Are These Symptoms Serious

Melind Stanfield

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• Publié par: Vewyor
• Nombre de lectures: 15
• Langue: English

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Canandaigua Medical Group Anorexia Nervosa Kipling Goh, MD June, 2004 What is anorexia nervosa? Anorexia nervosa is an illness that usually affects teenage girls. Teenage boys, grown up women and men can get it also. People with anorexia think about being thin a lot of the time. They try to lose a lot of weight and they are very worried about gaining weight. They think they are fat even though they are not. It is a psychiatric disorder in which food and weight are used to deal with emotional problems. What is the difference between anorexia and bulimia? People with anorexia keep themselves underweight. They starve themselves by not eating enough food. They don’t eat high calorie foods and they may exercise too much. People with bulimia often eat huge amounts of food at one time and then make themselves throw up soon after eating. They also may take laxatives or water pills in order to keep them from gaining weight. People with bulimia usually do not lose as much weight as people with anorexia. Why do people get anorexia? No one knows why some people get anorexia. People with this problem may think that they would be happier and more successful if they were thin. It usually is a manifestation of a psychiatric disorder. They usually want everything in their lives to be just perfect. They think having a thin body is one way to be perfect. People who have anorexia usually are good students, may be involved in school and community activities. They usually blame themselves if they do not get perfect grades, or if other things in their lives are not perfect. What other problems can cause anorexia? Girls and women with anorexia might stop having normal menstrual periods. People with anorexia have dry skin, might have fine hair growth on their body. Hair on their head may become very thin. They may feel cold a lot and get sick often. People with anorexia have a hard time concentrating. They are usually always hungry, but feeling hungry makes them feel that they have some control over their lives and their bodies. How is anorexia treated? Anorexia is hard to treat because people with anorexia believe there is nothing wrong with them. People who have had this problem for less than 6 months or have only lost a little weight may not have to stay in the hospital, but for successful treatment, they must want to change. They must also have support from their friends and family. People with more severe anorexia need to be in the hospital, usually in the special unit for people with anorexia and bulimia.

QUALITY CARE FOR ALL AGES ©Copyright Canandaigua Medical Group, 2004 335 Parrish Street ∙ Canandaigua, NY 14424 (585) 3932888 www.canandaiguamedical.com

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Canandaigua Medical Group Treatment involves more than just changing their eating habits. The people with anorexia often need counseling for a year or more so they can change their feelings about the eating disorder, their weight, problems with their family or about problems with how they think about themselves. Warning signs: 1. Deliberatestarvation with big weight loss. 2. Fearof gaining weight. 3. Refusalto eat. 4. Denialof hunger. 5. Constantexercise. 6. Greateramounts of hair on the body or face. 7. Thinninghair on the head. 8. Sensitivityto cold. 9. Absentor irregular periods. 10. Feelingsof being fat. How can you get help? National Eating Disorders Association: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org Telephone no.: (206) 3823587 Or National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders: http://www.ANAD.org Telephone no. (847) 8313438 _____________________________ Your doctor knows you and your family best. Nothing takes the place of talking directly with your doctor about your health and questions that you have. The information provided here is not medical care or treatment and is not specific to your situation. You need to contact your own doctor for your medical care.

QUALITY CARE FOR ALL AGES ©Copyright Canandaigua Medical Group, 2004 335 Parrish Street ∙ Canandaigua, NY 14424 (585) 3932888 www.canandaiguamedical.com

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