No appetite disease. Why might not want to eat an adult. Why Appetite Occurs

If a person does not receive food at certain intervals, he begins to experience a feeling of hunger. With a decrease or complete absence of appetite, we can say that painful changes occur in the body.

Lack of appetite can be caused by many reasons, including not only diseases and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Few people know, but on a nervous basis, this can also happen. In what situations lack of appetite is accompanied by nausea and weakness, we will find out further.

Reasons for lack of appetite

A good appetite has always been considered a sign of good health. The correct functioning of the mechanism responsible for satisfying the need for nutrients and getting pleasure from it indicates that the body functions without any special deviations. However, a person's appetite is a variable value. It depends on the food culture instilled in childhood, taste preferences (which can change more than once during life), weather, mood and many other factors. Therefore, a periodic decrease in appetite is the norm. A complete lack of interest in food, especially when it lasts long enough, can be a sign of serious health problems.

Body intoxication

Appetite is regulated by a special food center located in the brain. When toxins enter the body, the functioning of this structure is temporarily blocked, since the main work of all systems at that moment is aimed at trying to get rid of dangerous substances.Intoxication can be caused by:

an overdose of nicotine or alcohol;
exposure to chemical compounds that are part of household chemicals, cosmetics or perfumes, as well as paint used in the manufacture of fabrics, and other harmful components contained in objects with which a person has frequent direct contact;
carbon monoxide poisoning;
the use of drugs;
acute infection (influenza, SARS, hepatitis, etc.).

As a rule, after the removal of toxic substances from the body, the appetite returns.

Diseases of the digestive system

Patients suffering from pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract often experience unpleasant symptoms of dyspepsia: abdominal pain, belching,. In such cases, the disappearance of appetite is associated with a reflex fear of eating.

Of course, it is impossible for such patients not to eat at all: this will only aggravate the painful condition. The way out is a special diet that excludes spicy, salty, sour foods, fried and smoked foods, fast food and canned food. Food should be semi-liquid and have an enveloping effect (for example, mucous porridges and mashed potatoes are useful). Source: depositphotos.com

Hormonal disruptions

Hormonal fluctuations greatly affect appetite. This is especially noticeable during pregnancy, when serious changes in a woman's body can lead to very specific nutritional needs and a change in taste preferences.

Pathological abnormalities in the functioning of the endocrine glands usually cause a decrease in appetite. This process is characterized by gradualness: for example, with a decrease in thyroid function (hypothyroidism), the desire to consume food decreases or disappears completely over a long period, in parallel with the general loss of body tone, the development of fatigue, the appearance of drowsiness, tearfulness and other signs of the disease.

Nervous disorders

Decreased appetite can also be explained by psychogenic causes. So, with depression, food ceases to give a person pleasure; often even the smell of food causes nausea. At the same time, patients complain of a feeling of fullness in the stomach, too rapid saturation. People who are severely depressed sometimes have to be force-fed.

Anorexia is one of the most common psycho-emotional disorders characterized by a lack of appetite. Young women who suffer from an inferiority complex and are dissatisfied with their body, the desire to lose weight at any cost leads first to following unreasonably strict diets, artificially emptying the stomach of ingested food, and then to absolute rejection of any food. This is the most severe neuropsychiatric disorder, the treatment of which should be handled by specialists; often it requires hospitalization.

What does lack of appetite, nausea and weakness indicate?

If we systematize all the possible causes that can cause weakness with nausea and a complete lack of appetite, then they can be conditionally divided into two large groups: pathological and non-pathological.

Non-pathological causes

The presence of symptoms such as:

1. Nausea, weakness;

2. Heaviness in the stomach;

2. Rumbling, belching;

3. temperature is possible;

symptoms last no more than 4-5 days, after which they disappear on their own;
do not require medical attention and medication;
do not have life-threatening side effects on the body; may be repeated, but not more than once a month;
do not cause acute weight loss.

Menstruation

Menstruation and premenstrual syndrome- in the course of hormonal adjustment and preparation for fertilization, a woman's body is literally subordinated to the actions of hormones. Sharp jumps in progesterone and estrogen, to which the body adapts gradually, can provoke nausea, weakness, and loss of appetite. When the cycle ends and a new one begins, a woman may also experience headaches and abdominal cramps, which is a completely natural process that does not require intervention.

Binge eating

Overeating, especially at night- when during the day a person did not have the opportunity to fully
eat, and meals were reduced to a maximum of fast food, then when you come home, where a delicious dinner is waiting, it is difficult to control yourself. As a result, the digestive tract organs did not have a load all day, and in the evening, when, in fact, the body and all its systems are preparing for sleep and slowing down their life support processes, the food eaten can cause poor sleep. Eating a heavy meal before bed leads to nausea, which indicates the inability of the pancreas to produce the right amount of enzymes. The symptoms are especially acute in the morning, when nausea can continue with vomiting, which will lead to weakness and lack of appetite.

Starvation

Prolonged fasting- Unauthorized refusal of food, allegedly in order to lose extra pounds, can cause nausea and weakness. The fact is that if food does not enter the stomach for a long time, the produced secret adversely affects the mucous membranes, causing irritation. Sometimes nausea occurs immediately after a person experiences a strong feeling of hunger. Lack of food reduces performance, and also provokes weakness.

chronic fatigue syndrome- observed in people who constantly experience fatigue and loss of strength. This condition is typical for people who work seven days a week, and the number of hours of work is greater than rest. Workaholism is commendable, but it affects health. The lack of proper sleep affects the nervous system and the brain, which can give the wrong commands to the entire body. These reasons are most often encountered in everyday life, since the modern rhythm of life makes it impossible to eat well and have normal rest.

Pathological causes

Associated with the presence of a disease in the body. In most cases, medical attention is required to eliminate. This group includes the following reasons:

Dysbacteriosis

Dysbacteriosis- This is an intestinal disease in which the balance of beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms involved in the digestive process is disturbed. Poor digestion is detrimental to the entire body, since it is not possible to get all the nutrients from food that it is rich in.

Endocrine diseases

Endocrine diseases- hormonal imbalance and lack of production of certain hormones can provoke nausea, sometimes vomiting, followed by weakness and lack of appetite.

Chronic diseases of the digestive system, which have become aggravated - most often such symptoms are inherent in gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, as well as gastroduodenitis. Nausea, weakness and lack of appetite are the first signs that old diseases require attention and timely preventive treatment.

Mental disorders

Mental disorders- if a person constantly experiences increased emotional stress and stress, while there is no rest and support from loved ones, depression may occur. This psycho-emotional state implies indifference to everything that happens around, and is also accompanied by a lack of appetite, nausea and general weakness.

Intoxication

Intoxication- if pathogenic microorganisms are active in the body, this provokes intoxication. Especially often, such processes occur in the stomach and intestines, when, getting from outside, bacteria begin to actively “get used” to the body and take everything that is available from it. In this case, nausea and loss of appetite are the primary signs indicating the presence of pathogenic microflora.

Cardiovascular diseases- similar symptoms are familiar to people suffering from chronic arterial hypertension, when the pressure in the body is increased. Nausea in this case can manifest itself even after eating, and weakness is dictated by the deterioration of blood vessels.

Drug addiction

Drug addiction- if a person voluntarily or out of necessity constantly takes medications, the gastrointestinal tract receives a tremendous load, digesting and assimilating chemical compounds. As a result, nausea and lack of appetite can indicate the presence of gastritis and peptic ulcer, as well as pathologies of the pancreas.

Presence of cancer

Presence of cancer- when a person has cancer (no matter what organ), and chemotherapy is carried out, all processes in the body go astray, including digestion. Appetite decreases, against which fatigue and drowsiness appear. Nausea and vomiting may occur, especially after taking chemotherapeutic agents.

Presence of an infection or virus in the body

Presence of an infection or virus in the body- many will think about why, when you are sick, you don’t feel like eating at all. The answer is very simple. The fact is that at the time of active production of leukocyte cells, the body concentrates all its forces precisely on this process, allowing the patient to recover as soon as possible. Lack of appetite in this case is a justified measure. An excessive amount of toxins can provoke nausea and weakness, which can only be eliminated by maintaining sufficient water balance.

Also, a decrease and a complete lack of appetite, weakness and nausea are inherent in the following categories of the population:

Addiction

Drug addicts - long-term use of narcotic drugs gradually reduces the sensitivity of the brain and nerve cells, which leads to social degradation. At the same time, all the processes occurring in the brain are aimed at only one thing: the search for a dose at any cost.

Smoking

People who smokeNicotine kills microscopic cells in the stomach. Hence, the process of splitting food is somewhat complicated. In addition, tobacco smoke saturated with tar can affect the circulatory system, causing anemia.

Alcoholism

Alcoholism - Abuse of alcoholic beverages, which is carried out systematically, leads to a violation of the digestive processes. It also has a destructive effect on the cells of the pancreas and liver.

- manifests itself as a protective reaction of the body. At the beginning of pregnancy, the hormonal background is rearranged in such a way that all conditions are favorable for the development of the fetus, although the body itself tries in every possible way to reject the fetus, perceiving it as a foreign substance.

Among the most rare diseases that speak of their existence, by provoking nausea, lack of appetite and weakness, there are:

Diabetes

- is determined by a metabolic disorder in the body, as well as the digestibility of glucose. A person for quite a long time may not suspect that he has problems with the pancreas and the hormonal system. Pathology can develop over years and decades, until it takes an acute form with more dangerous symptoms.

Neurosis

Neurosis - a disorder of mental balance, in which a person, under the influence of external stimuli, leaves the comfort zone. Nausea in neurosis appears exactly after the appetite disappears. It is logical to assume that if food does not enter the body, then there is no energy, and as a result, weakness appears.

Pathology of the thyroid gland

Pathology of the thyroid gland- the relatively small size of this gland can cause great health problems when its activity becomes uncontrolled. Lack or excess of thyroid hormones provoke various pathologies and diseases that are difficult to correct and treat.

Oncology

Oncology - In 95% of all cases of cancer diagnosis, it is due to a random examination. A person may not be aware of his problem, and the usual morning sickness, lack of appetite and weakness will be attributed to increased fatigue at work.

Anorexia

Anorexia - this disease associated with a mental disorder is the most life-threatening. Long-term refusal of food plays a cruel joke on a person, subsequently provoking a complete disgust for any food, even if it previously caused complete delight. Sudden weight loss always accompanies dizziness and insomnia. Absolutely all processes in the body are disrupted, so all available forces are aimed at maintaining vital processes.

Consider a number of situations where medical assistance is really urgently needed:

Nausea does not go away for more than 5 days, increases after waking up and ends with vomiting. In addition to general symptoms, more specific manifestations appear: pain in the abdomen, throat, back. The body temperature rises and is not knocked down by any medications. There is an acute onset of pain. There are bleeding.

In order to make up for the lack of all trace elements in the body, a person must eat properly and rationally. In the event that there is no appetite, and the food itself causes rejection and a lot of other unpleasant sensations, then the person needs help. Lack of appetite can be caused by many reasons, including not only diseases and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Few people know, but on a nervous basis, this can also happen. In what situations lack of appetite is accompanied by nausea and weakness, we will find out further.

