How does anorexia affect your kidney?

Answer 1

Yes, here are just some ill-effects. I'm not sure if rapid drops in blood sugar that lead to coma and death are mentioned here. I'm also not sure if hyponatremia (low sodium) and the brain damage that is caused by that condition are mentioned. Needless to say, this list is an overview and is not comprehensive. Eating disorders are deadly. Even if one is lucky enough to avoid death, living with the aftermath is an expensive and physically painful undertaking.

: What Medical Problems Does Anorexia Nervosa Cause? Answer:

Anorexia nervosa can cause perhaps the most consistently serious medical problems of any psychological disorder. Because anorexia is in part a struggle with food intake, which is obviously necessary for the body to function, the body suffers in many ways.

Anorexia and Medical Problems in the Digestive SystemWith little food entering the body, how could there be digestive problems? Anorexia creates problems with the digestive system in part because the body forgets how to digest food and eliminate waste. This can lead to constipation and abdominal distress. Health Consequences in the Cardiovascular System

The heart is a muscle. Over time, the body will respond to being starved by using the body's muscles for energy. This means that the heart itself changes and becomes less able to do its job. In a person with anorexia, the heart may beat at an abnormally slow rate. Also, blood pressure can become dangerously low. As heart rate slows and blood pressure drops, the risk of heart failure goes up. Irregular heartbeats and shock can also occur.

In addition, restricting food means restricting the intake of iron. When the body develops an iron deficiency, anemia results. Anemia makes it difficult for blood to deliver oxygen to the various parts of the body, leading to fatigue and shortness of breath. Anemia can also make infections and heart palpitations more likely.

A poorly-functioning cardiovascular system also may be vulnerable to orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure upon sitting up or standing. If you've ever donated blood and left the chair too quickly, you may have experienced similar symptoms. These include dizziness, passing out, blurred vision, headaches, and a pounding heart.

Problems in Muscles and Bones

The link between anorexia and osteoporosis, a severe loss of bone density, is clear. Loss of bone density results from a lack of adequate calcium and vitamin D. Milder (though still serious) loss of bone density is called osteopenia. As bones lose mass, they become dry and brittle, making broken bones more likely. An 18-year-old high school student can have bones as fragile as those of her 84-year-old grandmother. Note that losing the menstrual cycle, which is common in anorexia, also increases the risk of significant loss of bone density.

As mentioned above, the heart is a muscle. Other muscles atrophy as well, creating a loss of physical strength. A lack of calories, vitamins, and minerals can also lead to impairment of the nervous system's ability to tell muscles what to do. This means a loss of general body control.

Problems in the Reproductive System

In women, the body requires a certain amount of energy to maintain a menstrual cycle. When a woman does not get adequate nutrition, her cycle can stop. This is called amenorrhea. Without a menstrual cycle, the woman is unable to get pregnant.

If a woman with anorexia becomes pregnant before she loses her cycle, continued malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies make a successful full-term pregnancy much less likely. Unwelcome consequences become more common -- miscarriage, stillbirth, and chronic illness or death in children who are born.

Damage to the Kidneys

Dehydration and a lack of vitamins can harm the kidneys' ability to remove toxins from the body and maintain water balance. Low blood pressure also puts the kidneys at risk. It is possible for kidneys to suffer permanent damage or to fail completely under these conditions.

Dangerous Electrolyte Problems

Electrolytes are necessary for nerve impulses to travel between the brain and the rest of the body. When a person becomes dehydrated and malnourished (especially having a lack of potassium), electrolytes get out of balance. This can lead to problems with everything from teeth to oxygen delivery to problems with the function of internal organs. The heart, in particular, relies on impulses from the brain for regulation. An electrolyte imbalance can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, one of the leading causes of death in eating disorders.

Other Medical Problems Associated With Anorexia

• Weakened immune system from starvation, which leaves the body vulnerable to developing chronic fatigue syndrome
• Dry skin
• Brittle nails
• Fragile, dry hair that may fall out
• Growth of lanugo, a soft, downy layer of hair all over the body -- including the face and arms -- in an attempt to keep the body warm.

Source: about.com

Answer 2

Anorexia can cause kidney damage, malfunction, and even potentially kidney failure. A lack of proper nutrients can put strain on the kidneys, as can excessive weight loss. A lack of protective muscle and fat leaves the kidneys more open to injury from an outside source. Anorexics are also more likely to develop painful kidney stones.

Answer 3

Anorexia can place a lot of strain on internal organs. Kidneys are there to naturally filter the blood and some nutrients in the body. Because anorexia deprives the body of nutrients and fats, often, the kidneys will slwoly begin to lose their ability to function properly and will begin to shut down. Sometimes they may also be more prone to developing kidney stones.

Answer 4

Anorexia nervosa can affect the kidney in numerous ways, including acute kidney injury & chronic kidney disease, electrolyte abnormalities, & nephrolithiasis (kidney stones).