The treatment objectives are first restoring the normal body weight and eating habits. A weight gain of 1 to 3 pounds (lbs) or 0.5 to 1.5 kilograms (kgs) per week is considered a safe goal.

Different programs have been designed to treat anorexia. These may include any of the following measures: 

Increased social activity.

Decreased amount of physical activity.

Use of meal times.

To start, a short hospital stay may be recommended. This is followed by a daily treatment schedule.

A longer hospital stay may be needed if:

The person has lost a lot of weight (below 70% of their ideal body weight for their age and height). For severe and life-threatening malnutrition. the person may require intravenous feeding or a feeding tube.

Weight loss continues even with treatment.

Helath complications develop, such as heart problems, confusion, or low potassium levels.

The person has severe depression or plans to commit suicide.

Health professionals who typically participate in these programs include:

Professional nurses.

Medicals.

Professional medical assistants.

Nutritionists or dietitians.

Mental health professionals.

Treatment is often very arduous. Affected people and their families need to work hard. Many therapies can be tried until the disorder is under control.

People with anorexia may be dropped from programs if they have unrealistic hopes of being "cured" by therapy alone.

Different types of psychotherapy are used to treat people with anorexia:

Individual cognitive behavioral therapy (a type of psychotherapy), group therapy, and family therapy have all been effective.

The goal of therapy is to change a person's thoughts or behaviors in order to encourage them to eat in a healthier way. This kind of therapy is most useful for treating younger people who haven't had anorexia for a long time.

If the person is young, therapy may include the entire family. The family is seen as part of the solution, rather than the cause of the eating disorder.

Support groups can also be a part of treatment. In these groups, patients and families come together and share what has happened to them.

Medicines, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers, can help some people when given as part of a comprehensive treatment program. These medicines can help treat depression or anxiety. Although these drugs can help, no medication has been shown to decrease the desire to lose weight.

Support Groups

The stress caused by illness can be eased by joining a support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help them not feel alone.

Expectations (Prognostic)

Anorexia is a serious condition that can be fatal. Treatment programs can help affected individuals return to normal weight, but relapse of the disease is common.

Women who develop this eating disorder at an early age have a higher chance of full recovery. Most people with this condition will still prefer to be at a low body weight and be highly focused on food and calories.

Weight management can be difficult, and-long term treatment may be required to remain at a healthy weight.

Possible Complications

Anorexia can be dangerous. It may lead to serious health problems with time, for example:

Bone weakening

Decrease in white blood cells leading to increased risk of infection

Low levels of potassium in the blood, which can cause dangerous heart rhytms

Severe lack of water and fluids in te body (dehydration)

Lack of protein, vitamins, minerals or other important nutrients in the body (malnutrition)

Seizures due to fluid loss from repeated diarrhea or vomiting

Thyroid gland problems

Dental caries

Thoughts or suicidal behavior

Getting medical help right away can make an eating disorder less severe. 

Coming up next, here are the imges related with this food disorder.

Special mention to Karen Carpenter's case, yes it is. For the new generations, Karen Carpenter was part of the famous group of 70's decade The Carpenters being drummer and the voice of the group. She was the first known case of this disease. In 1973, she suffered of this food disorder, and in those moments, the anorexia used to be unknown unlike the present time. She used to provoke vomit with the consumption of Ipecac Syrup, in addition with laxatives. Her abuse on diets that led her to malnutrition, combined with these medications were the causes that undermined her health until she suffered a heart attack at the age of 32 years old in February 4th of 1983. Her death led to media exposure of the disease, and since then, medicine studios achieved the comprehension and the treatments that nowadays are posible to access through medical attention and help groups focused to reverse the health damage. Is important to search medical help, and if it is possible to detect in early phases, it will mark the difference between life and death. 

Conclusions

This disorder must be taken seriously because one distortioned idea can take away a life and this could be one of your dear beings. The most reccommended idea is always searching professional help to solve this trouble the most effective way possible. If you detect the signals previously explained, don't think about it anymore and seek the most qualified help to stop in time the advance of the disease.

That's all for this article and this is one of the subjects we must keep in mind and focus because since its appearance, anorexia showed this disorder became in a public health trouble and as all health topics, it affects everyone, no matter the social and economical condition, and the age is another point to note. This article wants to create awarenesses about the danger that represents this disease in our society. Any idea, comments and suggestions you can write to the next e-mail address: femalemusclefanforever@gmail.com. See you next time Female Muscle Fans.