Lack of appetite - the fact that a person would not hurt to eat is signaled by the brain, the neural endings of which send a signal to the digestive organs, forcing a person to think about food. As a result, gastric juice is gradually produced, and the level of insulin in the blood also increases. If there is no appetite, then the brain is busy with completely different, more important things at the moment. It can also be supported by diseases of the digestive tract, as a result of the progression of which, lack of appetite occurs as a natural protective reaction.
Nausea - this process is also quite physiological, it is necessary in order to release the contents of the stomach in critical situations. This sign is extremely important in diagnosis, because in combination with other symptoms it allows a more accurate diagnosis.
Weakness is a state known to everyone, especially those people who are forced to work hard and hard. A person with special difficulty manages to perform the usual actions, while feeling an increased load and fatigue.

Nausea, weakness and lack of appetite are perhaps the most common symptoms that both adults and children are familiar with. What prerequisites can influence the emergence of such a clinical picture?

Causes

Non-pathological causes

These reasons have nothing to do with the presence of diseases. They arise if external pathogenic factors exert their influence on the body, or they occur as a natural process. Their main feature is as follows:

symptoms last no more than 4-5 days, after which they disappear on their own;
do not require medical attention and medication;
do not have life-threatening side effects on the body;
may be repeated, but not more than once a month;
do not cause acute weight loss.

Menstruation and premenstrual syndrome - in the course of hormonal adjustment and preparation for fertilization, a woman's body is literally subject to the actions of hormones. Sharp jumps in progesterone and estrogen, to which the body adapts gradually, can provoke nausea, weakness, and loss of appetite. When the cycle ends and a new one begins, a woman may also experience headaches and abdominal cramps, which is a completely natural process that does not require intervention.
Overeating, especially at night - when during the day a person did not have the opportunity to fully eat, and meals were reduced to a maximum of fast food, then when you come home, where a delicious dinner is waiting, it is difficult to control yourself. As a result, the digestive tract organs did not have a load all day, and in the evening, when, in fact, the body and all its systems are preparing for sleep and slowing down their life support processes, the food eaten can cause poor sleep. Eating a heavy meal before bed leads to nausea, which indicates the inability of the pancreas to produce the right amount of enzymes. The symptoms are especially acute in the morning, when nausea can continue with vomiting, which will lead to weakness and lack of appetite.
Prolonged fasting - unauthorized refusal of food, allegedly in order to lose extra pounds, can cause nausea and weakness. The fact is that if food does not enter the stomach for a long time, the produced secret adversely affects the mucous membranes, causing irritation. Sometimes nausea occurs immediately after a person experiences a strong feeling of hunger. Lack of food reduces performance, and also provokes weakness.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - observed in people who constantly experience fatigue and loss of energy. This condition is typical for people who work seven days a week, and the number of hours of work is greater than rest. Workaholism is commendable, but it affects health. The lack of proper sleep affects the nervous system and the brain, which can give the wrong commands to the entire body.

These reasons are most often encountered in everyday life, since the modern rhythm of life makes it impossible to eat well and have normal rest.

Pathological causes

Associated with the presence of a disease in the body. In most cases, medical attention is required to eliminate. This group includes the following reasons:

Dysbacteriosis is an intestinal disease in which the balance of beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms involved in the digestive process is disturbed. Poor digestion is detrimental to the entire body, since it is not possible to get all the nutrients from food that it is rich in.
Endocrine diseases - hormonal imbalance and lack of production of certain hormones can provoke nausea, sometimes vomiting, followed by weakness and lack of appetite.
Chronic diseases of the digestive system, which have become aggravated - most often such symptoms are inherent in gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, as well as gastroduodenitis. Nausea, weakness and lack of appetite are the first signs that old diseases require attention and timely preventive treatment.
Mental disorders - if a person constantly experiences increased emotional stress and stress, while there is no rest and support from loved ones, depression may occur. This psycho-emotional state implies indifference to everything that happens around, and is also accompanied by a lack of appetite, nausea and general weakness.
Intoxication - if pathogenic microorganisms are active in the body, this provokes intoxication. Especially often, such processes occur in the stomach and intestines, when, getting from outside, bacteria begin to actively “get used” to the body and take everything that is available from it. In this case, nausea and loss of appetite are the primary signs indicating the presence of pathogenic microflora.
Cardiovascular diseases - similar symptoms are familiar to people suffering from chronic arterial hypertension, when the pressure in the body is increased. Nausea in this case can manifest itself even after eating, and weakness is dictated by the deterioration of blood vessels.
Drug dependence - if a person voluntarily or out of necessity constantly takes medications, the gastrointestinal tract receives a tremendous load, digesting and assimilating chemical compounds. As a result, nausea and lack of appetite can indicate the presence of gastritis and peptic ulcer, as well as pathologies of the pancreas.
The presence of oncological diseases - when a person has cancer (no matter what organ), and chemotherapy is carried out, all processes in the body go astray, including digestion. Appetite decreases, against which fatigue and drowsiness appear. Nausea and vomiting may occur, especially after taking chemotherapeutic agents.
The presence of an infection or virus in the body - many will think about why, when you are sick, you don’t feel like eating at all. The answer is very simple. The fact is that at the time of active production of leukocyte cells, the body concentrates all its forces precisely on this process, allowing the patient to recover as soon as possible. Lack of appetite in this case is a justified measure. An excessive amount of toxins can provoke nausea and weakness, which can only be eliminated by maintaining sufficient water balance.

Also, a decrease and a complete lack of appetite, weakness and nausea are inherent in the following categories of the population:

Drug addicts - long-term use of narcotic drugs gradually reduces the sensitivity of the brain and nerve cells, which leads to social degradation. At the same time, all the processes occurring in the brain are aimed at only one thing: the search for a dose at any cost.
People who smoke - nicotine kills microscopic cells in the stomach. Hence, the process of splitting food is somewhat complicated. In addition, tobacco smoke saturated with tar can affect the circulatory system, causing anemia.
Alcoholism - the abuse of alcoholic beverages, which is carried out systematically, leads to disruption of the digestive processes, and also has a devastating effect on the cells of the pancreas and liver.
Toxicosis of pregnant women - manifests itself as a protective reaction of the body. At the beginning of pregnancy, the hormonal background is rearranged in such a way that all conditions are favorable for the development of the fetus, although the body itself tries in every possible way to reject the fetus, perceiving it as a foreign substance.

TOP 5 reasons

Among the most rare diseases that speak of their existence, by provoking nausea, lack of appetite and weakness, there are:

Diabetes mellitus - is determined by a metabolic disorder in the body, as well as the absorption of glucose. A person for quite a long time may not suspect that he has problems with the pancreas and the hormonal system. Pathology can develop over years and decades, until it takes an acute form with more dangerous symptoms.
Neurosis is a disorder of mental balance in which a person, under the influence of external stimuli, leaves the comfort zone. Nausea in neurosis appears exactly after the appetite disappears. It is logical to assume that if food does not enter the body, then there is no energy, and as a result, weakness appears.
Pathology of the thyroid gland - a rather small size of this gland can cause big health problems when its activity becomes uncontrolled. Lack or excess of thyroid hormones provoke various pathologies and diseases that are difficult to correct and treat.
Oncology - in 95% of all cases of cancer diagnosis falls on a random examination. A person may not be aware of his problem, and the usual morning sickness, lack of appetite and weakness will be attributed to increased fatigue at work.
Anorexia is a disease associated with a mental disorder, is the most life-threatening. Long-term refusal of food plays a cruel joke on a person, subsequently provoking a complete disgust for any food, even if it previously caused complete delight. Sudden weight loss always accompanies dizziness and insomnia. Absolutely all processes in the body are disrupted, so all available forces are aimed at maintaining vital processes.

When is medical help needed?

Only 3% of all patients who report persistent nausea, weakness and loss of appetite seek medical help. The majority of conscientious patients are ready to give thousands for a “pills for all diseases” recommended by a kind aunt from a pharmacy.

Consider a number of situations where medical assistance is really urgently needed:

Nausea does not go away for more than 5 days, increases after waking up and ends with vomiting.
In addition to general symptoms, more specific manifestations appear: pain in the abdomen, throat, back.
The body temperature rises and is not knocked down by any medications.
There is an acute onset of pain.
There are bleeding.

In these cases, it makes no sense to try to help a person on your own. Self-medication is not only inappropriate, but can also cause complications. The most correct choice is a consultation with a doctor and a complete medical examination.

What actions can be taken?

If the appeared nausea, lack of appetite and weakness can be compared with the prerequisites (overeating, poisoning, PMS), and the general condition of the patient does not cause concern, you can resort to such actions as:

Drink plenty of pure mineral water.
Take medicines with enzymes: Pancreatin, Mezim, Pancreazim, which will speed up the digestion process, and also help digest everything that the body could not break down on its own.
PMS pain and lack of appetite can be eliminated with cranberry juice, nettle decoction and chamomile tea.
If there are signs of infection or a virus on the face, the main task in this case is to maintain water balance (to prevent dehydration and accelerate the removal of toxins from the body), as well as taking antiviral and antibacterial drugs.

Of course, the main reason is connected precisely with malnutrition, so you can reduce the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms and completely remove them using the following recommendations:

Refuse fast food, eat only healthy food.
Eat fractionally, not in one meal, but in 5-6. The smaller the portion, the faster it is digested and absorbed in the body, without burdening it.
Drink more pure mineral water, since it is the lack of water in the body that provokes a violation of all vital processes at the cellular level.
Eat lean meats and fresh vegetables.
Refuse fasting, even if it is for medicinal purposes. Only sports and proper nutrition contribute to weight loss.
Pass an annual medical examination, without ignoring the testimony of doctors.

Thus, the unpleasant symptoms of nausea and loss of appetite can be associated with more than a hundred diseases, different in their direction. This fact indicates that if the symptoms do not go away on their own, and the clinical picture is supplemented by new manifestations, then you should definitely seek help from a doctor.

Note!

The presence of symptoms such as:

nausea
weakness
lack of appetite
constipation
smell from the mouth

gastritis or ulcer.

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Read an article about how a woman got rid of these symptoms by defeating their root cause. Read the material ... Do not poison yourself with pills!

The presence of symptoms such as:

nausea
smell from the mouth
heartburn
diarrhea
constipation
belching
increased gas production (flatulence)

If you have at least 2 of these symptoms, then this indicates a developing

gastritis or ulcer. These diseases are dangerous for the development of serious complications (penetration, gastric bleeding, etc.), many of which can lead to

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exodus. Treatment needs to start now.

Read the article about how a woman got rid of these symptoms by defeating their root cause in a natural way. Read the material ...

Loss of appetite

Symptoms and signs:
weight loss
depression
loss of taste sensation

Loss of appetite, medically referred to as anorexia, can be caused by a variety of conditions and diseases. Some of the conditions may be temporary and reversible, such as loss of appetite from the effects of medications. Some of the conditions may be more serious, such as from exposure to a cancerous tumor.

Not everyone can boast of a normal (healthy) appetite. In most cases, people suffer from an appetite disorder, followed by malnutrition or overeating. However, external signs: excessive thinness and excessive fatness are not the only problem that arises in this case. Loss of appetite is an alarming signal that indicates serious changes in the functioning of the body. Recently, cases of loss of appetite and uncontrolled weight loss have become more frequent, which have a negative impact on health.

