Bulimia and Heart Disease – Part 1

Bulimia is also called bulimia nervosa and is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by efforts to prevent weight gain such as self-induced vomiting, laxatives, medications, fasting or extreme exercise. Other characteristics include depression, constipation, fatigue, dehydration, irregular heartbeat and damaged teeth and gums from repeated vomiting.

It can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between an eating disorder and the fads of adolescence. Parents must be in tuned to changes in their children’s behavior that is sustained and isn’t the occasional quirks of a teen trying to find their way in the world.

Some indications that a child may have bulimia include not wanting to eat with the family; frequent long visits to the bathroom or excessive exercise and preoccupation with weight.

The health problems that are related to bulimia aren’t as severe as they are with people who suffer from other types of eating disorders such as anorexia, but they include heart disease.

Bulimia and heart disease are linked because of the nutritional deficits that sufferers experience when they continually purge their bodies of the nutrition they just ate. Purging will result in dehydration and a lower level of potassium in the blood.

Potassium is used by the body to regulate the heartbeat. It is one of the chemicals used in the electrical stimulation of the heart. Purging decreases the amount of potassium in the body and results in weak and irregular heart rhythms.

Low potassium levels are also a result of laxative use that people who suffer from bulimia use to attempt to control their weight. This dehydration and low potassium can lead to near paralysis and lethal heart rhythms.

Resources:

Johns Hopkins Medicine: Bulimia Nervosa

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/mental_health_disorders/bulimia_nervosa_85,P00751/

HelpGuide: Bulimia Nervosa

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/bulimia_signs_symptoms_causes_treatment.htm

Eating Disorder Referral and information Center: Consequences of Eating Disorders

http://edreferral.com/consequences_of_ed.htm

Bulimia Eating Disorders: The Lasting Effects of Bulimia

http://www.bulimiaeatingdisorders.com/lasting-bulimia-effects.php

National Alliance on Mental Illness: Bulimia Nervosa

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=149448

Boston Children’s Hospital: Bulimia Nervosa