Effects
Bulimia leads to a series of both physical and psychical effects ranging from teeth problems and imbalance in electrolytes to serious depression and a low self-esteem.
Bulimia nervosa may cause:
- Malnutrition is a very common effect of bulimia, it results from inadequate consumption and excessive loss of nutrients needed to maintain a healthy body.
- Weakness and fatigue.
- Dehydration where the body contains an insufficient volume of water needed for a normal functioning.
- Imbalance of electrolytes (sodium. potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate, hydrogen carbonate) leading to a cardiac arrest (the heart will not contract effectively during systole causing a stop in the normal blood flow and preventing the blood to deliver oxygen to all parts of the body; this can cause brain damage by stroke).
- Low blood pressure (hypotension) or high blood pressure (hypertension).
- Iron deficiency, the most common form of nutritional deficiency. Present in all cells it has several vital functions: carries the oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, it is a transport medium for electrons within the cells and as an integral part of enzyme reactions in different tissues. A low amount of iron may even lead to death.
- Deficiency of hemoglobin (a molecule inside red blood cells) known as anemia. It leads to a lack of oxygen in organs.
- Hormonal imbalances.
- Hyperactivity in which a person is easily excitable, has strong emotional reactions and an impulsive behavior.
- Depression. The individual feels sad and has no interest in any social activities or hobbies.
- Insomnia. The person is having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. An insomniac will often not be able to rest for more than a few minutes at a time and typically will have a functional impairment while is being awake.
- The absence of a menstrual period (or amenorrhoea in medical terms).
- Infertility (the biological inability of a man or woman to contribute to conception) or the opposite a high risk of pregnancy. Spontaneous abortion is another effect of bulimia.
- Diabetes (high blood sugar) which leads to excessive urine production, excessive thirst and blurred vision.
- Ketoacidosis that has a distinguished smell in one’s breath.
- Osteoporosis. The bone mineral density is reduced leading to a high risk of fracture.
- Arthritis. The joints of the body are damaged causing pain and stiffness.
- Hyponatremia causing nausea, vomiting, headache, diminished reflexes, convulsions or even coma.
- Cancer of the throat or voice box.
- Failure of the liver, kidney (or kidney infection), heart.
- Cardiac arrhythmia in which the activity of the heart is slower or faster than normal. Can cause cardiac arrest and sudden death.
- The regular vomiting may cause, due to the stomach acid, damaging of the voice, teeth erosion and cavities, gum diseases (such as gingivitis or periodontitis), salivary gland swelling.
- During binging episodes one could suffer gastric rupture.
- Esophageal reflux. Inflammation, irritation and even rupture of the esophagus.
- Peptic ulcer (mucosal erosions of the gastrointestinal tract) that is acidic and very painful. Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
- Emetic toxicity (due to the usage of substances that induce vomiting such as Syrup of Ipecac.
- Laxative dependence.
- A number of physical characteristics such as: swelling of the face and cheeks, caused by the high blood pressure when vomiting, bruised fingers, dry skin, hair and nails. The growth of hair because the skin lacks fat (known as Lanugo ).
- Edema (the increase of interstitial fluid).
Other effects of bulimia are: muscle atrophy, seizure, paralysis and of course death.