How dangerous is loss of appetite?

To understand how dangerous a poor appetite can become for a person, it is important to realize the very need for food. Food is the link between the human body and the environment. In addition, it performs a number of important functions: plastic, energy, protective, bioregulatory and adaptive-regulatory, which are involved in the reproduction and construction of new cells, serve to cover energy costs, increase the body's resistance to disease, take part in the formation of enzymes and hormones, contribute to the normal functioning of various body systems.
There is another function of food - signal-motivational, which is to stimulate appetite. The desire to eat (in the lane with lat. appetite) appears when there is a decrease in the concentration of nutrients in the blood. In other words, it is the appetite that regulates the intake of the required amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals into the body.
In the part of the brain (hypothalamus) there are two centers that are responsible for satiety and hunger. A decrease in blood glucose levels gives a signal that the body needs nutrients, while the entry of the active substance (cholecystokinin) into the blood signals satiety. Thus, loss of appetite can disrupt the nutritional balance - the correct ratio of nutrients in the body, including essential ones (proteins, vitamins, minerals).
Interestingly, in animals, as in ancient people, the concentration of nutrients decreases in the process of hunting, so the need for food increases when food is obtained. In the modern world, a person no longer needs to get food in the truest sense of the word, so people eat food with the appearance of appetite.

Consequences of poor appetite

Of course, a poor appetite, at least once in a lifetime, happens to every person. Our body is wise and capable of self-healing, therefore, with a short-term decrease in appetite, nothing terrible will happen. But the systematic refusal of food for a long period of time has extremely negative consequences for the body, it can cause "starvation" of all organs and tissues, including the brain.
With a balanced rational diet, the food ration corresponds to the gender, age, occupation and weight of the person. Thus, the nutrition and appetite of preschool children differs from the nutrition of schoolchildren and students. And the food of an adult, depending on the type of activity, should bring replenishment of physical exertion or mental labor expended. In the same way, it is important to take into account some features of the nutrition of the elderly, nutrition in the post-rehabilitation period, during pregnancy, etc.
If the child does not have an appetite, the baby may not receive biologically valuable substances, vitamins, macro and microelements necessary for its normal growth and development. Poor appetite for students and people with mental activities, reduces brain activity. With a decrease in the appetite of those who are engaged in physical labor, an increase in fatigue is noted. It is hard to even imagine what a bad appetite of a nursing mother for a baby can turn into. Exhaustion of the body, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness - all these are consequences of loss of appetite.
Refusal to eat for a long time can cause a serious illness - anorexia. The disease is manifested by partial or complete loss of appetite and is caused by psychopathological disorders. Anorexia nervosa has become especially widespread in recent years. In the course of the disease, the patient manifests a persistent desire to correct the "excesses" of the figure. In a neglected state, with anorexia, muscle atrophy occurs, disturbances in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system are noticed, the functions of entire systems and the work of individual organs are disrupted. A person rejects food for so long that it is no longer absorbed by the body.

What to do: lost appetite?

Appetite control is one of the most important characteristics in maintaining proper nutrition. It is equally important for health to reduce appetite when overweight and stimulate appetite when exhausted.
In most cases, we suffer from eating poor quality food and overeating, so there are a huge number of recommendations, available methods and methods that tell how to reduce appetite. To be brief, they all boil down to the fact that it is necessary to eat low-calorie foods, exclude the use of sweets and flour products, fried and spicy foods, foods that stimulate appetite, and exercise intensively. The availability of information will help you choose the right diet or the most appropriate way to lose weight.
For people suffering from a lack of weight, it is necessary to provide an increase in appetite, that is, to arouse the desire for food. If the appetite is gone, you do not need to despair, but you should not put off solving the problem either.

Any persistent symptoms of lack of appetite should be evaluated by a qualified gastroenterologist.

loss of appetite nausea

With heart failure, loss or change in appetite or nausea may occur. Some people feel heaviness in the stomach, even if they have eaten very little. They may also experience pain or tenderness in the abdomen.

These symptoms are often due to a buildup of fluid around the liver and intestines that interferes with digestion. If you notice any changes in appetite or digestive problems, this may mean that heart failure is progressing and you should contact your doctor or nurse.

Loss of appetite and nausea are also common side effects of certain medications.

In order not to risk your own health once again, do not trust folk methods, but consult a doctor.

Weakness loss of appetite

Lack of vitamin B causes loss of appetite, weakness and apathy, increased irritability, insomnia, weight loss, vague dull and sharp pains, mental depression and constipation. In children, this often results in growth retardation. In cases of severe thiamine deficiency, beriberi disease may occur. Since B is necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system, its deficiency manifests itself in the loss of ankle and knee reflexes, neuritis or muscle weakness of the legs, calves and thighs. Psychological symptoms of deficiency include mental disturbance, poor memory, unaccountable fears, stiffness, and persecution delusions. The relentless tendency of a person to self-destruction of his body remains a mystery of scientists all over the world. Contrary to common sense, the almost perfect mechanism of a human being is destroyed due to improper lifestyle and nutrition. Often shameless intemperance in food gives rise to a brutal appetite. On the other hand, despite the natural appearance of appetite, a person rejects food, preventing the body from receiving nutrients that are so necessary for normal life. Here are the main reasons that cause poor appetite.
Disruption of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT)
Gastritis, cholecystitis, dysbacteriosis can be accompanied by pain, toxicosis, weakness, which often leads to poor appetite and severe exhaustion.

Wrong diet

With irrational nutrition, when the desire to lose weight is accompanied by debilitating diets that limit or exclude the consumption of a certain category of foods, a decrease in appetite is one of the problems that arise. Rapid weight loss, develops into uncontrolled weight loss and without the intervention of qualified professionals, can lead to complete or partial loss of appetite (anorexia).

Starvation

There are several ways of fasting, which, as a rule, are accompanied by a long or one-day refusal of food. It should be noted that, subject to all the recommendations and under the supervision of nutritionists, therapeutic fasting is beneficial. However, non-compliance with the conditions and rules of fasting, the presence of diseases in which fasting is contraindicated, can lead to a complete loss of appetite. Fasting should include the voluntary refusal of food and as a protest.
The result of improper treatment and the use of harmful products

Long-term use of drugs, herbal infusions or strong drugs, without the advice of doctors or in connection with an erroneous diagnosis, is one of the causes of poor appetite. Refusal of food can be the use of narcotic substances, smoking, the abuse of means for weight loss, the use of low-quality medicines.

Improper (irrational) nutrition
Untimely eating, as well as poor quality food, lead to the formation of poisons and toxins, which lead to a breakdown and loss of appetite. In addition, in the diet, it is necessary to observe the correct combination of food products of different groups (vitamins, proteins, fats).

Psycho-emotional state

One of the reasons a person refuses to eat is psychological and emotional disorders associated with the loss of loved ones or animals, quarrels and other troubles. Often, the resulting depression and feelings of inferiority, the cause of isolation and refusal of food.

Since the loss of appetite leads to weight loss, a timely visit to the doctor will help to avoid problems such as exhaustion or anorexia.

temperature loss of appetite

In most cases, all this occurs during the poisoning of the body. After all, infectious poisoning always has symptoms of incessant vomiting and diarrhea, and with all this, weakness of the body is observed, constantly throws into a cold sweat. But if vomiting is accompanied, then at the time of all this you will need to drink somewhere around two liters of water in order to cleanse your intestines from infection. But after all this, you need to take the patient to the infectious disease department of the clinic. After a series of droppers and gastric lavage, the acid-base balance is restored in the body. And with all the weakness of the body, it will let go a little. The patient in case of poisoning will need to sit on a strict diet and take special antibiotics in order to subside all infections that provoked the disease.

But if a patient has malignant histiocytosis, then it is accompanied by weight loss, and also with it there is an increasing weakness and a high temperature rises. But it also often causes diarrhea.

But with stomach diarrhea, symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, weakness of the whole body, and dry mouth also occur. But there may even be dizziness, loss of appetite and bloating that will turn into a sharp pain.

But diarrhea is very dangerous for the body, because during dehydration of the body, the water-salt balance is disturbed, which, if left untreated, can lead to death. Vitamins we need, such as calcium and magnesium, which are very necessary for the normal functioning of the body, are removed from the body.

After all, every hanging temperature and diarrhea, which leads to weakness of the body, is not an ideal state of a person.

On the contrary, it is considered not a very useful condition, because any infection in the human body can lead to a number of different diseases. And all these symptoms should be treated only under the supervision of a therapist. Since proper treatment can prevent dehydration of the body and the loss of salts and essential minerals from the body, which contribute to the proper and efficient functioning of the body. Because not every disease can be cured independently and at home.

Loss of appetite in a child

Picky eating can persist in school-age children

Parents very often believe that their children are finicky or capricious in matters of nutrition. Indeed, in a study of eating behavior in young children, it was shown that up to 50% of parents consider their children to be picky eaters.

Although picky eating does not last long in some children, in others it becomes an ongoing problem. According to one study, in 21% of cases, parents characterized their children at the age of 4-5 as picky eaters. In another study, it was found that picky eating in some children persists until the age of 9 years.

Typical picky eater behaviors include:

eat very little;

so much for certain types of food;
eat few fruits and vegetables;
refuse to try new types of food;
interrupt or delay food intake.

Excessive pickiness in nutrition can lead to gaps in your child's diet:

fastidious children often receive significantly less protein and energy than children with a normal appetite;

in addition, finicky children are often deficient in certain vitamins and minerals when compared to children with normal appetites.

Potential dangers observed in children with constant food whims and poor appetite:

differences related to nutrient intake;

reduced consumption of fruits, vegetables and fibers;
reduced consumption of certain trace elements;
growth disorder;
mental retardation.

Tips: how to cope with a child's picky eating habits and improve appetite:

try so that the child is not distracted while eating: you should eat in a calm environment;

take a neutral position in relation to the behavior associated with food: avoid excessive praise, criticism, stimulation and coercion;
feed the baby at regular intervals and avoid "snacking" in order to increase the child's appetite: feed him at intervals of 3-4 hours and do not give anything in between;
limit the duration of the meal: the meal should last 20-30 minutes, and if the child does not eat, 15 minutes;
use products according to the age of the child;
introduce new foods one at a time and offer the same food to your child up to 5 times before you agree that he will not eat it;
encourage the child to independent nutrition;
accept that while eating, the child conducts additional research characteristic of his age.

How to know if a child is in danger

Talk to your child's doctor about picky eating behavior. This is especially important if the child:

losing weight or stopped gaining weight;

growing slower than expected
looks tired or lacks energy;

Dear parents, do not risk the health of your children, consult a doctor.

Symptoms of loss of appetite

Loss of appetite is a partial or complete refusal to eat. Loss of appetite is a defensive reaction of the body. This reaction is expressed in slowing down the process of digestion in order to prevent the ingestion of substances that can interfere with recovery. Loss of appetite can be a symptom of a serious illness.

Not only diseases lead to a decrease in appetite, but also the intake of various medications: preparations containing digitalis; antibiotics; cold medicines containing FPA (phenylpropanolamine); painkillers; medicines for diabetes; anesthetics; drugs for chemotherapy.

