Interpreting Health Conditions that Co-Exist with Bulimia Nervosa

To truly handle any mental disorder, one must take into account the multitude of co-morbid conditions that may also be involved or related. No single affliction stands on its own; there are a lot of other contributing factors involved. For Instance, with diabetes, there is the overall disease itself but adding to the problem of diabetes are other things like peripheral neuropathy (a loss of blood flow to the feet), and other physical as well as mental disorders.

Eating disorders like Bulimia Nervosa rarely present without co-morbid physical and emotional conditions. When co-morbid conditions do exist, they too must be treated along with the patient's bulimia, the primary diagnosis. Successful treatment of Bulimia Nervosa depends upon the simultaneous treatment of co-morbid disorders. It's really not important to debate whether bulimia induced the co-morbid disorders, or vice-versa since both conditions must be treated for recovery to be successful. Going to this website Childhood Obesity Facts will give you further illuminating material.

The Diagnostic as well as Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, Version Four, Text Revised (DSM-IV-TR) describes the following physical as well as emotional disorders that are frequently co-morbid with Bulimia Nervosa: Most bulimics are not medically obese, but are of a normal weight or perhaps underweight. Through purging their food through self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, and the misuse of laxatives, diuretics and enemas, they avoid weight gain.

Symptoms of depression and/or anxiety are frequently co-morbid with bulimia. Patients exhibit anhedonia (loss of pleasurable feelings), insomnia, inability to focus as well as concentrate, as well as thoughts of suicide - all symptoms of depression. Patients may also exhibit deep feelings of anxiety and fear in social situations, feelings of overwhelming stress, as well as very poor self-esteem - all symptoms of anxiety.

Substance abuse is oftentimes co-morbid with bulimia, abuse of stimulant drugs in particular. abuse of amphetamine drugs allow the bulimic to exercise rapidly and help control appetite. Common binging as well as purging results in fluid and electrolyte abnormalities a potentially fatal condition if not immediately treated with IV fluids. A major complication of self-induced vomiting is the depletion of tooth enamel, resulting in serious dental problems. This is created by the stomach acids wearing away tooth enamel. A bulimic's salivary glands may be enlarged, causing dental scaring. Many bulimics require extensive dental procedures, including dentures.

For the female bulimic, the menstrual cycle can stop completely. Malnutrition causes the body to halt certain functions that it might not consider vital to survival. In some cases, menstrual cycle irregularities are common, as well as the menstrual cycle disappearing. Rare, but potentially fatal co-morbid conditions include death by esophageal rupture, gastric rupture, heart attack, as well as rectal prolapse due to laxative misuse.

Unfortunately for the bulimic, the complications of the disease will take their life if left untreated. A bulimic's life is cut by at least ten years as well as at some point, either malnutrition or suicide will gain the upper hand once the disorder has full control of the patient's life. From that point on, there is no alternative left except death.

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