Anorexia Nervosa Essay Example for Free

Anorexia Nervosa EssayI. IntroductionAnorexia nervosa has received a great deal of attention in the popular media in recent years. This disorder is listed under the kin of disorders of childhood or adolescence in DSM-III. Anorexia consists of extreme weight redness due to a reduction in eating. It occurs close to publicly in female adolescents only or so 1 in 10 wad with anorexia ar male. The disorder is believed to be rate, but one study found an incidence of 1 matter show up of 200 adolescent girls.Anorexia begins when the adolescent starts to pass outt. The person ofttimes has major problems in self-esteem and concerns round physical coming into court. Weight reduction may be one way for the person to feel in control of her or his behavior, and to improve self-esteem ( Lager, 2003). However, for leans, dieting gets out of hand. They develop an unreasonable affright of eating, and often suppress hunger by engaging in re dearyitive activity such as shit exercisin g. When anorexics must eat beca employ opposites (e.g., p atomic number 18nt) demand it, they often will induce vomiting after meals to get relinquish of the food ingested.Even though the anorexic begins to waste away and develops such physical problems as end of menstruation (for girls), constipation, and imbalances in automobile trunk chemistry, she or he is often unconcerned about the life-threatening brass of the behavior (Darby, 2001). Anorexics continue to perceive themselves as heavier that they really are, and some(prenominal) continue to avoid eating until they die from starvation. Death may occur in up to 15 percent of anorexics.This paper intent to (1) assure what anorexia nervosa really means and its effect (2) know the measures for managing anorexia (3) be aware of the use of pharmacologic agents to stimulate proclivity in the terminally ill and (4) be familiar of the factors influencing nutritional status in varied situations.II. primer coatAnorexia Nervosa i s a psychiatric disorder characterized by an aversion to food and a resulting extreme expiry of weight. It is most common in teenage girls and young women. The victims, although not necessarily overweight, become obsessed with a fear of obesity and deliberately subject themselves to a starvation diet (see Anorexia Nervosa Overview. eMedicineHeath. Emergency Care + Consumer Health). The resulting malnutrition typically leads to constipation, vomiting, poor body temperature, low blood pressure, and amenorrhea (cessation of menstruation). Victims fundament lose up to 25 percent of their body weight and, if untreated, may die.Treatment for anorexia consists of hospitalization along with psychotherapy and counseling. Victims are either fed intravenously or are placed on a high-calorie, high-protein diet supplemented by large doses of vitamins.A. What are an anorexia nervosa and its set up?At the other end of the spectrum from obesity is anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder associated with self-imposed starvation. The already underweight person continues to restrict food intake, often to the point where death is a genuine concern.One of the most distinguishing traits of masses who have anorexia nervosa is that they do not see themselves as thin (Halmi, 2004). When they wait on in a mirror, they in reality perceive themselves to be overweight or gaining weight. In the latter case they may go out and jog 5 miles or stay up all night jumping jacks. The resulting weight loss and attendant physical examine often lead to an absence of menstruation among females, and the person may look pallid and gaunt.III. DiscussionAnorexia is a puzzling disorder. Why would an otherwise healthy young person crave to death? Although some explanations of anorexia have focused on biological causes (a possible malfunction of the hypothalamus which could lead to a lack of desire for food), current views focus on problems in the family which may lead to anorexic behavior. The parents of anorexic adolescents are often very controlling and act to order their childrens lives to a greater expiration than do parents of non-anorexics. Furthermore, the families are often filled with conflict between family members. Anorexic behavior may be an extreme, distorted attempt by the adolescent to control at least one aspect of her or his own behavior.Treatment of anorexia usually involves several different emphases. If the weight loss is life threatening, medical intervention (e.g., intravenous feeding) is necessary. The reinstitution of eating behavior and achieved using behavioral approaches however, these gains are often short-lived. Most treatment programs storey success rates as high as 86 percent. However, anorexia still results in death for some individuals.A. Measures for managing AnorexiaAnorexia is a common problem in the seriously ill. The profound changes in the forbearings appearance and his or her concomitant lack of interest in the socially important rit uals of mealtime are particularly unreassuring to families. The approach to the problem varies depending on the endurings stage of illness, level of disability associated with the illness, and desires. Although causes of anorexia may be controlled for a period of time progressive anorexia is an expected and natural part of the dying process. Anorexia may be related to or exacerbated by situational variables (eg, the ability to have meals with the family versus eating alone in the sick mode), progression of the disease, treatment for the disease, or psychological distress. The patient and family should be instructed in strategies to manage the variables associated with anorexia.B. Measures for Managing AnorexiaThere are many ways in how to manage the patient who suffers from anorexia nervosa and it is divided into two measures, the medical interventions and patient and family tips.a) aesculapian InterventionsThe medical group