Anorexia - Pinpointing and Dealing with its Onslaught

The first step in treating anorexia is to identify its symptoms with the patient. By recognizing their own indicators, a patient is one step closer to conquering the disease.

Because anorexia is such a dangerous disease with an incredibly high mortality rate, it's absolutely crucial that it is not only identified as early as possible, but that it's treated effectively.

To learn more about Anorexia, its symptoms and the difficulties associated with treating the disease, read on.

The Basics of Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa is defined as a patient's refusal to maintain a healthy body weight coupled with a strong fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image. Though related, Bulimia nervosa is not the same disease and refers to those who indulge in binge eating and then take action to prevent subsequent weight gain (such as purging or vomiting).

Common Symptoms of this Problem

Often Anorexia is diagnosed after a patient's loved one or even the patient themselves recognizes the clear symptoms. These include unexplained and extreme weight loss, vomiting, fainting, fatigue and high levels of stress.

Once the disease progresses and the weight loss begins to take its toll, the symptoms become more dramatic and apparent. These include loss of hair, rotting or weak teeth, bad skin, dry skin, dry scalp and irregular menstrual cycles.

Before the disease can be officially identified, tracked and then treated, a psychiatrist and doctor must obtain a full physical assessment of the patient - particularly their body mass index (BMI), which is calculated using their height and weight. The patient's BMI can then be tracked as a way of judging their progress throughout the course of treatment.

In addition, the supervising doctor should ask for a full blood count, electrolytes, thyroid function tests and liver function assessments. This ought to be done to either exclude hypokalaemia, anemia, or hyperthyroidism or identify them as possible side symptoms of the disease itself.

Difficulties Treating of Anorexia Nervosa

Though diagnosing the disease may be relatively simple, treating it is another story. The patient may be in extreme denial and continue to maintain that nothing is wrong with them or their lifestyle. They may also hide symptoms or gain small amounts of weight to maintain a secretive level of obsession with their weight.

Patients are often unable to give in to greater levels of nutrition, but also very aware of the dangers associated with their disease. They understand that they need to seek treatment, but the prospect of eating more is frightening. Coupled with this is the fact that the disease causes low energy levels and even depression - making the disease harder to fight.

So, despite the fact that many anorexia symptoms can be quickly identified, the disease is very difficult to treat and cure. Early intervention is always recommended, along with the full support of a patient's family.

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