Lack of appetite causes in women. Symptoms of loss of appetite. Lost your appetite? What to do? Possible causes of decreased appetite in a child

Loss of appetite is a signal from the body that something is wrong. A healthy person always needs food as a source of energy. Therefore, you should treat this symptom responsibly and find out its causes. Of particular concern is a decrease in appetite that lasts more than ten days.

Causes of poor appetite in adults

A person may lose interest in food due to several factors. But they all have a negative effect on the body.

Lack of appetite due to illness

Appetite decreases when various diseases appear:

ailments from the side gastrointestinal tract. They can be both inflammatory and infectious in nature;
diseases of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys;
diabetes and thyroid diseases;
rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases;
influenza and ARVI;
oncology;
neurological and mental disorders.

Wrong diet

The appetite of someone losing weight can also decrease significantly if they have an insatiable desire to get rid of excess weight in any way. An ill-conceived diet based on a small amount of calories exhausts the body.

A person becomes fixated on the fact that eating more food is a serious crime. Uncontrolled and long-term use of widespread methods of rapid weight loss can lead to anorexia, when any food causes painful aversion.

Incorrect fasting technique

The popularization of the so-called “miraculous” fasting, which supposedly improves health and relieves even incurable diseases, often leads people to acquire additional problems, including loss of appetite. Most often this happens when they are treated independently, without the supervision of a nutritionist.

Protest fasting, uncontrolled by specialists, also brings painful consequences.

Eating in different time, as well as the use Low-quality products or eating at fast food chains can lead to the production of toxins in the body. Their effect weakens a person and ultimately impairs appetite.

With this method of eating, the situation is aggravated by an unbalanced diet. Typically, protein intake is reduced and fat and carbohydrate intake is increased. Essential vitamins and microelements are often missing.

Digestion may be upset, and subsequently metabolism will be disrupted.

Chemical drugs

Side effects of some medications reduce appetite:

antidiabetic;
anesthetics;
antibiotics;
painkillers;
cold medicine, etc.

Taking strong medications without taking them is also harmful. medical recommendations. But usually after a certain time this effect goes away.

Due to strong feelings caused by the departure of loved ones, troubles at work, and domestic quarrels, a person often finds himself in a stressful state, which is fraught with a lack of appetite. Prolonged stay in such situations can lead to depression, which is also characterized by refusal to eat. Antidepressants prescribed by a specialist can help.

In addition to those mentioned, there are a number of other reasons for decreased interest in food. Nicotine, alcohol, drugs, excessive amounts of fatty foods, sweets and carbonated drinks suppress appetite. To these factors we can add low physical activity, long-term use herbal infusions.

Health hazards and possible complications

The lack of essential substances supplied with food is first manifested by poor health, a pronounced imbalance in nutritional balance.

People engaged in physical labor complain of fatigue.
Brain activity in students decreases.
Drowsiness, dizziness, and then exhaustion of the body are observed.

Psychopathological disorders in those who lose weight cause anorexia. Now this disease is often neurogenic in nature. In advanced cases, the body cannot absorb food, muscles atrophy, and all systems fail. Possible death.

If you don’t feel like eating for more than two weeks, you need to go to the clinic. Experts will determine what causes this reaction in the body.

What to do if you have no appetite

If the loss of appetite is caused by irregular eating, you need to start eating more often, but little by little. The body will learn to regularly produce enzymes to digest it. During this period, you should refrain from snacking.

There are several other ways to get out painful condition food aversion.

Physical exercise

Physical activity in the fresh air helps awaken your appetite. Even after a regular walk, a certain amount of energy is consumed, which must be replenished with food.

Simple gymnastic exercises indoors with open window also stimulate appetite.
It is important to ventilate both bedrooms and workrooms more often.
It is necessary to walk on weekends, as well as in the morning and evening, and in any weather, even rainy.
Need to drink more water, especially if physical activity increases. After all, sometimes it is dehydration that causes loss of appetite.

Infusions of plants with healing properties increase appetite,
if taken correctly - 30 minutes before meals. In case of emotional breakdowns, teas are brewed with peppermint, chamomile, lemon balm, and dill.

Bitter infusions of calamus or dandelion roots, wormwood leaves, yarrow, black currant, and plantain can restore appetite. Before using them, you should consult your doctor. Almost every plant has some contraindications for use.

Juice from the leaves and stems of yarrow, mixed with honey, drink one teaspoon three times a day.
In spring, salads are made from dandelion leaves.
An infusion of two teaspoons of crushed dandelion rhizomes is prepared by pouring 200 g of cold water over them and leaving for 8 hours. Drink 50 g 4 times a day.
Grind one teaspoon of wormwood and pour 200 g of boiling water. After 30 minutes the infusion is ready. Drink 20 g three times a day 20 minutes before meals.

Food of plant origin

Some common vegetables and fruits are good appetite stimulants:

are in the lead onion and garlic. Onions activate intestinal motility and strengthen the stomach. Garlic helps with exhaustion of the body;
radish juice;
citrus;
grape;
peaches;
apricots;
bananas;
sour apples;
sauerkraut.

Spices and herbs are also on this list. Use in reasonable quantities:

pepper;
horseradish;
mustard;
anise;
fenugreek;
rosemary;
ginger;
cinnamon.

Drugs to increase appetite

If the decrease in appetite is not due to illness, the attending physician will prescribe medications that will help cope with this problem. In addition to medications, a course of taking vitamins will be useful. These can be various multivitamin complexes, but it is desirable that they contain high percent the most necessary: C and B 12.

The presence of such a useful mineral as zinc in multivitamins is welcome. Its deficiency leads to a decrease in the sense of smell. And this feeling is very important for increasing appetite.

Effective in this process food supplement- yeast. They contain a whole vitamin B complex.

In order for the desire to eat to arise systematically, it is strongly recommended to quit smoking or at least reduce the number of cigarettes smoked. In addition, it is advisable to stick to a daily routine.

One of the main reasons to sit down at the table is its beautiful setting, as well as deliciously prepared and nutritious food. When recovering from a crisis, it is advisable to eat foods rich in proteins.

Conclusion

Long-term loss of appetite is a serious health threat.

Appetite may be absent for a long time due to illness, irregular nutrition, stress, medication, non-compliance with diet rules and therapeutic fasting.

Loss of appetite threatens disruption of processes in the gastrointestinal tract, metabolic disorders, and irreversible changes in the body.

You need to eat regularly, increase physical activity, drink infusions medicinal plants, vegetables, fruits, herbs, prescribed medications.

Decreased or lack of appetite (anorexia) is a common symptom characteristic of infectious, oncological, mental, endocrine pathologies and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Causes of lack of appetite

Appetite is the need to eat food, gradually turning into a feeling of hunger. Despite the banality of this definition, behind it lies a very complex mechanism responsible for regulating the energy balance in the human body. It includes several levels: the nuclei of the hypothalamus, the brain stem, the pleasure center, sending and receiving signals through biologically active substances. The source of the latter may be adipose tissue, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands. They produce hormones that regulate appetite.

Thus, a decrease in the blood level of insulin, a pancreatic hormone, leads to an increase in appetite (the phenomenon of insulin crisis). Leptin is a hormone produced in adipose tissue. High concentrations of leptin in the blood lead to an increase in body weight due to fat. During fasting, the level of leptin in the blood plasma decreases, while fat is mobilized and broken down, and a feeling of hunger appears.