initiates measures to ensure adequate dietary intake without adding stress to the patient at mealtimes and task the impact of medications (eg,chemotherapy, antiretroviral) or other therapies (radiation therapy, dialysis)that are being used to treat the underlying illness. It administers and monitors effects of positively charged treatment for nausea, vomiting, and delayed gastric emptying and encourages patient to eat when effects of medications have subsided and assess and turn environment to eliminate unpleasant odors and other factors that cause nausea, vomiting, and anorexia.Remove items that may reduce relish (soiled interweaves, bedpans, nauseant basins, clutter). This medical group assesses and manages anxiety and depression to the extent possible (see Anorexia Nervosa Treatment. Mental Health. MayoClinic.com). It also assesses for constipation and/or intestinal obstruction and prevents and manages constipation on an ongoing basis, even when the patients intake is minimal. Furthermore, it provides frequent mouth care, par ticularly following nourishment, ensure that dentures are properly taken care, and administer and monitor effects of topical systematic for oropharyngeal pain.b) Patient and Family Teaching TipsThe family reduces the focus on balanced meals offer the comparable food as often as the patient desires it and increase the nutritional value of meals. For example, add wry milk powder to milk, and use this fortified milk to prepare cream soups, milkshakes, and gravies. Allow and encourage the patient to eat when hungry, regardless of usual meal times. Eliminate or reduce noxious cooking odors, pet odors, or other odors that may precipitate nausea, vomiting, or anorexia and keep patients environment clean, change and comfortable (Halmi, 2004).Make mealtime a shared experience away from the sick room whenever possible. Reduce stress at mealtimes. Avoid confrontations about the amount of food consumed. Reduce or eliminate routine deliberateness of the patient. Encourage patient to eat in a sitting position elevate the head of the patients bed. The family plan meals (food selection and portion size) that the patient desires. Provide small frequent meals if they are easier for patient to eat. Encourage adequate fluid intake, dietary fiber, and use of bowel program to prevent constipation (Wrede-Seamn, 1999).C. exercising of pharmacologic agents to stimulate appetite in the terminally illA number of pharmacologic agents are commonly used to stimulate appetite in anorectic patients. Commonly used medications for appetite input signal include dexamethasone (Decadron), cyproheptadine (Periactin), megestrol acetate (Megace), and dronabinol (Marinol). Dexamethasone initially increases appetite and may provide short weight gain in some patients. However, therapy may need to be discontinued in the patient with a longer life expectancy, as after 3 to 4 weeks corticosteroids interfere with the synthesis of massiveness protein. Cyproheptadine may be used when corticosteroids ar e contraindicated, such as when the patient is diabetic. It promotes mild appetite increase but no appreciable weight gain.Megestrol acetate produces temporary weight gain of to begin with fatty tissue, with little effect on protein balance. Because of the time required to see any effect from this agent, therapy should not be initiated if life expectancy is less than 30 days. Finally, dronabinol is not as effective as the other agents for appetite stimulation in most patients. Although the use of these agents may cause temporary weight gain, their use is not associated with an increase in lean body mass in the terminally ill. Therapy should be tapering or discontinued after 4 to 8 weeks if there is no response (Wrede-Seamn, 1999).D. Factors Influencing Nutritional place in varied Situations.One sensitive indicator of the bodys gain or loss of protein is its nitrogen balance. An adult is said to be nitrogen equilibrium when the nitrogen intake (from food) equals the nitrogen wide ning (in urine, feces, and perspiration) it is a sign of health. A positive nitrogen balance exists when nitrogen intake exceeds nitrogen output and indicates tissue growth, such as occurs during pregnancy, childhood, recovery from surgery, and rebuilding of wasted tissue. Negative nitrogen balance indicates that tissue is breaking down faster than it is being replaced. In the absence of an adequate intake of protein, the body converts protein to glucose for energy. This can occur with fever, starvation, surgery, burns, and debilitating diseases. Each gram of nitrogen loss in excess of intake represents the depletion of 6.25 g of protein or 25 g of muscle tissue. Therefore, a negative nitrogen balance of 10g/day for 10 days could mean the wasting of 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) of muscle tissue as it is converted to glucose for energy.When conditions that result in negative nitrogen balance are coupled with anorexia (loss of appetite), they can lead to malnutrition.IV. ConclusionIn conclusion, the predominate belief among clinical psychologists has been that anorexia arises out of an unstable self-concept. Thus, the commitment to diet and weight control is seen as an attempt to establish a firm sense of identity (Bhanji, 1999). In addition, there is the possibility that this illness, which in about 85 percent of cases occurs in adolescent females, indicates a rejection of traditional feminine roles. Even career patterns turning a role. In certain occupations where there is a premium on being thinfor example, concert dance dancingthe incidence of clinical anorexia may be great as 50 percent. Further, it has been suggested that malfunctioning neurons in the hypothalamus may alter the metabolism and feeding patterns of people with anorexia nervosa (Leibowitz 2003). At present, however, the empirical support for underlying neurological disturbances is scant (Logue, 1999).