Loss of appetite may be a symptom of the following conditions

Addison's disease (Bronze disease)

Still's disease (Chronic polyarthritis in children)
Still-Shoffard disease (Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis)
Typhoid fever
infectious diseases
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (Gastroesophageal reflux)
Dementia (Dementia)
Depression
Peptic ulcer (stomach and duodenal ulcer)
Cancer
seasonal affective disorder
schizoaffective disorder
Anorexia

Treating a disease at an early stage is always much easier and faster, so don't put it off until tomorrow, see a doctor now!

diarrhea loss of appetite

Normally, a series of undulating muscle contractions propels food through the digestive tract. If they become too fast, the large intestine cannot absorb as much liquid from food as it should. This leads to diarrhea.

Diarrhea can be acute or chronic; the frequency of loose stools can change from day to day and varies from person to person. The stool may be bloody, contain mucus or pus, or both.

Simultaneously with diarrhea, a person usually experiences pain or cramps in the abdomen, he may have nausea, vomiting, weakness, loss of appetite. Depending on the causes of diarrhea, the type of stool and other symptoms vary.

Diarrhea and other symptoms of an acute intestinal infection suddenly occurring exclusively loose stools;

strong odor of stool;
painful and sensitive abdomen;
nausea;
heat;
chills;
weakness;
poor appetite;
weight loss.

Diarrhea and other symptoms of colon cancer bloody diarrhoea, interspersed with pencil-thick stools;

abdominal pain;
loss of appetite;
weight loss;
weakness;
depression.

Diarrhea with sore bowels In this case, diarrhea may alternate with constipation and normal stools.

painful, tender, or bloated abdomen;
stomach upset;
nausea.

Diarrhea and other symptoms of ulcerative colitis: recurring bloody diarrhea containing pus or mucus;

spasmodic pain in the lower abdomen;
mild fever;
loss of appetite;
sometimes nausea or vomiting.

Since diarrhea can mean not just an upset stomach, but a very serious illness, do not self-medicate, but consult a doctor immediately.

Loss of appetite and weight

A healthy appetite is a sign of good health. But even minor physical or psychological problems can affect a healthy person's appetite. Loss of appetite can be affected by a variety of factors, from digestive problems to serious medical conditions. In this article, we will look at the causes and treatment of loss of appetite.

Causes of loss of normal appetite. 1. Serious liver diseases: chronic renal failure, cirrhosis.

2. Serious diseases of the cardiovascular system, acute heart failure.
3. Pneumonia, HIV, hepatitis, kidney infections, influenza.
4. Inflammation of the intestines, alimentary canal or pancreatitis.
5. Endocrine problems, low thyroid hormone, diabetes.
6. Some types of cancer - blood cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer.
7. Autoimmune diseases - rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma.
8. Certain medications, antibiotics, anesthetics, chemotherapy, diabetes medications.
9. Drugs digitalis, demerol, morphine, sympathomimetics - for example, ephedrine.
10. Mental disorders: anorexia nervosa, depression, schizophrenia.
11. Pregnancy.
12. Certain types of dementia - for example, Alzheimer's disease.

In addition, some bad habits also cause loss of appetite: drinking non-alcoholic sweetened drinks or sweets between meals. Sometimes excessive consumption of "heavy" meals rich in saturated fats can cause loss of appetite. Apart from this, there are many more reasons. And in some cases, it happens that it is simply impossible to identify the cause.

Diagnosis of loss of appetite. If there is a gradual loss of appetite, accompanied by weight loss, a medical examination is necessary - these symptoms can signal serious health problems.

During a medical examination, a series of tests are performed to find out the causes of poor appetite. With the help of a blood test, it is determined whether the cause lies in hormonal imbalance, diabetes, or liver disease. Urinalysis can detect kidney infections. A chest x-ray can reveal lung cancer or pneumonia. Among the medical procedures that diagnose the causes of poor appetite, the most common are:

complete blood count,

HIV Test,
examination of the abdominal organs,
testing of kidney, liver function,
barium enema,
study of thyroid function,
Analysis of urine,
x-ray of the upper gastrointestinal tract,
pregnancy test.

Consequences of long-term lack of appetite. If a lack of appetite persists for several weeks, the result of this may be an exhaustion of the body, a lack of nutrients necessary for its normal functioning. Many of the consequences depend on the cause that caused the loss of appetite. So, diabetes can lead to disruption of the functioning of various internal organs (kidneys, nervous system, eyes), and cancer can lead to death.

Treatment for loss of normal appetite. Much of the treatment depends on the cause of the condition. As a rule, appetite is restored after the disease that caused poor appetite is completely cured.

If the loss of appetite is associated with pregnancy, then, as such, no treatment is required, after a few weeks the appetite will recover itself.

If the loss of appetite is caused by nausea, then drugs such as ondansetron or promethazine are mainly used for treatment.
If the loss of appetite is caused by appendicitis, surgery will be required.
People suffering from dementia are prescribed high-calorie nutritional mixtures, and even artificial nutrition through a gastrostomy tube.
If the loss of appetite is associated with a low level of thyroid hormone, special hormone replacement drugs are prescribed.
If the cause of the lack of appetite is infectious diseases, treatment is carried out with antibiotics.
The main methods of cancer treatment are radiation and chemotherapy, surgery.

Getting rid of bad appetite at home. At home, the inclusion of nutritious meals, snacks, and drinks rich in proteins in the diet will help to cope with loss of appetite.

Yeast, together with the vitamin B complex, is one of the most effective nutritional supplements. Green vegetables are also very good at stimulating the appetite. The lack of the mineral zinc affects the sense of smell and touch, and this negatively affects the appetite of a person.
You can stimulate your appetite with herbal infusions if you drink them half an hour before meals. With loss of appetite caused by emotional problems, herbal decoctions based on chamomile, lemon balm, dill, peppermint should be used. The healing properties of these herbs will help not only calm the psyche, but also stimulate the appetite.

Since there can be many reasons for loss of appetite and weight, we still advise you not to self-medicate, but to undergo an examination program.

Many people do not think that a good appetite is a sign of well-being and health. As soon as the desire to eat delicious food disappears, the question often spontaneously arises: “why”. But the reason can be various factors. If the cause of the lack of a good appetite is not eliminated in a timely manner, you can bring your body to a state where nothing and no one can help.

What is appetite?

Not all people who experience hunger have a good appetite. Alas, not everyone eats with pleasure. The manifestation of appetite is measured by the amount of gastric juice. If all human organs function properly, then the amount of enzyme to process the incoming food is sufficient. When eating in such cases, the walls of the stomach are in tension, their movements are impulsive and strong, and the secretion of juice is plentiful. It is in such cases that a person eats food with appetite.

A good appetite is a sign of health and well-being

An integral attribute of proper nutrition and the pleasure received while eating is the beauty of the dish and the time spent on its absorption. Slow and careful eating brings more benefit and satisfaction than hastily consumed food. No wonder the French say that appetite comes with eating. The role of taste buds is important.

At the same time, appetite is influenced by various factors, both internal and external. It can be:

chronic diseases;
oncology;
violation of the regime;
an overdose of alcohol or drugs;
stressful situations;
pain sensations;
intoxication of the body;
the use of certain drugs;
overwork;
nervous and mental disorders;
endocrine and hormonal disorders;
injury and other factors.

The appearance of one focus of excitation reduces the other. This rule is.

If appetite disappears, then another focus of excitability has appeared. Conversely, the appearance of appetite is a sign of the retreat of the disease or some kind of tension. As they say, a good appetite is characteristic of healthy and prosperous people.

Appetite doesn't just disappear. The main thing is that it would not be for long

But do not confuse a good appetite with the desire to eat something specific, that is, a dish whose taste and aroma a person can anticipate. This is not about satiety and the proper functioning of the body. In such cases, there is a psychological factor of satisfaction.

The influence of the human brain on the emergence of appetite: video

…and his loss

Appetite disorder is almost always associated with violations of the food center. They can be caused by an organic lesion of the central nervous system, but more often they are functional in nature, as they are associated with a change in the effect on the cerebral cortex, as well as with impulses from peripheral receptors for chemical homeostasis and metabolism in the body if they are involved in the pathological process.

Poor appetite implies a lack of positive emotions from the anticipation of food. This negatively affects health.

The main causes of loss of appetite

Dysbacteriosis

One of the significant factors affecting appetite is the occurrence of intestinal dysbacteriosis. This disease is necessarily associated with a violation of the microflora of the digestive system, which in the normal state takes an active part in the assimilation of substances necessary for the human body. When it is modified or absent, malabsorption develops, which leads to weight loss and a gradual decrease in appetite against the background of pain.

Dysbacteriosis is one of the causes of lack of appetite

With dysbacteriosis, after eating even dietary food, pain usually occurs due to stretching of the walls, the appearance of flatulence, the absorption of toxins, and the occurrence of inflammatory processes. The brain associates their appearance with the consumption of food, which leads to a lack of appetite. If there is no necessary treatment, and the “hunger strike” lasts for a long time, muscle atrophy occurs, leading to dysfunction of the body systems. Over time, a person gets used to the lack of food so that even if it enters the esophagus and / or stomach, it ceases to be absorbed, receiving rejection in the form of spontaneous vomiting. The result is anorexia.

Gastritis

With gastritis with any secretory activity, especially during periods of exacerbation, people often lose their appetite. This is due, as in cases of dysbacteriosis, primarily with the onset of pain that occurs almost immediately after eating. The food center blocks the desire to eat, the unhealthy digestive system protects itself from unnecessary work using this method. As a result, a person loses interest even in their favorite dishes. Drowsiness and lethargy appear, immunity decreases.

Gastritis can cause loss of appetite

If in such a situation to listen to the "wishes" of a sick stomach, then you can bring yourself to complete exhaustion. Therefore, the occurrence of gastritis cannot be ignored. When a person, against the background of an exacerbated disease, loses more than 10 kg in weight, this condition can lead to serious malfunctions of the whole organism and to anorexia.

food allergy

Some types of food allergies may be accompanied by a decrease in appetite. Many foods can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, among which are often:

stomach ache;
swelling in the oral cavity;
numbness and swelling of the tongue;
allergic enterocolitis;
vomit;
constipation;
diarrhea.

Initially, with allergic reactions to some food, a clear connection with the causative food is distinguished. And as a result of this, the food center in the brain sends an impulse associated with the rejection of certain foods. Gradually, there may be a loss of appetite in general. Therefore, when an allergy appears, a very important point is the timely recognition of the true causes. Allergenic food should be replaced in time with an equivalent, but non-irritating product.

Food allergies can cause you to stop eating

senile dementia

Dementia is not a single disease, but a group of progressive neurodegenerative diseases that lead to the disintegration of the personality. This violates:

memory;
thinking;
speech;
logics.

Unreasonable fits of rage can be replaced by depression, hallucinations are perceived as a reality. With this senile dementia, an error in the perception of reality occurs. It often seems to patients that neighbors or relatives want to poison them. Against this background, a person refuses food. There is a decrease in appetite. In parallel, due to memory problems, older people forget about food. The condition is complicated by a violation of the day regimen, when patients begin to confuse day and night. All this is happening against the backdrop of exacerbation of chronic diseases and delusional ideas. The result can be deplorable and transient.