Another hormone, ghrelin, produced in the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines of a hungry person, tells the central nervous system that the gastrointestinal tract is ready to eat food. The higher its level in the blood, the more you want to eat. Immediately after eating, its plasma concentration begins to decrease, reflecting the intake of nutrients into the body.

There are many similar hormones and hormone-like substances that take part in regulating the need for food. The presence of diseases that can disrupt these connections is a potential cause of loss of appetite. The most striking example of such a pathology is appetite disturbance in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Victims of anorexia refuse to eat until the body is completely exhausted. Research aimed at studying the causes of this disease has revealed that with anorexia, almost all parts of the mechanism that regulates appetite are affected. That is why anorexia nervosa difficult to treat.

There are other types of eating disorders that are also associated with disorders of appetite regulation (bulimia, psychogenic overeating, psychogenic vomiting).

Predisposing factors for poor appetite

Appetite is also affected by other factors, related or unrelated to any disease:

Taking medications;
Psychological problems, severe stress (loss of appetite due to depression);
Medical procedures and manipulations;
Eating environment;
Some physiological conditions (loss of appetite during pregnancy);
Quality and appearance of food (food can be disgusting if there are negative associations);
Alcohol abuse, drug addiction.

Diagnosis of appetite disorders

Identification and assessment of loss of appetite is complicated by the fact that there are no specific criteria that allow us to consider the need to eat as a clear sign of disturbance. Individual characteristics vary significantly from person to person and depend on gender, age, profession, sports, bad habits and hormonal status. For example, older people cope with hunger more easily and maintain a feeling of satiety with food longer. Individuals who exercise intensely or moderately are more likely to feel hungry/unsatisfied with food intake. When diagnosing, these differences must be taken into account.

Patients themselves may not complain that they have lost their appetite, especially if the reason lies in depression/consequences of severe stress/psychological problems. In such cases, close relatives pay attention to reducing food consumption. Questionnaires or questionnaires are widely used to objectively assess appetite.

Severe symptoms of the underlying disease, such as fever, pain, diarrhea, themselves imply no need to eat. In such cases, diagnosis of appetite disorders is usually not required, since a bright clinic will not allow one or another serious disease to be missed.

Another thing is pathologies in which lack of appetite is the only symptom. Incorrect assessment can lead to late diagnosis and complications. An example is the notorious anorexia nervosa. In most cases, the pathology is detected by family and friends already in the presence of pronounced changes, when body weight is significantly reduced.

Common diseases accompanied by lack of appetite (pathology + code in accordance with international classification diseases ICD-10):

Anorexia nervosa F50;
Depression F30;
Anxiety disorders F40;
Acute stress disorder F43.0;
Bipolar disorder F31;
Drug addiction F10;
Thyroid hormone deficiency E03.9;
Tuberculosis A15;
Infectious mononucleosis B27;
Brucellosis A23;
Viral hepatitis B15, B16, B17;
HIV infection B23.0, acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS B24;
Stomach cancer C16;
Lung cancer C33;
Liver cancer C22;
Pancreatic cancer C25;
Hodgkin's lymphoma C81;
Iron deficiency anemia D50.9;
Stomach ulcer K25;
Duodenal ulcer K26;
Gallstone disease K80.

Minimum required examination for pathological decrease food needs:

General blood test with leukemia formula;
General blood analysis;
Blood chemistry;
Stool analysis;
Analysis of urine;
Radiography chest;
Electrocardiography;
Consultation with a therapist.

Warning signs associated with lack of appetite

Loss of appetite during pregnancy

Dizziness, nausea and vomiting in pregnant women in the first trimester are often accompanied by a lack of appetite. For most women, these symptoms are mild or moderate. However, in severe cases, with frequent vomiting making it impossible to eat, serious complications can arise that threaten the health of the mother and child. Loss of more than 5% of weight due to dehydration, violation of water-salt and electrolyte balance in pregnant women can lead to embolism pulmonary artery, acute renal failure, blood coagulation disorders with the risk of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome. In such cases, immediate hospitalization in the department of pathology of pregnant women and consultation with an obstetrician-gynecologist are required.

Loss of appetite in a child aged 0 to 3 years

Newborns and infants, as well as preschool children, due to their intense metabolism, have a good appetite. For this reason, lack of appetite should be regarded as significant symptom, regardless of age.

Lack of appetite or breast refusal in newborns can be due to various reasons - from the banal intestinal colic to serious illness. If there are additional symptoms such as drowsiness, lethargy, bluish skin, convulsions, heat, you must urgently seek emergency medical help.

Loss of appetite in an adult

Lack of need to eat in combination with a sharp, causeless loss of body weight – warning sign. The cause may be serious diseases, such as tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, HIV infection, tuberculosis, and cirrhosis of the liver. If additional symptoms are present, such as insomnia, sudden mood swings, irritability, depression, bipolar disorder, or suicidal thoughts should be suspected.

Loss of appetite in older people

In the elderly and old age The need for food intake is significantly reduced due to a decrease in metabolic rate. Despite this, there is no loss of body weight. For this reason, an abnormal decrease in food intake in older people with weight loss is also a sign of pathology.

In order to compensate for the lack of all microelements 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 discomfort, it means the person needs help. Lack of appetite can be caused by a variety of reasons, including not only diseases and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Few people know, but nervous soil this too can happen. In what situations lack of appetite is accompanied by nausea and weakness, we will find out further.

Combination of symptoms

In order to understand where to look for the cause, you should analyze the specifics of all existing symptoms:

Lack of appetite - the fact that a person could use some food is signaled by the brain, the neural endings of which send a signal to the digestive organs, forcing the person to think about food. As a result, it gradually develops gastric juice, and the level of insulin in the blood also increases. If there is no appetite, it means that the brain is busy with completely different, more important things at the moment. This 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 completely physiological, it is necessary in order to empty 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 to be made. Weakness is a condition known to everyone, especially to those people who are forced to work a lot and hard. A person finds it difficult to perform usual actions, while feeling increased stress and fatigue.

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

Causes

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

Non-pathological causes

These reasons have nothing to do with the presence of diseases. They occur when the body is affected by external pathogenic factors, or occur as a natural process. Their main feature is as follows:

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

Menstruation and premenstrual syndrome - during hormonal changes and preparation for fertilization, a woman’s body is literally subject to the actions of hormones. Sharp jumps 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, the 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 eat properly, and meals were reduced to a maximum of fast food, then when you come home, where a delicious dinner awaits, it is difficult to control yourself. As a result, the gastrointestinal tract organs had no 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 bad sleep. Eating heavy food before bed leads to nausea, which indicates the inability of the pancreas to produce the required amount of enzymes. 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, supposedly in order to lose extra pounds, can cause nausea and weakness. The fact is that if in the stomach long time food does not arrive, the secretion produced has a detrimental effect on 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 causes weakness. Chronic fatigue syndrome is 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 laudable, but it takes a toll on your health. Lack of adequate sleep affects the nervous system and brain, which can give incorrect commands to the entire body.

These reasons are most common in Everyday life, since the modern rhythm of life makes proper nutrition and normal rest impossible.

