Bulimia - Treatment, Symptoms, Consequences

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Bulimia

General characteristics of the disease

Bulimia is an eating disorder that results in bouts of uncontrolled overeating, usually followed by purging rituals such as vomiting or laxatives.

Such irresistible bouts of hunger can be of two types - bulimia nervosa and bulimia of puberty. The first type of the disease is most susceptible to people aged 25-30 years, seeking reassurance and finding it in food. The causes of bulimia nervosa can be mental disorders, stress, low self-esteem, but sometimes diseases of the endocrine system, central nervous system, or a burdened heredity can lead to this disease.

The second type of bulimia is most common in girls going through puberty. Very often at this age, bouts of overeating alternate with periods of complete lack of appetite. Both types of bulimia are curable if the disease is diagnosed early and effective measures are taken to promote recovery.

Bulimia is characterized by several types of manifestations:

• a huge amount of food is absorbed paroxysm, that is, the need for food appears suddenly;
• a person eats constantly, without ceasing;
• bouts of hunger occur at night.

For people with bulimia nervosa, food is a way to relieve anxiety, replace support and attention, and relieve stress. At the same time, the very nature of food intake is changing - an unlimited amount of food is swallowed in an almost unchewed form. After the fact of overeating, a person, out of guilt and in order to avoid obesity, tries to cleanse the stomach either by artificially inducing vomiting or by taking laxatives and diuretics.

In some cases, people with bulimia nervosa may resort to intermittent fasting or excessive exercise. Very often, overeating and the following cleansing methods in combination with a weak nervous system can provoke serious complications.

Bulimia symptoms

Bulimia from the outside is quite difficult to recognize, since people suffering from this disease, in most cases, have a normal weight, and it is almost impossible to visually determine their difference from healthy people.

About thirty years ago, a special scale was developed that allows you to diagnose bulimia. The 26-question test is today recognized as a reliable tool in eating disorders research. In order to identify the disease in relatives or other close people, a simplified version of the test is used. So, the following symptoms of bulimia can give out the patient:

• problems with gums and destruction of tooth enamel, which provokes repeated exposure to gastric acid that gets into the mouth during vomiting;
• the presence of wounds or scratches on the fingers that may occur when they are placed in the throat in order to induce vomiting;
• dehydration;
• muscle twitching and cramps due to electrolyte imbalances;
• inflammation of the parotid salivary gland and esophagus as a result of frequent vomiting;
• various kinds of intestinal disorders, provoked by excessive use of laxatives;
• in some cases, internal bleeding;
• signs of functional disorders of the liver and kidneys;
• heart disease caused by metabolic changes;
• menstrual irregularities.

If you find the symptoms of bulimia listed above, you should immediately consult a doctor

Bulimia treatment

Traditional treatment for bulimia involves, first of all, psychotherapy, systemic constellations, and only in some cases antidepressants. The sooner the disease is diagnosed and treatment is started, the more likely it is that bulimia-related health problems will not develop. If the eating disorder is accompanied by other psychological disorders, in particular depression, alcohol or drug addiction, an integrated approach to the treatment of the whole body is required.

Bulimia treatment is a lengthy process that can last longer than a year, and the first signs of recovery are observed only after weeks, or even months. Unfortunately, positive results of treatment do not yet guarantee that bulimia will not return after a while.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often used in the treatment of this eating disorder, aimed at making the patient accept himself as he is. As part of this therapy, a bulimic patient is taught about eating patterns, proper nutrition, reducing his anxiety about his weight and appearance, as well as helping to analyze relationships with other people, and developing skills to prevent the disease from returning.

Traditional medicine offers its own ways to treat bulimia:

• Three cloves of garlic, pre-peeled and pounded, are poured with boiled chilled water (1 glass). Having withstood the day, the infusion is taken daily at night for 1 tablespoon.
• Mix parsley and dried mint in equal amounts, pour boiling water over - 1 tablespoon of the collection for 1 glass of water - and leave for half an hour. This infusion helps to satisfy hunger. According to the same scheme and in compliance with the same proportions, an infusion is prepared from the herb of bitter wormwood, which is taken before meals in 1 tablespoon.
• In 3 liters of water over moderate heat, cook 250 g of plums and the same amount of figs, wait until the amount of liquid decreases to 2.5 liters. The broth is taken before meals for ½ cup.
• One glass of water is poured into 20 g of celery, boiled for 15 minutes. The filtered broth is drunk during the day in three doses before meals.

It should be remembered that bulimia is a serious illness that requires professional medical attention and the care of loved ones.

The consequences of bulimia

It is quite natural that overeating in combination with forced cleaning of the stomach cannot pass without leaving a trace for the body. The consequences of bulimia are as follows:

• neurasthenia;
• deterioration of the condition of teeth, hair, nails, skin;
• violation of metabolic processes;
• acute heart failure;
• disruption of the digestive system;
• drug, and sometimes alcohol and drug addiction;
• difficulty in communicating with loved ones;
• loss of interest in life;
• general depletion of the body.

The consequences of bulimia, as well as the disease itself, can be avoided by maintaining a healthy psychological climate in the family, creating a stable and safe stop, and helping to build healthy self-esteem in children.

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The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!