Senile dementia is often the culprit in loss of appetite.

Oncology

If a person’s appetite suddenly disappears, weight decreases, and there are no obvious reasons for this, then some kind of malfunction occurs in the body. Sometimes a persistent unwillingness to eat can be the first sign of a dangerous disease - oncology. Often in the early stages of development, cancer is asymptomatic. There is no pain, discomfort, special signs of the presence of malignant neoplasms. However, against the background of loss of appetite, there may be:

constant fatigue;
long-term non-healing cuts and abrasions;
low or high body temperature for no reason;
violation of the menstrual cycle (in women);
bad breath;
frequent colds and infections;
discoloration of the skin and sclera of the eyes;
sudden weight loss;
hair loss and brittle nails;
causeless shortness of breath and hoarseness in the voice;
the appearance of suspicious moles;
sleep disturbance.

If all this continues for more than two weeks, then you should immediately consult a doctor. Early examination and timely treatment can prolong and even save lives.

The neoplasm releases toxins into the blood - the products of its vital activity. In addition, a malignant tumor of the internal organs has a pressing effect from the very first days of its appearance. Intoxication and a false representation of the fullness of the stomach (this is present in cancer of the pancreas, lungs, liver and other organs located near the digestive system, as well as stomach cancer itself) causes a persistent loss of appetite - hyporexia. Often the refusal of food occurs at a time when the tumor disintegrates and metastases spread throughout the body.

Loss of appetite is one of the symptoms of cancer. The main thing is to notice the disease in time!

Almost 80% of cancer patients with a progressive form of cancer for various reasons experience a decrease in appetite and a dulling of hunger. Sometimes changes in metabolism or early satiety due to accumulation of fluid in the peritoneum (ascites) can be the reasons for the lack of desire to eat tasty food.

“There are no absolute diagnostic symptoms (feelings of the patient himself) or signs (changes that may also be noticeable to others), so diagnostic studies should ultimately involve taking tissue samples and examining them under a microscope (biopsy), since this is the only way to prove having cancer."

But there are other causes of loss of appetite in oncology - these are chemical and radiation therapy. The therapeutic and at the same time toxic effect of medicines and chemicals can provoke a persistent aversion to food associated with the occurrence of nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea after eating.

arterial hypertension

If, against the background of a sharp loss of appetite, a person has the following pathological symptoms at the same time, then we can talk about arterial hypertension:

frequent headaches of varying degrees of intensity, localized in the back of the head;
glare and sparks in the eyes with a sharp change in body position;
drowsiness and weakness;
increased sweating;
memory impairment;
attention disorder;
insomnia;
anxiety and distraction;
dyspnea;
decrease in working capacity;
nosebleeds;
severe pallor and / or redness of the skin of the face.

When there is no necessary and timely treatment, then nausea and vomiting, dizziness and numbness of the fingers of the extremities can join to dull the feeling of hunger.

High blood pressure and loss of appetite are linked

All these manifestations only exacerbate the loss of appetite, as a person automatically loses his main activator - a full-fledged physical activity. It is the increase in pressure that prevents a person from wasting energy, which then needs to be replenished through nutrition. The absence of even a feasible manifestation of activity gradually leads to sensitization: strength and desire disappear. A sedentary lifestyle and drugs that control blood pressure lead to a worsening of the condition. In such cases, only the right self-organization will return the taste of your favorite products and the joy of life.

Nervous disorders

Very often people lose their appetite when various nervous disorders occur. Stressful situations are varied:

the period of falling in love;
loss of loved ones;
shock due to a serious illness;
problems at work;
moving;
discord in personal life.

And first of all, it affects the physiological and mental health.

Depression is the main causative factor that can make even your favorite food tasteless and hateful. A person does not see the point in getting pleasure from eating food. Sometimes the aroma of food can cause nausea. At the same time, many, against the background of nervous disorders, experience an overflow of the stomach, rapid saturation from the minimum consumption of food, and even vomiting when trying to eat something.

Nervous disorders and stress can lead to irreversible consequences

As a rule, young women suffer from loss of appetite on the background of nervous disorders. They think that refusing food is normal. First, there is a desire to lose weight, various debilitating diets are used with a restriction or exclusion from the diet of foods needed by the body. Weight loss turns into rapid weight loss when the appetite completely disappears. Then, to restore the body's working capacity, hospitalization is required, since prolonged abstinence from eating food leads to severe exhaustion and the development of anorexia nervosa, which can lead to death.

Taking antibiotics and other medications

Sometimes the appetite disappears with oral antibiotics. These funds, killing pathogenic microorganisms, affect the microflora of the digestive system. The most dangerous drug poisoning, overdose and / or misuse. Usually, this happens with self-medication, when a person uses large doses of the drug.

Do not get involved in drugs. The difference between medicine and poison is the dose!

Poisoning with medications entails not only loss of appetite and signs of food poisoning. Gradually join:

fever;
diarrhea;
jumps in blood pressure;
disturbance of consciousness;
high body temperature;
convulsions.

In such cases, emergency hospitalization is required, as the consequences can be irreversible: hearing loss, kidney failure, eye damage. So in such cases - loss of appetite is not the worst thing. This is just a protest of the body to take medications.

Metabolic disorders and hormonal changes

It is not uncommon that hormonal disorders and metabolic disorders are accompanied by a lack of appetite. In such cases, "companions" become:

memory impairment;
dryness of the skin and mucous membranes;
pressure reduction;
thirst;
drowsiness and weakness;
sensory disturbance in the extremities;
intolerance to low temperatures;
weight gain (surprisingly).

Poor appetite and simultaneous weight gain is one of the main signs of hormonal dysfunction. (As well as increased appetite and weight loss).

This usually happens with type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, and even pregnancy. Serious changes in the body can lead to a change in taste preferences, as well as irreversible changes in the functioning of organs.

Endocrine disruption can lead to loss of appetite

In addition to the above, there are still a large number of diseases and conditions in which there is a significant decrease or complete loss of appetite. Among them:

parotitis (mumps);
scarlet fever;
irritable bowel syndrome;
pancreatitis;
various kinds of fever;
alcoholism and drug addiction;
stomach ulcer;
intestinal obstruction;
stomatitis;
hepatitis;
appendicitis;
cirrhosis of the liver and others.

Loss of appetite is a bad sign.

Worm infestations

Decreased appetite can be when a person is infected with worms. However, most often, with helminthic invasion, the patient loses weight against the background of increased interest in food. Helminths absorb all the nutrients that come with food. A person wants to eat all the time. Pains and weakness come at a time when the patient is hungry. Therefore, helminthic invasions cannot be called the main cause of loss of appetite.

Restoration of appetite in adults

How to deal with loss of appetite? Force feeding will not lead to the desired result.

It is necessary to diagnose the disease underlying the appearance of such a symptom as lack of appetite. Only by establishing and eradicating the cause, you can eliminate the symptoms.

To determine the true cause, a number of medical diagnostic procedures are performed:

complete blood count;
urine and stool tests;
Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
study of the thyroid gland;
fluoroscopy;
HIV test;
MRI and CT - if necessary;
for women - ultrasound of the pelvic organs and pregnancy testing.

In each case, the treatment will be individual.

If it is established that the reason for the lack of appetite in a woman was pregnancy, then no special measures will be required. It is enough to make some changes in the diet and after a couple of weeks the desire to eat delicious food will return by itself.
When appendicitis or intestinal obstruction is the culprit, surgery is indispensable.
In infectious diseases, appetite is restored against the background of properly selected therapeutic treatment.
If the reason lies in senile dementia, then high-calorie nutrient mixtures are used, and, if necessary, artificial nutrition through a tube.
When medications are to blame for the pathology, sometimes it is enough to cancel or replace them. Medicines taken orally are replaced by injections.
If oncology is detected after radiation therapy or surgery, the patient's condition improves.
If loss of appetite is associated with nausea and a gag reflex, then medications such as Ondansetron, Promethazine are used.
Hormonal failures help to correct replacement therapy using artificial hormones.
When the cause of loss of appetite is depression, then antidepressants, stimulant drugs, hypnosis, acupuncture, physiotherapy, cardio loads, and vitamins are prescribed. And sometimes safe sedatives, such as motherwort tincture, and / or valerian, are enough. Their regular use relieves nervous tension and at the same time improves the activity of the digestive tract.
If arterial hypertension was the established cause, then it is enough to prescribe drugs that stabilize the situation and follow the doctor's recommendations so that the patient regains his appetite.

An exhausted body requires rest and treatment corresponding to the underlying disease.. At the same time, it is necessary to normalize the portion of food and its schedule.

Nutrition Features

To restore appetite, you should follow a special diet: meals by the hour, at regular intervals, at least five times. In this case, portions should be small. Each dish must be thoroughly chewed, spending at least 20-30 minutes eating. Snacks with sweets should be avoided, as well as foods high in fat. food should be rich in minerals, vitamins, amino acids, complex carbohydrates, fiber. Product tolerance must be taken into account. Do not get involved in cold and very hot food.

If, for medical reasons, there are no restrictions on the use of spices, spices and marinades, then it is advisable to use them as an addition to the main meal to stimulate appetite. Each meal should start with salads of fresh vegetables or fruits.

It is advisable to include in the diet once the patient's favorite dishes in combination with fresh sweet peppers and white cabbage. A complete exclusion from the menu of carbonated sugary drinks and alcohol is required. In this case, the volume of fluid consumed should be maximum.

There are a number of foods that can stimulate the production of digestive enzymes and provoke an increase in appetite:

Citrus. All these southern fruits, except for some types of grapefruit, are able to activate the digestion of food.
Apples. It is better to give preference to fruits of green color. The best choice is soaked apples.
Korean carrot. Spices combined with the taste of carrots can cause appetite. In the absence of contraindications, it is recommended to eat a small amount before the main meal.
Sauerkraut. It instantly accelerates appetite, but at the same time it is a product with a “minus calorie content”, since more energy is spent on digesting this product than it gives the body.
Fresh tomatoes with onions. It is impossible to get enough of this salad, however, it perfectly kindles the desire to eat.
Salted cheeses. Compensate for the lack of calcium and at the same time stimulate appetite.
Chewing gum. In the process of its use, a large volume of salivary fluid is produced, which, when it enters the stomach, provokes the production of gastric juice. All this provokes the desire to eat tasty food.
Ginger. A natural antiseptic and a product that revitalizes the digestive system of the human body. When using it, a person begins to experience a feeling of hunger.
Pickled vegetables. They are best used in limited quantities, as these products can retain fluid. However, a small cucumber a day will not hurt, but will only stimulate the appearance of appetite.
Soy sauce. This is one of the natural flavor enhancers that will help to open and feel the bouquet of many dishes.

All people are different, and in any case, a separate menu is developed from those products that are allowed to be used for a single individual, in accordance with his individual needs and capabilities, taking into account the state of health.

Foods that stimulate appetite: photo gallery

Application of traditional medicine recipes

You can try to stimulate the appetite with various herbal decoctions, teas and infusions. Means based on chamomile, mint, lemon balm, dill will help, which not only have a positive effect on appetite, but also have a calming effect on the human psyche.