Pathological causes

Associated with the presence of a disease in the body. In most cases, medical attention is required to resolve. 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 disrupted. Poor digestion has a detrimental effect on the entire body, since it is not possible to obtain all the nutrients it is rich in from food. Endocrine diseases - hormonal imbalance and insufficient production of certain hormones can provoke nausea, sometimes vomiting, followed by weakness and lack of appetite. Chronic diseases digestive organs that have become aggravated - most often such symptoms are inherent in gastritis, stomach 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 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 bacteria entering from the outside begin to actively “take root” into the body and take from it everything that is available. 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 there is high blood pressure in the body. Nausea can occur even after eating, and weakness is dictated by the wear and tear of the blood vessels. Drug dependence - if a person, of his own free will or out of necessity, constantly takes medications, the gastrointestinal tract receives a colossal load, digesting and assimilating chemical compounds. As a result, nausea and lack of appetite may indicate the presence of gastritis and peptic ulcers, as well as pathologies of the pancreas. The presence of cancer - when a person has cancer (no matter what organ), and chemotherapy is carried out, all processes in the body, including digestion, are disrupted. Appetite decreases, which causes fatigue and drowsiness. Nausea and vomiting may occur, especially after taking chemotherapy drugs. 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 moment of active production of leukocyte cells, the body concentrates all its forces on this process, allowing the patient to recover as quickly as possible. Lack of appetite in this case is a justified measure. Excessive amounts of toxins can cause nausea and weakness, which can only be eliminated by maintaining adequate fluid balance.

Also a decrease and complete absence appetite, weakness and nausea are characteristic of the following categories of the population:

Drug addicts - long-term use narcotic drugs gradually reduce the sensitivity of the brain and nerve cells which leads to social degradation. Moreover, all the processes occurring in the brain are aimed at only one thing: searching for a dose at any cost. People who smoke - nicotine kills microscopic cells found in the stomach. From here, the process of breaking down food becomes somewhat more complicated. Plus, tar-rich tobacco smoke can affect the circulatory system, causing anemia. Alcoholism is the abuse of alcoholic beverages, which is carried out systematically, leads to disruption of the digestive processes, and also has a destructive effect on the cells of the pancreas and liver. Toxicosis of pregnant women manifests itself as a protective reaction of the body. Early in pregnancy 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 indicate their existence by provoking nausea, lack of appetite and weakness are:

Diabetes mellitus is determined by metabolic disorders in the body, as well as the absorption of glucose. A person may not suspect for quite a long time that he has problems with the pancreas and hormonal system. Pathology can develop over years and decades until it becomes acute form with more dangerous symptoms. Neurosis is a disorder of mental balance in which a person, under the influence of external stimuli, leaves his comfort zone. Nausea with neuroses appears exactly after appetite disappears. It is logical to assume that if food does not enter the body, it means there is no energy, and as a result, weakness appears. Pathologies of the thyroid gland - the rather small size of this gland can cause big health problems when its activity becomes uncontrollable. A lack or excess of thyroid hormones provokes various pathologies and diseases that are difficult to correct and treat. Oncology – in 95% of all cases of cancer diagnosis it is due to a random examination. A person may not even know about his problem, and the usual nausea in the morning, lack of appetite and weakness will be attributed to increased fatigue at work. Anorexia is a disease associated with a mental disorder and is the most life-threatening. Long-term refusal of food plays a cruel joke on a person, subsequently provoking a complete aversion to any food, even if it previously caused complete delight. Sudden weight loss is always accompanied by 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 note constant nausea, weakness and loss of appetite seek help from doctors. Most conscious patients are ready to pay thousands for a “pill for all diseases” recommended by a kind aunt from a pharmacy.

Let's consider a number of situations when medical assistance is really urgently needed:

Nausea does not go away for more than 5 days, intensifies after waking up and ends with vomiting. In addition to general symptoms, more specific manifestations appear: pain in the abdomen, throat, and back. Body temperature increases and is not reduced by any medications. There is an acute attack of pain. Bloody discharge appears.

In these cases, there is no point in trying to help the person on your own. Self-medication is not only inappropriate, but can also cause complications. Most right choice– this is a consultation with a doctor and a full medical examination.

What actions can you take?

If the emerging 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 a lot of pure mineral water. Take medications 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 infusion and chamomile tea. If there are signs of an infection or virus on the face, the main task in this case is to maintain water balance (to prevent dehydration and speed up the removal of toxins from the body), as well as taking antiviral and antibacterial drugs.

Of course, main reason is associated specifically with poor nutrition, so you can reduce the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms and completely eliminate them with the help of the following recommendations:

Avoid fast food and eat only healthy food. Take food in small portions, not in one meal, but in 5-6 meals. 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 disruption of all vital processes at the cellular level. Eat lean meats and fresh vegetables. Refuse fasting, even if it is done in medicinal purposes. Only sports and proper balanced nutrition contribute to weight loss. Undergo 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 focus. 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.

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Weakness or loss of strength

Weakness or loss of strength– a common and quite complex symptom, the occurrence of which depends on the influence of a number of physiological and psychological factors. In most cases, patients describe weakness in accordance with their individual sensations.

For some, weakness is identical severe fatigue, for others - this term refers to possible dizziness, absent-mindedness, loss of attention and lack of energy.

Thus, many health care professionals characterize weakness as a patient's subjective experience that reflects a lack of energy needed to perform daily activities and duties that the person was able to perform without problems before the onset of weakness.

Causes of weakness

Weakness is a common symptom inherent in a wide range of diseases. The exact cause of the disease can be determined by the necessary studies and tests, as well as accompanying weaknesses and other clinical manifestations.

The mechanism of weakness and its nature are determined by the cause that provoked the occurrence of this symptom. The state of fatigue can arise both as a result of severe emotional, nervous or physical stress, and as a result of chronic or acute diseases and states. In the first case, weakness can disappear on its own without any consequences - here, good sleep and rest are enough.

Flu

Thus, a popular cause of weakness is influenza, an acute viral infectious disease accompanied by general intoxication of the body. Along with weakness, additional symptoms appear here:

elevated temperature; photophobia; pain in the head, joints and muscles; intense sweating.

Vegetative-vascular dystonia

The occurrence of weakness is characteristic of another common phenomenon - vegetative-vascular dystonia, which is a whole complex of various symptoms, among which are:

sleep disturbance; dizziness; interruptions in heart function.

Rhinitis

Rhinitis, which becomes chronic, is, in turn, accompanied by swelling of the nasal mucosa, which over time leads to an effect on the pituitary gland. Under this influence, the normal functioning of the main endocrine gland involved in the area of edema is disrupted. Malfunctions in the functioning of the pituitary gland lead to an imbalance in many body systems: endocrine, nervous, immune, etc.

Other causes of weakness

Sharp and severe weakness is a symptom inherent in severe poisoning, general intoxication.

U healthy person weakness may result from: brain injury, blood loss- as a result of a sharp decrease in pressure.

Women experience weakness during menstruation.

Also weakness is inherent in anemia– a disease characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin contained in red blood cells. Considering that this substance transfers oxygen from the respiratory organs to the tissues internal organs, an insufficient amount of hemoglobin in the blood leads to oxygen starvation experienced by the body.

Constant weakness is inherent in vitamin deficiency– a disease indicating a lack of vitamins. This usually happens as a result of following strict and irrational diets, poor and monotonous nutrition.

