Anorexia Nervosa Treatment
September 22, 2009
Anorexia nervosa is a mental disorder that develops from the fear of becoming overweight. It is an eating disorder, where an individual nearly starves herself.
Anorexia nervosa is a form of obsession, comparable to substance addiction. Overwhelming majority of Anorexia nervosa patients are women. It usually affects women in adolescence or early youth.
Anorexia nervosa causes
Social and professional demands are largely responsible for this condition. This is a destructive process, which starts with extreme diet, and gradually leads to near starvation. Poor self-esteem and living in a society that considers less than normal body weight as a sign of attractiveness, forces an individual to adopt extreme weight loss strategies.
Researchers believe that dysfunction in hypothalamus might make a person suffer from this psychological disorder. Imbalance in brain chemicals or neurotransmitters can also be responsible for anorexia nervosa.
Anorexia nervosa symptoms
Anorexia nervosa makes a person extremely underweight. She might be obsessed with foods. Depression, fatigue, irritation, poor sleep, poor concentration and lack of attention are other symptoms of this condition.
Anorexia nervosa slows down heart rate, heart rhythm might become irregular, and blood pressure falls to unusually low levels, causing hypotension. It can lead to abdominal pain, constipation, liver damage, poor bone density, hormonal imbalance, irregular menstrual cycle and infertility. Vomiting, anemia, poor hair growth and skin dryness are also associated with this condition.
The physical treatment of anorexia nervosa consists of treatments for malnutrition. Treatment might require intravenous feeding to prevent damage of organs. Psychological intervention in the form of behavioral therapy is most needed to overcome this condition.
To overcome weakness gradually and to improve appetite, a person suffering from anorexia nervosa should be given fresh fruit juices. Orange, lime and grape juices are beneficial for treating this condition.
Fresh fruits, such as apple, pineapple, melons, pears, peaches and grapes should dominate the diet of a person suffering from anorexia nervosa. As the appetite of the patient improves, lightly cooked vegetables should be added to the diet. Having yogurt and buttermilk can also help the anorexia nervosa patients to normalize their body weight gradually.
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