With the permission of a doctor, you can use the following traditional medicine recipes:

Hop cones. It is used most often in the form of a decoction, but can be used as a tincture or dry powder. 1 teaspoon once a day with water.
Wild chicory root. The most classic remedy for loss of appetite: brew the root, and drink half an hour before meals. You can combine it with a coffee drink from cereals in a ratio of 1:4.
Berries of black currant. It is recommended to eat fresh berries in half a glass 30 minutes before meals, or drink currant juice 2-3 times a day, 100 ml each.
Wormwood. Pour a teaspoon of chopped dry grass with one glass of boiling water, let it brew for half an hour. Drink 20 minutes before meals three times a day, 1 tablespoon.
Melissa officinalis. Pour a glass of boiling water 4 teaspoons of vegetable raw materials, let it brew for 4 hours. Drink 4 times a day for half a cup.
Anise with cinnamon. Pour 500 grams of sugar with one liter of boiling water, add 40 grams of anise seeds and 1 gram of cinnamon. Mix everything well. Insist 45 days, then strain. The resulting infusion should be taken 1 tablespoon after meals.
Onion. To increase appetite and improve digestion, it is very useful to use infused or boiled in vinegar onions.
Parsley. Pour parsley seeds (1/3 teaspoon) with a glass of cold water, steam for half an hour. After cooling, strain the broth. Take 1 tablespoon 5 times a day.
Celery. A good appetite stimulant is celery juice, it should be taken 1 teaspoon 20-30 minutes before meals.
Juniper. With loss of appetite: pour dried juniper cones into boiling water (1 tablespoon per 2 cups of water), boil for 15-20 minutes, then strain. Take 1 tablespoon of the drink three times a day.
Lemon with sugar. Mix grated fruit peel with granulated sugar in a ratio of 2: 1. Take 1/2 tablespoon before meals.
Cornflower. Brew 1/2 tablespoon of flowers in one glass of boiling water. Infusion to drink half an hour before meals.
Horseradish with honey. Take 1 teaspoon of grated horseradish with sugar or honey daily before meals.
Yarrow. Pour a tablespoon of herbs with one glass of boiling water, steam for 15 minutes, then let it brew for 20-30 minutes. Cool the infusion, strain and take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day half an hour before meals.
Dandelion. Pour two teaspoons of crushed plant roots with 1 glass of cold water and leave to infuse for 8 hours. Take four times a day, 50 ml half an hour before meals.
Meadow clover. Pour 1 teaspoon of inflorescences with one glass of boiling water, leave for 5-8 minutes, strain. Drink 1 tablespoon 4 times a day.

According to the prescription of the attending physician, in the diet, you can use drugs (dietary supplements) with B vitamins and zinc, which increases the body's need for food and improves the sense of smell.

Folk remedies: photo

Medical treatment

If the loss of appetite carries a clear threat to human life and is not temporary, then the attending physician prescribes special medications. In this case, all adverse reactions and contraindications must be taken into account.

Iron preparations: Ferrum lek, Sorbifer, Fenyuls.
Histamine and serotonin antagonists: Supersan, Peritol, Tsiprodin, Astonin, Vinorex and others.
Elixir Pernexin is a safe drug on a natural basis.
Anabolic steroid. To increase appetite, many tend to believe that Primobolan is the best.
Insulin. Popular among athletes who need to increase their appetite and gain weight.
Pharmacy bitters. Excellent stimulate the production of pepsin and increase appetite.
Antiemetics: Volagen, Albex, Digezan, Motilium, Peridon and others.
Dopamine blockers and digestive activity regulators: Pramin, Cerucal, Viskal, Maksolon.
Bioadditives: Limontar, Stimuvit.
Peptides: Hexarelin, GHRP-6, -2.

You can not self-medicate and use medications without a doctor's prescription.

If the lack of appetite is a pathology that has arisen against the background of diseases requiring surgical intervention, then it can only be eliminated surgically (this has already been discussed above). Indications for surgery may be the following diseases:

appendicitis;
intestinal obstruction;
oncology;
stomach diseases: hernia, ulcer;
tumors of various etiologies, including benign ones.

Surgery is not a treatment for lack of appetite. This measure is used only when there is no other way to restore or improve the condition of a sick person.

What to do if there is no appetite: video

Prevention

To increase the level of appetite and feel the joy of life will help: the right diet, physical activity and harmony in the family.

Many nutritionists recommend "working up an appetite." Walking along the park or the embankment is an ideal option for saturating the lungs with oxygen. This will help create the desire to eat delicious food. It would be useful to walk past a bakery or cafe, from where you can smell the pleasant smells of fresh pastries. This will help awaken your taste buds.
Physical activity in nature is a great appetite activator. Jogging, cycling, any kind of outdoor sport, and swimming is the best. Classes on the water can cause "wolf hunger." But you can not overexert yourself, because exhaustion can lead to the opposite effect. Only pleasant fatigue will certainly return the appetite lost before.
Often problems with appetite are associated with a malfunction in the daily routine and food intake. Normal sleep should be restored. Then the appetite will show itself.
There is an opportunity to restore your appetite by doing your favorite things. In a depressed state, it is worth remembering an old hobby - this is very useful.
It is worth abandoning bad habits, as they negatively affect the entire body.

Consequences of prolonged lack of appetite

Sometimes the loss of appetite can be selective. Sometimes it is temporary, and this condition goes away on its own. However, often in the absence of appropriate therapeutic measures, a persistent lack of appetite can lead to anorexia (complete loss of desire to eat food) or sitophobia (fear of eating against the background of fear of increasing some kind of pain).

Prolonged loss of appetite can lead to irreversible consequences in the human body. Therefore, it is necessary to consult specialists in a timely manner, such as:

therapist;
gastroenterologist;
oncologist;
allergist;
psychotherapist;
neurologist;
infectiologist.

Attentive attitude to yourself and your loved ones will help to timely identify and eliminate the fundamental factors in the development of such a pathology as lack of appetite.

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A good appetite is a sign of a healthy body. Together with food, a person receives pleasure, energy, vitamins and minerals. The reluctance to eat can last for a short time due to stress, a cold, or take months, leading to weight loss and many other consequences.

Diseases for which the symptom is characteristic:

Addison's disease (chronic adrenal insufficiency);
Still's disease (chronic polyarthritis in children);
Still's disease - Chauffard (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis);
infectious diseases (pneumonia, hepatitis, pyelonephritis, HIV, SARS);
typhoid fever;
gastroesophageal reflux disease (gastroesophageal reflux);
peptic ulcer (stomach or duodenal ulcer);
cancer (blood, stomach, colon);
Alzheimer's disease;
depression;
schizophrenia;
anorexia nervosa.

What is appetite

Appetite is the desire to eat, the emotional sensation associated with eating. It occurs at the level of the cerebral cortex according to the principle of a conditioned reflex.

Appetite is:

physiological - occurs when the concentration of glucose in the blood decreases. This happens about 4 hours after eating. The receptors of the nervous system sense a lack of glucose, send a “hunger” signal to the cerebral cortex, and the person begins to want to eat. After eating, glucose enters the brain and appetite disappears;
psychological - occurs in response to the sight and smell of food. Talking about food, the beautiful design of dishes - cause images, associations and a desire to eat in the cerebral cortex. Psychological appetite is not related to the body's real need for food.

Appetite depends on the general condition of the body. Various factors of the external and internal environment can influence it. Lifestyle, diet, bad habits, many diseases both increase appetite and lead to its loss.

Loss of appetite: general characteristics

Loss of appetite is the lack of desire to eat. A person refuses to eat because of a decrease in hunger, or eats quite a bit.

Most often, this condition indicates the presence of any problem in the body.

Important! Loss of appetite is often associated with diseases of the digestive system, constant stress, mental disorders, drug use. If the deterioration in appetite is prolonged and concomitant symptoms are found, you should immediately contact a family therapist, pediatrician or gastroenterologist. Loss of appetite in the first weeks of pregnancy is considered normal. To find out the exact cause, a comprehensive examination is necessary. The basic principle is the treatment of the underlying disease. Increase appetite - green vegetables, fresh herbs, decoctions of chamomile, peppermint, dill and lemon balm

Types of disorder

There are different concepts of loss of appetite:

hyporexia - loss of appetite;
anorexia - lack of appetite;
pseudohyporexia - eating a small amount of food, despite the feeling of hunger (for example, to control body weight).

It is important not to confuse such appetite disorders with sitophobia - the fear of eating. In this case, a person completely refuses to eat, because he knows that this will cause him pain (for example, with gastritis or peptic ulcer).

Causes

Many chronic and acute illnesses, stress, medications and certain conditions can contribute to loss of appetite.

The most common reasons:

diseases of the digestive system: irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, colitis, pancreatitis, stomach and colon cancer;
diseases of the endocrine system: diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, Addison's disease;
autoimmune diseases: scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis;
anemia, beriberi;
infectious diseases: SARS, HIV, hepatitis, pyelonephritis, pneumonia, tonsillitis;
intoxication (poisoning) of the body;
chronic renal failure, cirrhosis, acute heart failure;
pregnancy;
stress;
oncological diseases: cancer of the blood, stomach, colon, pancreas, ovarian cancer;
diseases of the nervous system: encephalitis, brain tumors;
mental disorders: depression, schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa;
taking antibiotics, Digoxin, Fluoxetine, Quinidine sulfate, Codeine, Morphine sulfate, Hydralazine;
drug use: amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, LSD.

Eating sweets or soft drinks between meals also contributes to this disorder.

Risk factors

There are factors that even in a healthy body can cause loss of appetite:

poor eating habits;
alcohol abuse;
drug use;
unappetizing appearance of food;
medical procedures and manipulations;
taking medications;
powerful emotions.

With the exclusion of provocateurs, the desire to eat quickly returns. If the appetite has disappeared for a long time, this indicates the presence of a serious problem in the body (mental or somatic).

Clinical picture

Often a decrease in appetite is accompanied by:

weight loss;
nausea;
vomiting;

Also, after a while, due to the lack of nutrients, it is possible:

violation of the menstrual cycle;
memory impairment;
decreased concentration and visual acuity;
dryness and peeling of the skin, hair loss, brittle nails join.

The main clinical picture will depend on the disease that caused the loss of appetite.

Associated symptoms in various diseases

If the deterioration in appetite is due to a pathological process, then additional symptoms will definitely be present.

Accompanying symptoms help determine which disease caused the loss of appetite.

The most common diseases and their symptoms are described in the table below.

