Up to 49% of individuals with severe symptomatology of bulimia have imbalances such as sodium and potassium [1]. Those who purge are also at risk for hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, and hypochloremia.
What labs should be checked for bulimia?
- Comprehensive blood chemistry panel: This is important in detecting possible occult metabolic complications of bulimia.
- Complete blood cell count: This is used to exclude anemia or other occult hematologic abnormalities.
- Urinalysis: Urine specific gravity may reflect the state of hydration.
What are the three essential diagnostic features of bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia signs and symptoms may include: Being preoccupied with your body shape and weight. Living in fear of gaining weight. Repeated episodes of eating abnormally large amounts of food in one sitting.
What labs are especially important to assess for any client with anorexia nervosa?
These may include a complete blood count (CBC) and more-specialized blood tests to check electrolytes and protein as well as functioning of your liver, kidney and thyroid. A urinalysis also may be done.
Can bloodwork tell if you have an eating disorder?
Although there is no one laboratory test to screen for eating disorders, a healthcare provider can use a variety of physical and psychological evaluations as well as lab tests to determine a diagnosis.
Can bulimia cause low white blood count?
Health Consequences of Bulimia It can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances which can lead to severe medical consequences such as: Damage to the brain, heart, and other vital organs. Increased risk of illness due to decreased white blood cell count.
Does bulimia show in blood tests?
There aren’t any laboratory tests to specifically diagnose bulimia. Your healthcare provider may order tests to see how bulimia has affected your health.
Can bulimia cause low potassium?
Low potassium level, or hypokalemia, is the most serious consequence of bulimia because it causes heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), cardiomyopathy (weakening heart), muscle weakness that can border on paralysis, and tetany (involuntary muscle contractions)2.
What is the most insignificant characteristic of a person with bulimia?
What is the most insignificant characteristic of a person with bulimia? The person is close to her ideal body weight. Bulimia nervosa is more prevalent than anorexia nervosa in both women and men. What is not a risk of being underweight?
What are the two main courses of treatment for bulimia nervosa?
Psychotherapy and Bulimia Behavior or cognitive therapies are often prescribed, as well. Behavior therapy focuses on altering habits (such as bingeing and purging). Sessions are usually devoted to analyzing the behavior and devising ways to change it, and the patient follows specific instructions between sessions.
What is the typical profile of a person with bulimia nervosa?
The typical profile of a person with bulimia nervosa is an adolescent to young adult female who is impulsive, perfectionistic, hard-working, introverted, resistant to change and self-critical. They also tend to have low self-esteem based on body image distortion.
How do you treat someone with bulimia?
Antidepressants may help reduce the symptoms of bulimia when used along with psychotherapy. The only antidepressant specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat bulimia is fluoxetine (Prozac), a type of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which may help even if you’re not depressed.
What is CBC and ESR test?
CBC (Complete Blood Count) with ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) test is a blood test that is used to measure the number of RBCs (Red Blood Cells), WBCs (White BLood Cells) and platelets in your blood. This test is done to understand and diagnose all the diseases related to blood and inflammation in your body.
Why do anorexics need blood tests?
Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose anorexia, a healthcare provider may use various diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, to rule out any medical conditions that could cause weight loss and to evaluate the physical damage weight loss and starvation may have caused.
What is albumin blood test used for?
It plays an important role in keeping the fluid in the blood from leaking into the tissues. This test can help determine if you have liver disease or kidney disease, or if your body is not absorbing enough protein.
What qualifies as an eating disorder?
Eating disorders are serious conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact your health, your emotions and your ability to function in important areas of life. The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder.
What eating disorder is caused by low sodium levels?
The most frequent electrolyte imbalances seen in anorexia are hyponatremia (a low concentration of sodium ions in the bloodstream) and hypokalemia (a low concentration of potassium ions).
Does bulimia cause iron deficiency?
When you disrupt your natural metabolism through binging and purging, your body can be seriously affected. Bulimia can also cause: anemia. low blood pressure and irregular heart rate.
What’s the difference between bulimia and anemia?
People living with anorexia and bulimia use strategies to avoid gaining weight or reduce their weight. People with anorexia may avoid eating altogether, whereas people with bulimia have episodes of binge eating and then purge their body of food.
What is the most life threatening health risk from repeated vomiting due to bulimia nervosa?
Those with bulimia are at heightened risk for dehydration because water volume can drop so quickly during a purging episode. If too much water is purged from the body, it can result in serious medical complications including hypovolemic (low blood volume) shock, seizures and kidney or heart failure.
Is bulimia a mental disease?
Bulimia nervosa (commonly known as bulimia) is an eating disorder and serious mental health problem. Someone with bulimia might feel parts of their lives are out of control and use purging to give them a sense of control. Bulimia is a serious condition that can cause long-term damage, but help is available.
What is bulimia face?
When a person has been engaging in self-induced vomiting regularly and they suddenly stop engaging in the behaviour, their salivary glands in front of their ears (cheeks) may begin to swell. This makes their cheeks look swollen.
Why is anorexia harder than bulimia?
While more common than anorexia, bulimia nervosa may be more difficult for primary care physicians, school officials, parents and other loved ones to detect because patients are often of normal weight and may not disclose their abnormal eating behaviors.
Can bulimia cause electrolyte imbalance?
The typical electrolyte abnormalities associated with bulimia are hypokalemia and metabolic acidosis. Different purging methods result in different constellations of serum and urine electrolyte disturbances (see accompanying table).
What vitamins should bulimics take?
B Vitamins These vitamins are also important in preventing depression. The B vitamins that are most important to appetite control include vitamin B6, vitamin B12, inositol, and folate. They can be taken as individual supplements or, in many cases, taken together in the form of a B complex.