Lab tests. 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.
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How does bulimia show up 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.
What tests are used to diagnose bulimia?
- Talk to you about your eating habits, weight-loss methods and physical symptoms.
- Do a physical exam.
- Request blood and urine tests.
- Request a test that can identify problems with your heart (electrocardiogram)
- Perform a psychological evaluation, including a discussion of your attitude toward your body and weight.
What electrolyte imbalance does bulimia cause?
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).
Can bloodwork tell if you have an eating disorder?
A variety of laboratory tests and bloodwork may be needed to determine the correct eating disorder diagnosis and assess the appropriate level of care for an affected individual. The laboratory tests will evaluate the following types of factors: Blood sugar levels.
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.
What are the three essential diagnostic features of bulimia nervosa?
The diagnostic criteria for bulimia in the DSM are: 1) recurrent episodes of binge eating with a sense of lack of control occurring at least twice per week for at least three months, 2) recurrent, inappropriate compensatory behavior, such as vomiting, in order to prevent weight gain 3) and self-evaluation that is …
What are 5 characteristics of bulimia?
- 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.
- Feeling a loss of control during bingeing — like you can’t stop eating or can’t control what you eat.
What are 3 warning signs of bulimia?
- Episodes of binge eating.
- Self-induced vomiting.
- Smelling like vomit.
- Misuse of laxatives and diuretics.
- Complaining about body image.
- Expressing guilt or shame about eating.
- Depression.
- Irritability.
What deficiencies does bulimia cause?
Bulimia can eventually lead to physical problems associated with not getting the right nutrients, vomiting a lot, or overusing laxatives. Possible complications include: feeling tired and weak. dental problems – stomach acid from persistent vomiting can damage tooth enamel.
Why is potassium low in bulimia?
First, and most obvious, there is loss of potassium in the purged gastric contents, excessive stool from laxative abuse, or in the urine through diuretic abuse. Second, chronic purging results in intravascular fluid depletion.
Does 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.
Which classic characteristic is common among patients diagnosed 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.
Which diagnostic criteria is common to both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa?
Excessive exercise aimed at weight loss or at preventing weight gain is common in both anorexia nervosa and in bulimia.
What tests do the doctors run to determine whether a person has anorexia?
- a complete blood count.
- liver, kidney, and thyroid function tests.
- urinalysis.
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 disorders are often seen along with eating disorders?
There are three main types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Eating disorders often co-occur with other psychiatric disorders most commonly mood and anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder and alcohol and drug abuse problems.
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 are 2 health problems caused by bulimia?
- Cardiac complications (irregular heartbeat and heart failure stemming from electrolyte imbalances such as potassium, sodium, and chloride)
- Dehydration.
- Edema (stemming from periods of purging cessation)
- Ulcers, pancreatitis.
Can bulimia cause low platelets?
Conclusions: Platelet MAO activity is lowered in patients with bulimia, which may reflect dysfunction in impulse control mechanisms. Since platelet MAO has a predominant genetic component, there is need for studies on the association of low platelet MAO and higher risk for developing eating disorders.
What are 3 physiological changes that occur with bulimia nervosa?
Physiological effects of bulimia nervosa on the gastrointestinal tract include dental caries and enamel erosion; enlargement of the parotid gland; esophagitis; changes in gastric capacity and gastric emptying; gastric necrosis; and alterations of the intestinal mucosa.
Which medical complications are associated with the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa can lead to a variety of general medical complications, including metabolic alkalosis, dehydration, constipation, and cardiac arrhythmias.
What is the most significant feature of bulimia?
It is characterized by uncontrolled episodes of overeating, called bingeing. This is followed by purging with methods such as vomiting or misuse of laxatives. Bingeing is eating much larger amounts of food than you would normally eat in a short period of time, usually less than 2 hours.
What is a core characteristic of bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa is characterised by recurrent episodes of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviours, such as vomiting or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain.
What are 8 health problems that come as a result of bulimia?
Other long-term consequences of bulimia include damage to the kidneys, increased risk of kidney stones and kidney failure, diabetes, high cholesterol, hormonal imbalances, fertility problems, chronic dehydration, chronic fatigue, and electrolyte imbalances.