Chronic fatigue

Chronic fatigue is the body's protective reaction to constant overload. And not necessarily physical. Emotional stress can deplete the nervous system no less. The feeling of fatigue can be compared to a stopcock that prevents the body from pushing itself to the edge.

A number of factors are responsible for the feeling of good spirits and a surge of fresh strength in our body. chemical elements. Let's list just a few of them:

serotonin: with a lack of this neurotransmitter, a feeling of disharmony with the outside world arises; oxygen: its deficiency in tissues has a detrimental effect on performance and general well-being; iron: a lack of this trace element leads to weakness, lethargy, and chilliness; iodine: without the required amount of this substance, malfunctions occur in the “hormone factory” - the thyroid gland; vitamins C, D, B6, B1: acute deficiency provokes a weakened immune system, problems with concentration, memory, and mood.

More often, this disease affects residents of large cities who are engaged in business or other very responsible and stressful work, living in unfavorable environmental conditions, with unhealthy ambitions, constantly under stress, eating poorly and not playing sports.

Based on the above, it becomes clear why chronic fatigue has become epidemic in developed countries recently. In the USA, Australia, Canada, and Western European countries, the incidence rate of chronic fatigue syndrome ranges from 10 to 40 cases per 100,000 population.

CFS - chronic fatigue syndrome

Weakness is an integral symptom of physical and mental stress. Thus, among modern people who have to be exposed to enormous stress at work, the so-called. chronic fatigue syndrome.

Anyone can develop CFS, although it is more common in women. Usually:

the disease most often occurs in people aged 28-45 years; women get sick 2 times more often than men; The risk group is people whose work is associated with constant stress, for example, journalists, businessmen, dispatchers, as well as those living in areas with poor environmental conditions (increased pollution with chemicals, high radiation pollution); in 99% of cases, chronic fatigue occurs in people who spend a long time in rooms that have artificial lighting; There is a direct relationship between jet lag in humans and the development of chronic fatigue syndrome.

This condition indicates extreme depletion of vitality. Weakness here arises as physical and emotional overload increases. Next - already constant weakness and loss of strength are accompanied by a number of additional symptoms:

drowsiness; irritability; decreased appetite; dizziness; loss of concentration; absent-mindedness.

Causes

Chronic lack of sleep. Overwork. Emotional stress. Viral infections. Situation.

Treatment

Comprehensive treatment is the main principle. One of important conditions treatment is also compliance with the protective regime and constant contact of the patient with the attending physician.

Today, chronic fatigue is treated using various methods of cleansing the body, special medications are administered in order to normalize the functioning of the central nervous system. nervous system and brain activity, as well as to restore the functioning of the endocrine, immune and gastrointestinal systems. In addition, psychological rehabilitation plays an important role in solving this problem.

To the chronic fatigue syndrome treatment program in mandatory should include:

normalization of rest and physical activity; fasting and dietary therapy; vitamin therapy with preparations of vitamins B1, B6, B12 and C; general or segmental massage together with hydrotherapy and physical therapy; autogenic training or other active methods of normalizing the psycho-emotional background, psychotherapy; general immunocorrectors with an adaptogenic effect; other auxiliary agents (daytime tranquilizers, enterosorbents, nootropic agents, antihistamines in the presence of allergies).

In addition to treatment from specialists, you can relieve fatigue with simple tips on lifestyle changes. For example, try to regulate physical activity, balancing periods of sleep and wakefulness, do not overload yourself and do not try to do more than you can do. Otherwise, this may negatively affect the prognosis of CFS. Over time, periods of activity can be increased.

By properly managing your available resources, you will be able to do more things. To do this, you need to properly plan your schedule for the day and even a week in advance. By properly distributing things - instead of rushing to do as much as possible in a short period of time - you can achieve sustainable progress.

The following rules may also help:

avoid stressful situations; abstain from alcohol, caffeine, sugar and sweeteners; avoid any foods and drinks that cause negative reaction body; eat small, regular meals to relieve nausea; get plenty of rest; Try not to sleep for long periods of time, as sleeping too much can worsen symptoms.

Folk remedies

St. John's wort. Take 1 cup (300 ml) of boiling water and add 1 tablespoon of dry St. John's wort to it. This infusion should be infused in a warm place for 30 minutes. Directions for use: 1/3 glass three times a day, 20 minutes before meals. Duration of treatment – no more than 3 weeks in a row. Common plantain. You need to take 10 g of dry and thoroughly crushed plantain leaves and pour 300 ml of boiling water over them, leave for 30-40 minutes in a warm place. Directions for use: 2 tablespoons at a time, three times a day, half an hour before meals. Duration of treatment – 21 days. Collection. Mix 2 tablespoons of oats, 1 tablespoon of dried peppermint leaves and 2 tablespoons of tartar leaves. The resulting dry mixture is poured with 5 cups of boiling water and left for 60-90 minutes in a bowl wrapped in a terry towel. Scheme of use: by? glasses 3-4 times a day before meals. Duration of treatment – 15 days. Clover. You need to take 300 grams of dried flowers red clover, 100 grams of regular sugar and a liter of warm water. Put the water on the fire, bring to a boil and add the clover, cook for 20 minutes. Then the infusion is removed from the heat, cooled and only after that the specified amount of sugar is added to it. You need to take 150 ml of clover infusion 3-4 times a day, instead of tea/coffee. Lingonberries and strawberries. You will need 1 tablespoon of strawberry and lingonberry leaves - mix them and pour 500 ml of boiling water. Infuse the medicine in a thermos for 40 minutes, then drink a tea cup three times a day.

Aromatherapy

When you need to relax or relieve stress, place a few drops of lavender oil on a handkerchief and inhale its scent. Smell a few drops of rosemary oil on a handkerchief whenever you feel mentally and physically tired (not during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy). For chronic fatigue, take a relaxing warm bath by adding two drops each of geranium, lavender and sandalwood oil and one drop of ylang-ylang to the water. To lift your spirits when you're feeling depressed, inhale the scent of a mixture of oils applied to a handkerchief every morning and evening. To prepare it, mix 20 drops of clary sage oil and 10 drops each of rose oil and basil oil. Do not use sage and basil oils during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Flower essences are intended to relieve mental disorders and relieve stress. emotional sphere. These are especially helpful if you are depressed or have lost interest in life:

clematis (clematis): to be more energetic; olive: for all types of stress; rosehip: for apathy; willow: if you are burdened by the lifestyle restrictions imposed by the disease.

Symptoms of weakness

Weakness is characterized by a decline in physical and nervous strength. She is characterized by apathy and loss of interest in life.

Weakness caused by the development of acute infectious diseases occurs suddenly. Its increase is directly related to the rate of development of the infection and the resulting intoxication of the body.

The nature of the appearance of weakness in a healthy person as a result of severe physical or nervous strain is associated with the amount of overload. Typically, in this case, signs of weakness appear gradually, accompanied by loss of interest in the work being done, fatigue, loss of concentration and absent-mindedness.

Weakness caused by prolonged fasting or following a strict diet is of approximately the same nature. Along with this symptom, external signs of vitamin deficiency also appear:

pale skin; increased brittleness of nails; dizziness; hair loss, etc.

