ANOREXIA NERVOSA

Food is a part of traditions and culture. Food gives energy to our body and this energy is very essential for functioning of whole body. Eating has an emotional component as well. For many people, changing eating habits is very hard. We may have certain eating habits for so long that we do not realize they are unhealthy. Or, our habits have become part of our daily life, so we do not think much about them. Further these habits are changed into serious diseases.
Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder affect men and women of all age groups. Anorexia nervosa involves self-starvation. It is eating disorder with low weight, fear of gaining weight and a very strong desire to be thin. Many people with anorexia see themselves overweight even though they are underweight.

THREE CHARACTERIZED FEATURES OF THE DISEASE ARE:-

  1. Refusal to maintain a healthy body weight.
  2. An intense fear of gaining body weight.
  3. A distorted body image.
Patients suffering with this disorder weigh them very frequently, only eat certain food in very small amount. Anorexia lead to serious complications like heart damage, infertility, osteoporosis and women will often stop having menstrual periods. In our modern lifestyle oily foods, heavy foods, inactive lifestyle and snacking between meals contribute a lot to this disorder. Cultural factors also play a vast role in it. Additionally, it occurs more commonly among those people involved the value of thinness such as models, dancers and high level athletics. Approximately 90-95% anorexia sufferers are girls and female.

TYPES OF ANOREXIA

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF ANOREXIA:-

  1. Restricting type - In restricting type weight loss is achieved by restricting calories (fasting and excessive exercise).
  2. Purging type - In purging type anorexia, weight loss is achieved by vomiting or using laxatives and diuretics.

AYURVEDIC ASPECT OF ANOREXIA NERVOSA

Anorexia or aruchi is a condition manifested due to affliction of gastro intestinal tract (amavaha srotas) in association with circulatory system (rasa vaha srotas). Tongue is the main site of manifestation. The cardinal features of this condition are loss of desire for food or distaste for food, even which may be one's own liking. Vata dosha, in association with Pachaka pitta play vital role in bringing about hunger. Hunger stimulates proper perception of taste. For normal perception of taste, bodhaka kapha (existing in mouth), prana vata (existing in head and neck) and samana vata (persisting in stomach) should have proper co-ordination. If the relation is disturbed, anorexia is caused.

TYPES OF ARUCHI

ARUCHI IS CLASSIFIED IN TO FOLLOWING TYPES:-

  1. VATAJA ARUCHI - Distress, pain in various parts of body, cardiac pain and hypersensitivity in teeth.
  2. PAITTIK ARUCHI - Thirst, burning sensation, cutting pain, sour mixed with pungent taste in mouth.
  3. KAPHJA ARUCHI - Heaviness, coldness, nausea, sweet mixed salty taste in mouth.
  4. SANNIPATAJA ARUCHI - Mixed features of all three doshas.
  5. AGANTUJA ARUCHI - This kind of anorexia is due to fear, anger, grief, greediness etc.

CAUSES

Particular cause of anorexia is unknown. Depending upon different factors it is characterized in three following types:-
  1. Biological factors
  2. Psychological factors
  3. Environmental factors

SYMPTOMS

Anorexia is a serious, potentially life threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.

SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE:-

  • Refusal to maintain normal body weight.
  • Rapid weight loss
  • Amenorrhea
  • Soft and fine hair growth on body and face
  • Increased cardiac rate
  • Depression
  • Hypotension
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Rapid muscle cramps
  • Dry hair, rapid hair loss and dry skin
  • Food restriction despite being underweight.
  • Abnormal blood count
  • Constipation
  • Intolerance to cold
  • Osteoporosis
  • Dizziness and fainting
  • Rapid mood swings
  • Bluish discoloration and yellowish color of skin

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