Disease	main symptom
Anorexia	loss of appetite, weakness and fatigue, abdominal pain; flatulence, constipation and diarrhea, frequent fainting and dizziness; nausea, low blood pressure and body temperature; violation of the menstrual cycle and sexual desire; desire to eat separately, each time reducing the portion; pathological fear of getting better
Gastritis	loss of appetite, abdominal pain (in the stomach area); nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or prolonged constipation; weakness, change in taste, unpleasant taste in the mouth; heartburn and belching with an unpleasant odor; sometimes subfebrile temperature
Diabetes	loss of appetite, weight loss, constant thirst; frequent urination, itching, menstrual irregularities; in men, the development of impotence, exacerbation of chronic diseases; prolonged healing of wounds, numbness of the limbs, swelling; in children, with a normal amount of food, there is no weight gain
Hepatitis	loss of appetite, weakness, irritability; heaviness in the right hypochondrium; violation of the function of digestion, yellowness of the skin and sclera; frequent urination, dark-colored urine
celiac disease	loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting; bloating and flatulence, skin rash; dryness and peeling of the skin, migraine attacks; in women - violation of the menstrual cycle; in men - impotence

If a person has lost more than 10 kg in a short time, this is a bad sign. Such changes in body weight can be with cirrhosis, cancer, anorexia nervosa. With progressive weight loss, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Lack of appetite in a child

In children under one year old, due to intensive growth and metabolism, appetite is usually increased. Therefore, lack of appetite or refusal to breastfeed is considered an alarming sign.

Associated symptoms such as drowsiness, lethargy, cyanosis (cyanosis) of the skin, seizures, or high fever may indicate a serious infection. It is necessary to immediately find the cause and begin treatment, as loss of appetite will quickly lead the child to dehydration, weight loss and cachexia. This is dangerous not only for health, but also for the life of the baby.

In children older than a year, the most common cause of deterioration in appetite is colds, various stresses and the use of sweets.

loss of appetite during pregnancy

Appetite very often decreases in the first weeks of pregnancy. This is due to a change in the level of hormones in a woman's body. Also in the first trimester there is a lack of folic acid (vitamin B9) and iron.

During this period, good nutrition is necessary, as the development of the fetus and the laying of the organs of the unborn child are underway.

At a later date, the appetite, on the contrary, increases, but it is not advisable to eat a lot. This contributes to an increase in fetal weight, increases the risk of birth injuries.

For many women, taste preferences change during pregnancy. Those who used to eat only meat may crave sweets very much or, for example, eat chalk. And you lose your appetite for your favorite foods.

All these are temporary changes that return to normal after childbirth.

Loss of appetite in the elderly

In old age, the intensity of metabolism decreases significantly. Over the years, the need for food intake decreases and appetite worsens. But changes in body weight are very rare.

Sudden loss of appetite and weight loss in the elderly are also considered signs of pathology and may indicate the presence of serious diseases.

Which doctor and when to contact with this symptom

Since loss of appetite can occur due to various stresses or from excessive consumption of sweets, you should not immediately visit a doctor. After eliminating the cause, the desire to eat will be restored.

It is important to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms, which will give the doctor a complete clinical picture of the disease.

If the loss of appetite is prolonged, accompanied by weight loss, nausea, deterioration in the general condition of the skin or the functioning of organs, you should immediately seek medical help.

If this symptom occurs, you need to go to,. If necessary, the patient can be referred to, and. Narrow specialists will be able to accurately determine the cause and prescribe treatment.

Diagnostics

The survey must be comprehensive. A thorough collection of complaints, anamnesis and an objective examination will provide information about the person's condition and the presence of concomitant symptoms.

If, apart from loss of appetite and weight loss, there are no symptoms, it is necessary to look for the pathology of the whole organism.

Laboratory and instrumental methods of examination of the body:

general analysis of blood and urine;
biochemical blood test (renal and liver tests, rheumatic tests);
blood test for hormones, tumor markers and sugar;
a blood test for HIV and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases);
Ultrasound (ultrasound diagnostics) of the abdominal cavity and thyroid gland;
chest x-ray;
pregnancy test.

Depending on the symptoms, the diagnostic program may vary. Only after a complete examination and receipt of test results, the doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Treatment

The basic principle is the treatment of the underlying disease that caused the loss of appetite. If the cause is an infectious disease, it should be treated with antibiotics. Severe stress can be stopped with sedative drugs. Nausea is treated with antiemetics (described in the table below).

A drug	Method of application and dose
Novo-Passit (sedative)	Adults and children over 12 years old - 1 tablet 3 times a day. Course 3-4 weeks
Persen (sedative)	Children from 3 to 12 years old - 1 tablet 1-3 times a day. Adults and children over 12 years old - 2 tablets 3 times a day. Course 10 days
Bifren (sedative)	Children from 11 to 14 years old - 1 capsule 2 times a day. Adults and children over 14 years old - 1 capsule 3 times a day. Course month
Ondansetron (for nausea and vomiting)	Children from 4 to 12 years old - half a tablet every 12 hours. Adults and children over 12 years old - 1 tablet 2 times a day. Course - no more than 5 days
Metoclopramide (for nausea and vomiting)	Children from one year - 0.1-0.15 mg per kg of body weight 3 times a day. Adults - 1 tablet 3 times a day. Course - no more than 5 days

If the cause is pregnancy, then treatment is not required, after a few weeks the appetite will recover itself. Hypothyroidism is treated with thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Such drugs can only be prescribed by an endocrinologist. If a tumor is found, oncologists prescribe chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. In severe mental disorders (dementia), sometimes forced feeding with high-calorie mixtures is required, through a probe or gastrostomy tube. If the appetite is gone due to depression or anorexia nervosa, you need to contact a psychotherapist who will help overcome this ailment.

Doctor's advice. You should not self-medicate, as a seemingly insignificant symptom can hide life-threatening diseases. It is necessary to diagnose them in time and prescribe treatment in a timely manner in order to avoid consequences.

Alternative treatment

At home, you can also restore a healthy appetite.

The most common folk methods:

replenishment of the diet with fresh herbs and green vegetables;
effective nutritional supplement - yeast with vitamin B complex;
the use of herbal decoctions half an hour before meals (broths of dill, chamomile, lemon balm, peppermint).

All these additives stimulate the appetite, improve the digestion process, and have a sedative effect.

Lifestyle Adjustment

It is necessary to get rid of bad habits about food.

Eat at the same time, in small portions, do not overeat. Avoid snacks between main meals with sweets, sweet carbonated drinks. Instead, eat as many fresh vegetables and fruits as possible.

Get rid of alcohol, smoking, drugs.

You need to sleep at least 8 hours a day. Spend more time outdoors, if possible, visit sports clubs and the pool.

Complications and consequences

Loss of appetite threatens cachexia (deep exhaustion of the body), due to rapid weight loss. Six weeks without food can be fatal.

Nutrient deficiency contributes to the appearance of changes in the skin (dryness, cracks, peeling), nails (brittleness), hair (brittleness and loss). The body's defenses (immunity) are also reduced.

The activity of all organs of the body (especially the brain) is disrupted, sleep and memory worsen, the speed of thinking slows down.

If the cause is established in time and treatment is started, the consequences can be avoided.

Prevention and prognosis

Prevention of loss of appetite is to prevent diseases that are accompanied by this symptom, as well as to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The prognosis depends on the underlying disease, its stage and rate of development. With a timely visit to the doctor, treatment and the absence of complications, the prognosis is favorable.

By a decrease in appetite, doctors understand a partial or complete refusal to eat. This happens for various reasons, including serious illnesses and, in the absence of qualified assistance, leads to serious consequences.

Table of contents: General information Causes of loss of appetite Accompanying symptoms Diagnosis What to do if appetite is lost - How to improve appetite for an adult - Traditional medicine to improve appetite

General information

It is necessary to distinguish between the concepts of hunger and appetite. Hunger is a reflex that manifests itself if the body does not receive food at a certain time. The mechanism of its development is as follows: the level of glucose in the blood decreases, after which a signal is sent to the centers of hunger. At this moment, a person may feel an increased secretion of saliva, an aggravation of the sense of smell, a pulling sensation "in the pit of the stomach." This area is a projection of the stomach, so it always lets a person know about the feeling of hunger.

note! When hunger appears, a person does not have a desire to eat only certain foods. He eats everything.

Appetite is a special manifestation of the feeling of hunger, in which individual favorite foods are selected. It is influenced by the time of day, emotional state, national identity of a person, religion, finally.

Decreased appetite refers to a state where a person does not want anything. There is a concept of a change in appetite when habitual taste needs are violated. Doctors also diagnose a complete lack of appetite, leading to anorexia.

Causes of loss of appetite

Decreased appetite is usually preceded by:

Intoxication of the body due to inflammation or poisoning. Due to the fact that at such moments he spends all his energy on removing toxins, digestion of food fades into the background.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which are accompanied by pain, discomfort.
Malfunctions of the organs of the endocrine system in diabetes mellitus, hormonal imbalance.
Oncology (cancer of the stomach, colon or blood).
Autoimmune diseases (scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis).
Depression, neurosis, neuropsychiatric disorders.
Side effects after taking pain medications - morphine, ephedrine.
Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.
Pregnancy.
Excess fatty foods in the diet.
Metabolic disorders due to malnutrition.
Adaptation of the body during physical exertion, to which it lends itself for the first time.
Little mobility and sedentary work.
Individual lactose intolerance, celiac disease.
Bad habits - smoking, alcohol, drugs.

Important! A dullness of appetite can also be caused by quite harmless habits, namely: the abuse of chocolate, coffee, and powerful energy drinks.

It should be noted that there are diseases in which a person also loses the desire to eat.

This is about:

Bronze disease, or Addison's disease, is an endocrine disease associated with dysfunction of the adrenal glands.
Still-Chaufer disease - juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Typhoid.
Dementia.
Gastroesophageal reflux - when the contents of the stomach are thrown back into the esophagus.
Ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
Schizoaffective disorder.

Associated symptoms

There is an opinion that a good appetite is a sign of health. Due to the fact that during the day the feeling of hunger and appetite replace each other, a person saturates his body, while remaining at the same weight. This is a kind of balance that ensures normal life.

If this balance is disturbed for psychological or other reasons, the appetite may disappear. Along with it, the feeling of hunger sometimes disappears.

Note! The lack of desire to eat for several hours is not a reason for frustration. This happens when a person eats a too high-calorie meal at a previous meal. In other words, at such moments the body is provided with energy for a longer period of time.

The lack of hunger for 5 - 8 hours makes you think. By the time they expire, the level of glucose in the blood will certainly decrease, and the person will feel a breakdown, weakness. After saturation, the stomach, full of food, will stretch, the concentration of glucose will increase and a signal will go to the brain and the need to stop saturation.

Interestingly, scientists have found that a person subconsciously chooses those products that his body needs at a given time. Athletes prefer to eat salty foods after training to make up for the loss of salt due to sweating.

Diagnostics

In case of loss of appetite, you should consult a doctor. He will prescribe a complete examination of the body, including:

a clinical blood test, an analysis of sugar levels, hormones to exclude diabetes, hormonal failure, liver disease;
urinalysis to rule out inflammation of the kidneys;
chest x-ray to detect pneumonia, lung cancer;
HIV test;
Ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract;
pregnancy test.

What to do if you lose your appetite

If diseases that could cause a decrease in appetite are identified, therapy is prescribed to eliminate them. In parallel, doctors recommend adjusting the schedule and portioning of meals. In other words, they advise eating 5 - 6 times a day in small portions. The last meal should be 4 hours before bedtime. For one absorption of food, you need to spend about 30 minutes, chewing the pieces slowly.

Snacks should be avoided. Sweets should be replaced with fruits, sauces and marinades with spices, as they whet the appetite. For some patients, doctors prescribe vitamin B, zinc, which enhance the sense of smell. It is also important to observe the drinking regimen, especially when playing sports.