Treatment of weakness

Treatment of weakness should be based on eliminating the factor that provoked its appearance.

In the case of infectious diseases, the root cause is the action of an infectious agent. Here they apply appropriate drug therapy, supported by the necessary measures aimed at increasing immunity.

In a healthy person, weakness resulting from overwork eliminates itself. Basic control measures - good sleep and rest.

In the treatment of weakness caused by overwork, nervous overstrain, great value has restoration of nervous strength and increased stability of the nervous system. For this purpose, therapeutic measures are aimed, first of all, at normalizing the work and rest regime, eliminating negative, irritating factors. Effective use of funds herbal medicine, massage.

In some cases, eliminating weakness will require diet correction, introducing into it foods rich in vitamins and essential microelements.

Questions and answers on the topic “Weakness”

Question:Good afternoon I am 55 years old. I have severe sweating, weakness, fatigue. I have hepatitis C, doctors say it is not active. A fist-sized ball is felt in the right side under the liver. I feel very bad, I often visit doctors, but to no avail. What to do? They send me for a paid examination, but there is no money, they don’t want to hospitalize me, they say that I’m still breathing, I haven’t fallen yet.

Answer: Hello. Complaints about poor quality medical care - Ministry of Health hotline: 8 800 200-03-89.

Question:I have been going to doctors for 14 years. I have no strength, constant weakness, my legs feel weak, I want and want to sleep. Thyroid is normal, hemoglobin is low. They picked him up, but didn’t find why. Sugar is normal, but sweat pours out like hail. I have no strength, I can lie all day. Help, advise what to do.

Answer: Hello. Have you consulted a cardiologist?

Question:Good afternoon Please tell me, I have cervical chondrosis, it often hurts in the back of the head and radiates to the frontal part, especially when I cough in the frontal part it gives pain. I'm scared that it could be cancer, God forbid. Thank you!

Answer: Hello. This is a manifestation of cervical chondrosis.

Question:Hello! Severe weakness, especially in the legs and arms, appeared suddenly, there are no headaches, there is anxiety and excitement. I had an endocrinologist, a therapist, a cardiologist, an ultrasound abdominal cavity I did it, took injections, but the condition is the same: then a strong heaviness appears in the whole body, then it goes away. Thank you!

Answer: Hello. If the endocrinologist, therapist and cardiologist did not find anything, then all that remains is to consult a neurologist to rule out circulatory disorders in the vessels of the spine and brain. If weakness appears due to stress or depression, see a psychotherapist.

Question:In the morning there is severe weakness, lack of appetite, everything shakes inside, the head seems to be in a fog, vision becomes distracted, there is no concentration, fear, depression about one’s condition.

Answer: Hello. There can be many reasons; you need to check your thyroid gland, hemoglobin and consult a neurologist and psychotherapist.

Question:Hello, for about 2 weeks I have been feeling weak in the evening, nausea, I don’t want to eat, and indifference to life. Tell me, what could it be?

Answer: Hello. There can be many reasons; you need to consult a therapist in person, who will refer you for examination.

Question:Hello, I’m 49, I’m doing fitness, working on my legs, but lately I’ve been losing strength and feeling dizzy. I sleep at least 8 hours, my hemoglobin is normal, I checked my thyroid, I take magnesium as prescribed, my blood pressure is low (all my life). Please advise what else needs to be checked.

Answer: Hello. You need face-to-face consultation neurologist for dizziness.

Question:Hello, age 25, female, severe weakness, dizziness, apathy for about a month, constantly want to sleep, no appetite. Tell me what to do?

Answer: Hello. If this occurs while taking medications, you should discuss this with your doctor; if not, you need an in-person consultation with a neurologist (dizziness).

Question:Hello, I have constant weakness in general, I can’t live normally, problems have started with my back and my life is downhill, I’m afraid that I won’t find a solution to the problem and I don’t know how to solve it, can you recommend anything? I am very excited, I live in fear, I am 20 years old, I am afraid of going crazy.

Answer: Hello. Constant weakness is a symptom of many diseases and conditions. You need to conduct an examination - take blood tests: general, biochemical, thyroid hormones and go to an in-person appointment with a therapist and psychologist.

Question:Hello! I am 22 years old. I've been feeling dizzy for about 4 days now. And it can be hard to breathe and due to all this I feel weak and tired. A week ago, for two days after a hard weekend, my nose was bleeding. Can you tell me what could be causing these problems? Thanks for the answer.

Answer: It is possible that you are overtired. Please tell me, have you recently had situations when you slept poorly and little, or spent too much time at the computer? The symptoms you described may be due to increased blood pressure, intracranial hypertension. I recommend that you do an M-ECHO, EEG and consult a neurologist.

Question:For 3 months the temperature has been around 37, dry mouth, fatigue. Blood and urine tests are normal. Lately I have been suffering from sore throat frequently and have been treated with antibiotics.

Answer: This temperature is not considered elevated and, in the absence of complaints, does not require treatment, but if you are concerned about fatigue or dry mouth, you must undergo a series of examinations. I recommend that you do a bacteriological test (throat culture), a blood test for sugar, and a test for thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, T4, antibodies to TPO), since these symptoms can be a manifestation of many diseases. I also recommend that you do such a study, an immunogram, and visit an immunologist in person.

Question:Hello, I am 34 years old, female, for about 3 years I have had constant weakness, shortness of breath, and sometimes my arms and legs swell. There is no pain anywhere, dizziness is rare, gynecologically everything is fine, blood pressure is normal, only sometimes there is a temperature of 37.5 and higher, without a cold, just like that. But the weakness has been getting worse lately, especially after sleep, and lately I can’t cure an acute respiratory infection or cold in any way; I’ve been coughing for a month or more (not strong). I won’t go to the doctors about this, I want to ask about it here. Is this chronic fatigue syndrome? And is there any way to get rid of this?

Answer: I advise you to definitely go through comprehensive examination, contact a clinic for autonomic disorders or any psychosomatic clinic, where you will definitely be prescribed consultations with all specialists (psychiatrist, neurologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist). After the examination, the doctors will make a decision about you. Psychotherapy is mandatory in any case!

Question:Hello! I am 19 years old. Over the past week I have been feeling unwell. The stomach hurts, sometimes it radiates to the lower back, and sometimes there is mild nausea. Fatigue, loss of appetite (or rather, sometimes I want to eat, but when I look at the food I feel nauseous), weakness. What could this be connected with? My blood pressure is always low and I have problems with the thyroid gland.

Answer: Perform a blood test, urine test, and a gynecological examination.

Question:Hello. I’m 22, and at work in the office I suddenly became ill. She felt dizzy and almost lost consciousness. No fever, cough, or runny nose. Not a cold. This didn't happen before. And I still feel weak. Lately I have noticed a tired state, after work I fall off my feet, although I work for 8 hours, not physically. I exclude pregnancy, because... I was menstruating. What tests would you recommend to take to determine what’s wrong?

Answer: Hello! Take a comprehensive blood test to rule out anemia first. Test your blood for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) on any day of your cycle. Follow blood pressure a few days, see if there is a decrease in pressure. If nothing comes to light, then additionally consult a neurologist to rule out circulatory disorders in the vessels of the spine and brain.

A healthy appetite is considered to be nothing more than a clear sign excellent health, general well-being and mood. The term " appetite" comes from the word " ", which is translated from Latin language means " pursuit" or " wish" Appetite is a sensation that is directly related to the body's need for food. Plus, it is also a physiological mechanism that regulates the intake of various nutrients into the body. Unfortunately, not everyone has a good appetite, which directly indicates a malfunction in a particular organism. Considering this fact, this problem should be taken extremely seriously. Do not under any circumstances leave this fact without due attention. Right now we will tell you about the reasons loss of appetite, and about methods by which the current situation can be corrected.

Appetite - what is it?

Appetite is a rather polysemantic concept that is directly related to the functioning of a number of brain structures called the food center. This center is located mainly in the hypothalamus and cerebral hemispheres. Let us immediately note that both the presence and absence of appetite are determined by a number of very diverse factors.

Their list includes:

quantity and quality of food;
nutritional conditions;
speed of food absorption;
the amount of water contained in body tissues;
level of fat reserve.

While eating, the appetite gradually dulls. This is not surprising, since eaten food stretches the walls of the stomach, after which they are digested. The breakdown products are then absorbed by the body, in turn causing a feeling of fullness.

Types of disorders

Modern experts distinguish 2 types of appetite:
1. general or “I want to eat!”: in this case, a person does not care what to eat;
2. specialized forms: in this case, a person wants to eat something specific, which indicates a lack of some substance in his body. The body may experience a lack of both fats and carbohydrates, minerals, proteins or vitamins.

Any appetite disorders are often referred to by one single term, namely dyslexia . There are certain subgroups of this pathological condition.
These include:

hyporexia: deterioration or poor appetite;
anorexia: complete lack of appetite;
hyperrexia: pathological increase in desire to eat;
bulimia: uncontrollable gluttony;
parorexia: various kinds of perversions of appetite.

Causes of disorders

The list of reasons that can lead to loss of appetite is huge.
Here are the most common ones:

dementia ( dementia caused by disease or damage to the brain);
heart failure;
bronchial asthma;
hypothyroidism ( a condition characterized by a long-term and persistent lack of thyroid hormones);
chronic liver pathologies;
lack of zinc in the body;
hepatitis;
appendicitis;
ulcerative colitis;
pregnancy period;
anxiety states;
nervous disorders;
tuberculosis;
chronic renal failure;
(blood pathology that occurs as a result of genetically determined insufficient or completely absent synthesis of hemoglobin by the body);

Crohn's disease ( recurrent chronic disease affecting various parts of the digestive tract);
acute viral hepatitis;
a course of drug therapy, including chemotherapy drugs, morphine, codeine or antibiotics;
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
use narcotic drugs, including heroin, amphetamine and cocaine;
cancer of the stomach, colon, blood, lung, pancreas, or ovary;
hypervitaminosis ( excessive amounts of vitamin D in the body);
kidney inflammation;
influenza condition;
pneumonia.

Some can significantly worsen appetite bad habits. So, for example, it is not recommended to consume either sweets or soft drinks between meals. Often appetite worsens against the background of anorexia ( loss of hunger associated with a neurological disease, hormonal dysfunction or malignancy).

How dangerous is this?

Poor appetite is a rather dangerous phenomenon. The whole point is that the food we eat is, in a way, the connecting link between our body and the external environment. In addition, food has numerous functions, namely energy, bioregulatory, plastic, protective and many others. It is thanks to these functions that the body manages to both synthesize and build new cells. In addition, food provides the body with the necessary amount of energy, takes an integral part in the formation of hormones and enzymes, improves the functioning of all organs and systems, and also significantly increases the body’s resistance to various pathological conditions.

Food products have another important function, namely signaling and motivation. It is with its help that the appetite is stimulated. Experts say that the feeling of hunger occurs at times when there is a decrease in the level of nutritional components in the blood. Simply put, appetite controls what is in the body. required quantity both vitamins and proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and fats. It follows that poor appetite can cause nutritional imbalance ( ratio of food components).

What are the consequences of prolonged lack of appetite?

If a person does not want to eat for several weeks, this can lead, first of all, to depletion of the entire body, which is due to a lack of nutritional components that are so necessary for normal operation all its organs and systems. Often the consequences are determined by the very cause that provoked the deterioration of appetite. So, for example, people suffering from diabetes may experience malfunctions of both the nervous system and the kidneys, liver or eyes. If the patient has cancer, prolonged lack of appetite can lead to his death.

Other consequences include:

decreased brain activity;
vitamin deficiencies;
excessive fatigue;
dizziness;
drowsiness;
weakness;
disorders in the musculoskeletal system.

Loss of appetite during pregnancy

A fairly large number of pregnant women notice that in the first months of gestation they lose all desire to eat. It is important to remember that it is in the first 3 months that the formation of both internal organs and fetal systems occurs, so high-quality nutrition during this period is simply necessary. Only food can enrich the baby’s body with everything essential vitamins and microelements. Loss of appetite in the first months of pregnancy is most often caused by a lack of vitamin in the body AT 9 , i.e. folic acid, as well as iron. These microelements are considered essential for the body of both the expectant mother and her child. Eating large amounts of buckwheat and apples will help enrich the body with these components. Folic acid Can also be purchased at the pharmacy in tablet form. It should be taken strictly as prescribed by the doctor, so as not to make a mistake in the dosage. Most often, patients are prescribed from 400 to 800 mcg of this drug per day.

If you experience loss of appetite during pregnancy, experts recommend using the following tips:

Walk outdoors as often as possible. After such walks, you will certainly want to eat;
Make a meal schedule for yourself and strictly follow it;
buy new dishes that you will like. It is best to opt for red dishes. It's no secret that the color red helps stimulate appetite;
the table should be set beautifully so that it is pleasant to sit at;
try not to eat alone. It is best to find yourself a company among whom you will enjoy sitting at the dinner table.

Loss of appetite in infants

When a newborn stops eating, young mothers are very worried about this. This is not surprising, since babies cannot yet say what the true reason for their refusal to eat is. Don't panic ahead of time. First of all, a baby may refuse to eat due to the onset of a cold. Often such young children refuse to eat because of the stress that they had to endure.
The thing is that even the most ordinary change of environment can become a very stressful situation for them. You shouldn’t assume that the little ones don’t understand anything at all. They are particularly sensitive to changes in both climate and their environment. In such cases, try to pay as much attention to the baby as possible. You should only visit a specialist if the loss of appetite is accompanied by a significant decrease in overall body weight.

Loss of appetite in children

Babies' eating habits change all the time. Sometimes the child eats more, sometimes he refuses to eat at all, throughout the entire day, and sometimes for several days. In most cases, children refuse to eat when they do not feel hungry or do not feel well. Fatigue can also cause a child to refuse to eat. They often eat sandwiches all day instead of eating three full meals. Children also have their own preferences regarding how food is prepared and presented to them. So, for example, they eat raw carrots with pleasure, but they simply cannot be forced to eat steamed carrots.

Possible causes of decreased appetite in a child

One of the most common reasons is the onset of a cold or any other pathology. In such cases, there is no need to force the baby to eat. It is best to carefully monitor exactly how he behaves. It is quite possible that within a few hours he will complain of pain in some part of the body, or you will notice he has a fever or a rash. Sick children should be given as much fluid as possible in the form of juices, tea, water or broths. All food should be easily digested. The body doesn’t need any extra stress right now. As soon as the child recovers, his appetite will immediately return.