Note! Nausea during this period is removed with Promethazine and other similar drugs. To improve the functioning of the thyroid gland, hormone substitutes are prescribed. Dementia is treated with high-calorie nutrient mixtures, inflammation with antibiotics.

How to improve appetite

To return to the previous state help:

easily digestible dishes - cereals, fish, vegetables, lean meat;
beautiful serving and appetizing design of dishes;
a varied diet with the optimal amount of proteins and carbohydrates;
healthy sleep and physical activity;
love for pickled canned foods that stimulate the production of gastric juice;
foods with vitamin C that improve appetite;
special infusions and decoctions of bitter herbs with the same properties.

Traditional medicine to improve appetite

Traditional healers offer several recipes for remedies to improve appetite, including:

Camomile tea. For its preparation 1 tbsp. l. raw materials are poured with boiling water, insisted for half an hour, and then taken like tea. This infusion also improves mood and relieves stress.
Yarrow juice. To improve the taste, it is mixed with honey and drunk in a teaspoon before meals. The tool is suitable for the prevention and treatment of ailments of the gastrointestinal tract, getting rid of weakness.
Infusion of wormwood. 1 tsp raw materials pour 200 ml of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Take 1 tbsp. l. before meals.
Dandelion Root Infusion. For its preparation 2 tsp. raw materials pour 200 ml of boiling water and leave for 8 hours. Drink 50 ml 2-3 times a day to improve appetite and increase immunity.

The prognosis depends on the reasons that provoked a decrease in appetite. If the disease is successfully treated, the appetite returns if all recommendations are followed. The main thing is to identify it in a timely manner. And for this you need to monitor your health and regularly undergo preventive examinations.

Chumachenko Olga, medical columnist

Loss of appetite

Symptoms and signs:
weight loss
depression
loss of taste sensation

How dangerous is loss of appetite?

Consequences of poor appetite

What to do: lost appetite?

Any persistent symptoms of lack of appetite should be evaluated by a qualified gastroenterologist.

loss of appetite nausea

Loss of appetite and nausea are also common side effects of certain medications.

In order not to risk your own health once again, do not trust folk methods, but consult a doctor.

Weakness loss of appetite

Wrong diet

Starvation

Psycho-emotional state

Since the loss of appetite leads to weight loss, a timely visit to the doctor will help to avoid problems such as exhaustion or anorexia.

temperature loss of appetite

But if a patient has malignant histiocytosis, then it is accompanied by weight loss, and also with it there is an increasing weakness and a high temperature rises. But it also often causes diarrhea.

After all, every hanging temperature and diarrhea, which leads to weakness of the body, is not an ideal state of a person.

Loss of appetite in a child

Picky eating can persist in school-age children

Typical picky eater behaviors include:

eat very little;

so much for certain types of food;
eat few fruits and vegetables;
refuse to try new types of food;
interrupt or delay food intake.

Excessive pickiness in nutrition can lead to gaps in your child's diet:

fastidious children often receive significantly less protein and energy than children with a normal appetite;

in addition, finicky children are often deficient in certain vitamins and minerals when compared to children with normal appetites.

Potential dangers observed in children with constant food whims and poor appetite:

differences related to nutrient intake;

reduced consumption of fruits, vegetables and fibers;
reduced consumption of certain trace elements;
growth disorder;
mental retardation.

Tips: how to cope with a child's picky eating habits and improve appetite:

try so that the child is not distracted while eating: you should eat in a calm environment;

How to know if a child is in danger

Talk to your child's doctor about picky eating behavior. This is especially important if the child:

losing weight or stopped gaining weight;

growing slower than expected
looks tired or lacks energy;

Dear parents, do not risk the health of your children, consult a doctor.

Symptoms of loss of appetite

Loss of appetite may be a symptom of the following conditions

Addison's disease (Bronze disease)

Treating a disease at an early stage is always much easier and faster, so don't put it off until tomorrow, see a doctor now!

diarrhea loss of appetite

Diarrhea can be acute or chronic; the frequency of loose stools can change from day to day and varies from person to person. The stool may be bloody, contain mucus or pus, or both.

Diarrhea and other symptoms of an acute intestinal infection suddenly occurring exclusively loose stools;

strong odor of stool;
painful and sensitive abdomen;
nausea;
heat;
chills;
weakness;
poor appetite;
weight loss.

Diarrhea and other symptoms of colon cancer bloody diarrhoea, interspersed with pencil-thick stools;

abdominal pain;
loss of appetite;
weight loss;
weakness;
depression.

Diarrhea with sore bowels In this case, diarrhea may alternate with constipation and normal stools.

painful, tender, or bloated abdomen;
stomach upset;
nausea.

Diarrhea and other symptoms of ulcerative colitis: recurring bloody diarrhea containing pus or mucus;

spasmodic pain in the lower abdomen;
mild fever;
loss of appetite;
sometimes nausea or vomiting.

Since diarrhea can mean not just an upset stomach, but a very serious illness, do not self-medicate, but consult a doctor immediately.

Loss of appetite and weight

Causes of loss of normal appetite. 1. Serious liver diseases: chronic renal failure, cirrhosis.

Diagnosis of loss of appetite.

If there is a gradual loss of appetite, accompanied by weight loss, a medical examination is necessary - these symptoms can signal serious health problems.

complete blood count,

HIV test, abdominal examination,
testing of kidney, liver function,
barium enema,
study of thyroid function,
Analysis of urine,
x-ray of the upper gastrointestinal tract,
pregnancy test.

Consequences of long-term lack of appetite.

If a lack of appetite persists for several weeks, the result of this may be an exhaustion of the body, a lack of nutrients necessary for its normal functioning. Many of the consequences depend on the cause that caused the loss of appetite. So, diabetes can lead to disruption of the functioning of various internal organs (kidneys, nervous system, eyes), and cancer can lead to death.

Treatment for loss of normal appetite.

Much of the treatment depends on the cause of the condition. As a rule, appetite is restored after the disease that caused poor appetite is completely cured.

If the loss of appetite is associated with pregnancy, then, as such, no treatment is required, after a few weeks the appetite will recover itself.

If the loss of appetite is caused by nausea, then drugs such as ondansetron or promethazine are mainly used for treatment. If the loss of appetite is caused by appendicitis, surgery will be required. People suffering from dementia are prescribed high-calorie nutritional mixtures, and even artificial nutrition through a gastrostomy tube. If the loss of appetite is associated with a low level of thyroid hormone, special hormone replacement drugs are prescribed.
If the cause of the lack of appetite is infectious diseases, treatment is carried out with antibiotics.
The main methods of cancer treatment are radiation and chemotherapy, surgery.

Getting rid of bad appetite at home.

At home, the inclusion of nutritious meals, snacks, and drinks rich in proteins in the diet will help to cope with loss of appetite.

Since there can be many reasons for loss of appetite and weight, we still advise you not to self-medicate, but to undergo an examination program.

Appetite is a natural physiological process, which is just as necessary for the normal functioning of the human body as the daily consumption of food. Loss of appetite and all kinds of rejection of food, or an acute aversion to familiar dishes and foodstuffs, is a sign of a pathological condition of the digestive system caused by a number of specific diseases, the wrong way of life of a particular person, disorders of the endocrine gland or mental disorders. It is most dangerous when the lack of appetite is associated with rapid weight loss. In this case, it is not excluded that the patient may experience an acute form of anorexia.

In order to establish the causal factor that influenced the lack of desire to eat, it is necessary to understand that almost always behind such a pathological behavior of the gastrointestinal organs there is a serious disease of the human digestive system, or a short-term malfunction of the internal organs.

Based on the established long-term practice, it has been established that the most common cause of loss of appetite in adults is as follows:

These are common causes that can cause loss of appetite in adults, regardless of their social status, physical activity or work conditions. Most often, these factors are present in the life of active segments of the population. These are young people whose age ranges from 20 to 45 years.

Separate categories of patients are also distinguished, in which the causes of loss of appetite are the specifics of the course of physiological processes in the body.

In the elderly

This is a separate category of patients who have no appetite due to the fact that, due to senile age, there was a natural slowdown in metabolism in almost all cells and tissues of internal organs. The digestive system is no exception and also responds with a slow metabolism. As a result of this, an elderly person may not feel the urge to eat for a long period of time, but at the same time, the total body weight is within stable limits and practically does not change.

Also, the occurrence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which were described in the section of common causative factors, is not excluded.

In both the first and second cases, you will need to undergo a comprehensive examination of the body in order to avoid the development of much more serious complications, since a stable and rational diet in old age is the key to longevity.

Lack of appetite during pregnancy

In women who carry a child under their hearts, the appearance of indifference to food is most often caused by temporary malfunctions in the endocrine system, a surge or decrease in key sex and digestive hormones. Against this background, toxicosis appears, a negative reaction not only to previously beloved foods, but also to various kinds of pungent odors. In most cases, this condition is observed in pregnant women at different periods of the first trimester of pregnancy and soon disappears without the use of special medications.

What to do if there is no appetite - how to increase?

In order to stabilize the digestive system, you can use special biological additives to maintain the functionality of the digestive tract, or if much more serious pathologies are found, the doctor prescribes drugs with a specific action.

vitamins

The selection of a vitamin-mineral complex is based on what kind of symptoms were identified in the patient according to the results of the initial examination. Also, the type of drug largely depends on the degree of activity of the patient's lifestyle, the presence or absence of bad habits. Most often, adults who complain of loss of appetite are prescribed vitamin remedies such as:

If necessary, the attending gastroenterologist may decide to prescribe a different type of vitamin preparation to the patient with an additional content of one, two or more useful substances. Most of the medicines in this group are taken orally 1 time per day, 1 capsule. The approximate course of treatment is 20-30 days.

Tablets and special preparations

Tablets and other medicines of a certain spectrum of action are prescribed to a patient who complains of loss of appetite only if, according to the results of a comprehensive examination, it was found that the cause of the pathological condition in the work of the digestive tract is caused by the presence of a specific disease.

If patients have oncological neoplasms that disrupt the stable functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, chemical preparations are used, which are prescribed based on a previously developed scheme of therapeutic effects on a cancerous tumor. Depending on the identified pathology, other categories of medicines can be used.

Do I need to see a doctor and get tested?

The sudden disappearance of appetite for a short period of time, lasting no longer than 1 day, is not always a sign of any disease. It is possible that these are biochemical changes that are caused by physical overwork, an improperly formed diet, the use of drugs or alcohol.

If such a condition continues for 2-3 days and at the same time an acute desire to eat food does not return to the person, then in this case it is necessary to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist.

This is a specialized doctor whose duties include the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of the digestive system. The specialist will perform a preliminary examination of the patient, and then offer to pass the following types of tests:

clinical examination of blood taken from a finger;
biochemical study of the composition of venous blood;
general analysis of feces;
x-ray of organs located in the chest cavity;
electrocardiogram;
morning urine passed on an empty stomach;
gastroscopy of the stomach;
endoscopic examination of the intestine.

If necessary, the attending physician may decide to prescribe to the patient the passage of other or additional diagnostic methods in order to obtain even more comprehensive information about the patient's state of health and establish the true cause of the lack of appetite.