Children often refuse to eat because they consume a certain amount of sweets. These can be cookies, carbonated drinks, candies or juices. All of these foods tend to suppress appetite. If lunch is not ready yet, and the child asks for something to eat, then instead of sweets, offer him a few vegetable sticks for a snack.

Emotional stress is another quite common reason loss of appetite. In such cases, the most important thing is to find an approach to the child. Calm him down, caress him and, together, help the baby get rid of the problem that has arisen. If you can’t do anything with your own efforts, then show your baby to a specialist who will definitely help you.

Factors influencing the baby's appetite

1. The intensity of hormone synthesis: the child grows unevenly. So, for example, in children under one year old, as well as in adolescents, a very large amount of both sex hormones and hormones of the parathyroid and thyroid glands is observed.

This is not surprising, since it is during these periods of life that the child grows and develops especially quickly. Given this fact, his appetite, as a rule, increases;
2. Seasonal patterns: since in winter the body produces much less hormones, the child eats less, but in the summer the opposite happens;
3. Individual characteristics of metabolic processes: Many of you have probably noticed more than once how two well-nourished children have different body weights, i.e. one of them is getting better, but the other is not. In this case, a special role is given to the amount of food not eaten, but absorbed;
4. Level of energy costs: Regular consumption of food allows you to enrich the body with both all the necessary nutrients and lost energy. It's no secret that children are especially mobile, therefore, day after day, their body loses a fairly large amount of energy. The more energy they expend, the better they eat.

Diagnostic methods

To reveal the real reason If a patient has poor appetite, they are most often referred for a number of examinations. Diagnostic methods used in such cases include:

HIV test;
Assessment of kidney function;
Assessment of liver function;
Barium enema ( x-ray analysis of the colon);
Blood analysis;
Analysis of urine;
Pregnancy test;
Abdominal ultrasound
Study of the thyroid gland;
Colonoscopy ( visual inspection lower sections digestive tract from the inside);
Sigmoidoscopy ( examination of the sigmoid colon).

The last two studies are carried out only if a specialist suspects the presence of cancer. In some cases, it cannot be done without the help of a psychotherapist.

Treatment methods for loss of appetite

The course of treatment for loss of normal appetite is determined, first of all, by the cause that led to the development of this condition. If everything is to blame pathological condition, then the appetite returns immediately after it is cured. Appetite itself is restored during pregnancy, so expectant mothers most often do not need special treatment. If a person stops eating normally due to nausea, then there is no way to do without special medications. In most cases, such patients are prescribed promethazine or ondansetron.

Surgery is performed for patients whose appetite loss is caused by appendicitis. If a person suffers from dementia, then the course of treatment involves the use of special high-calorie nutritional mixtures. In extremely severe cases, artificial nutrition is prescribed directly through the gastrostomy tube.

Deterioration in appetite caused by a decrease in the total amount of thyroid hormones is treated with special medications that tend to replace the missing hormones. If appetite worsens due to an infectious disease, then antibiotic drugs cannot be avoided. And finally, for cancer, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery are performed.

Tips for those who have lost a good appetite

1. Forget about breakfast in bed and snacks in the bedroom or nursery;
2. Strictly follow a specific meal schedule, and do this in designated areas;
3. When sitting at the dinner table, do not rush in any way. Meals should last from 20 to 30 minutes;
4. In between meals, drink as much liquid as possible in the form of coffee, unsweetened tea or mineral water without gases;
5. Reduce your consumption of both chocolate and many other sweets to a minimum;
6. Regularly drink cabbage juice, which is an excellent appetite stimulant;
7. Eat meat broths or broths as often as possible;
8. Various sauces also help improve appetite, so add them to any dishes;
9. Learn the concept of normal and never overeat;
10. You need to eat often, but in small portions;
11. Carefully review the medications you are taking;
12. Exercise regularly;
13. Eat only those foods that suit your taste.

Medicinal plants

1. Recipe No. 1: take 20 gr. centaury herb, pour 1 cup of boiling water over it and leave for a quarter of an hour. Then we filter the infusion and take it 2 - 3 tbsp. l. 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. You can also prepare a special tincture from the same plant, which should be taken 40 drops three times a day. Both remedies will help both improve appetite and restore normal digestion;

2. Recipe No. 2: mix 1 part calamus roots with 2 parts wormwood, put everything in a bottle and fill it with good vodka. After 10 days, filter the tincture and use it for oral administration, 25 drops three times a day, a quarter of an hour before meals;

3. Recipe No. 3: Yellow gentian also perfectly increases appetite. Take 20 gr. root of this plant, grind it thoroughly, fill it with vodka and leave to infuse. Then we filter the tincture and take it 1 glass 3 times a day. Before use, the required dosage should be diluted with a small amount of water;

4. Recipe No. 4: 1 tsp. Add crushed parsnip roots to 400 ml of water and let simmer for 10 minutes. Then we leave the broth to infuse for another 30 minutes, filter it and take it according to the following scheme: 1st week - 0.25 cups 3 times a day a quarter of an hour before meals; 2nd week - three quarters of a glass immediately before meals;

5. Recipe No. 5: pour 200 ml of boiling water 2 tbsp. l. chopped lemon balm herb. After 4 hours, filter the infusion and take it orally, half a glass, four times a day before meals. Every day we prepare a new infusion;

6. Recipe No. 6: you need to take 1 tsp. anise fruits and pour 200 ml of hot boiled water. After 60 minutes, filter the infusion and use it for oral administration, half a glass 2 times a day, 30 minutes before meals;

7. Recipe No. 7: steam 1 tbsp. l. blue cornflower flowers in 2 cups of boiling water. As soon as the infusion is infused, filter it and take it in 3 doses 30 minutes before meals;

8. Recipe No. 8: take 4 tsp. raspberry fruits and pour 400 ml of boiling water over them. After 3 – 4 hours, the infusion is ready for use. It is recommended to take half a glass four times a day. It is very important to use it exclusively warm;

9. Recipe No. 9: carefully chop the rhizomes of calamus, then 1 tsp. pour the resulting raw material with 2 glasses of boiled water and boil over low heat for 15 minutes. All this time the pan must be covered with a lid. Then we filter the broth, add a little sugar to it and take half a glass orally 3 times a day before meals. This remedy is especially effective if appetite has worsened due to the development of some gastrointestinal disease;

10. Recipe No. 10: grind 2 tsp. dandelion roots and pour the raw material with 1 glass of boiled water, after cooling it. After 8 hours, filter the infusion and use it for oral administration, one quarter of a glass four times a day. Usage this tool will improve the digestion process, and, consequently, restore appetite.

Herbal infusions

1. Collection No. 1: mix 1 part of wormwood herb and dandelion herb with half a part of yarrow herb and the same amount of white willow bark. 1 tbsp. l. pour the resulting mixture with 1.5 cups of hot boiled water and leave to steep for 30 - 40 minutes. After this, filter the infusion and take it orally, half a glass three times a day, 10 minutes before meals;

2. Collection No. 2: take 20 grams. herb centaury and leaves of fragrant rue, 10 gr. leaves of sage and the same amount of roots of angelica. To prepare this product, pour 3 cups of boiling water into 3 tbsp. l. received fee. After 30 minutes, filter the infusion and take 1 glass three times a day. It is very important that this infusion is taken before meals;

3. Collection No. 3: Let us immediately note that it can be given even to children. Mix 15 ml of burdock tincture, anise seeds, vegetable glycerin, chamomile root and ginger, then place the resulting mass in a dark, cool place. Before each use, the product must be shaken thoroughly. It is recommended to take it 1 tsp. before each meal;

4. Collection No. 4: it can also be given to a child. Take 7 mg each of sassafras, sarsaparilla, and chamomile roots and mix it all with 1 tbsp. l. grated ginger root and 400 ml boiling water. Place the resulting product on the fire and boil it for a quarter of an hour. Then strain the broth, add a little honey to it and take 1 tsp. before eating.

General information

It is necessary to distinguish between the concepts of hunger and appetite. Hunger is a reflex that occurs 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 hunger centers. At this moment, a person may feel increased salivation, a heightened sense of smell, and a tugging sensation in the pit of the stomach. This area is a projection of the stomach, therefore it always makes a person aware of the feeling of hunger.

note! When hunger occurs, a person does not have the 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, nationality of a person, religion, and finally.

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

Causes of decreased appetite

A decrease in 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 and discomfort.
- Malfunctions of the endocrine system in diabetes mellitus, hormonal imbalance.
- Oncology (stomach, colon or blood cancer).
- Autoimmune diseases (scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis).
- Depression, neuroses, neuropsychic disorders.
- Side effects after taking painkillers - morphine, ephedrine.
- Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.
- Pregnancy.
- Excess fatty foods in the diet.
- Metabolic disorders due to proper nutrition.
- Adaptation of the body during physical activity to which it is subjected for the first time.
- Low mobility and sedentary work.
- Individual lactose intolerance, celiac disease.
- Bad habits – smoking, alcohol, drugs.

Important!Quite harmless habits can also cause a dulling of appetite, namely: 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 adrenal dysfunction.
- Still-Chauffer disease is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
- Typhoid fever.
- Dementia.
- Gastroesophageal reflux - when the contents of the stomach are thrown back into the esophagus.
- Stomach and duodenal ulcers.
- 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 functioning.

If this balance is disrupted for psychological or other reasons, appetite may disappear. Sometimes the feeling of hunger disappears along with it.

Note! Lack of desire to eat for several hours is not a reason for frustration. This happens when, during a previous meal, a person eats a dish that is too high in calories. In other words, at such moments the body is provided with energy for a longer period of time.

The absence of hunger for 5 - 8 hours makes you think. By the time they expire, the blood glucose level will probably decrease, and the person will feel a loss of strength and weakness. After satiation, the stomach full of food will stretch, the glucose concentration will increase and a signal will be sent to the brain to stop saturation.

It is interesting that scientists have established: a person subconsciously chooses those products that his body needs at a given time. Athletes prefer to eat salty foods after training to replenish salt loss due to sweat.

Diagnostics

If your appetite decreases, you should consult a doctor. He will prescribe a full examination of the body, including:

What to do if you lose your appetite

If diseases that could cause loss of appetite are identified, therapy is prescribed to eliminate them. At the same time, doctors recommend adjusting the schedule and portions of food intake. In other words, they advise eating 5 to 6 small meals a day. The last meal should be 4 hours before bedtime. You should spend about 30 minutes per meal, chewing the pieces slowly.

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

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

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

Table of contents: General information Causes of decreased appetite Associated symptoms Diagnostics What to do if you lose your appetite - How to improve appetite for an adult - ethnoscience to improve appetite

General information

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

Causes of decreased appetite

A decrease in 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 and discomfort.
Malfunctions of the endocrine system organs due to diabetes mellitus, hormonal imbalance.
Oncology (stomach, colon or blood cancer).
Autoimmune diseases (scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis).
Depression, neuroses, neuropsychic disorders.
Side effects after taking painkillers - morphine, ephedrine.
Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.
Pregnancy.
Excess fatty foods in the diet.
Metabolic disorders due to poor nutrition.
Adaptation of the body during physical activity to which it is subjected for the first time.
Low mobility and sedentary work.
Individual lactose intolerance, celiac disease.
Bad habits – smoking, alcohol, drugs.

Important! Quite harmless habits can also cause a dulling of appetite, namely: 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 adrenal dysfunction.
Still-Chauffer disease is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Typhoid fever.
Dementia.
Gastroesophageal reflux - when the contents of the stomach are thrown back into the esophagus.
Stomach and duodenal ulcers.
Schizoaffective disorder.

Associated symptoms

If this balance is disrupted for psychological or other reasons, appetite may disappear. Sometimes the feeling of hunger disappears along with it.

Diagnostics

If your appetite decreases, you should consult a doctor. He will prescribe a full examination of the body, including:

clinical blood test, analysis of sugar levels, hormones to exclude diabetes mellitus, hormonal imbalance, liver disease;
urine test to rule out kidney inflammation;
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

How to improve your appetite

Help to return to your previous state:

easily digestible dishes - porridge, fish, vegetables, lean meat;
beautiful serving and appetizing presentation 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 that have the same properties.

Traditional medicine to improve appetite

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

Camomile tea. To prepare it, 1 tbsp. l. raw materials are poured with boiling water, left for half an hour, and then taken as tea. This infusion also improves mood and relieves stress.
Yarrow juice. To improve its taste, mix it with honey and drink a teaspoon before meals. The product is suitable for the prevention and treatment of ailments of the gastrointestinal tract, getting rid of weakness.
Wormwood infusion. 1 tsp. raw materials are poured with 200 ml of boiling water and left for half an hour. Take 1 tbsp. l. before meals.
Dandelion root infusion. To cook it, 2 tsp. raw materials are poured with 200 ml of boiling water and left for 8 hours. Drink 50 ml 2-3 times a day to improve appetite and boost immunity.

The prognosis depends on the reasons that provoked the loss of appetite. If the disease is successfully treated, 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 undergo regular preventive examinations.

Chumachenko Olga, medical observer

Loss of appetite

Symptoms and signs:
weight loss
depression
loss of taste

Loss of appetite, with medical point called anorexia, it can be caused by various 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 impaired appetite followed by undereating or overeating. However, external signs: excessive thinness and excessive fatness are not the only problem that arises. Loss of appetite – alarm signal, which 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 recognize the very need for food. Food is the link between the human body and environment. In addition, it performs a number of important functions: plastic, energetic, 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, promote normal activity different systems body.
There is another function of food – signaling and motivational, which boils down to stimulating appetite. The desire to eat (in Latin, appetite) appears when the concentration of nutrients in the blood decreases. In other words, it is 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 signals that the body needs nutrients, while the flow into the blood active substance(cholecystokinin) signals saturation. Thus, loss of appetite can disrupt nutritional balance - the correct ratio of nutrients in the body, including essential ones (proteins, vitamins, minerals).
Interestingly, in animals, like ancient people, the concentration of nutrients decreases during the hunt, so the need for food increases when obtaining food. IN modern world, a person no longer has the need to get food in the literal sense of the word, so people eat food with the appearance of an appetite.

Consequences of poor appetite

Of course, every person experiences poor appetite at least once in their life. Our body is wise and capable of self-healing, so with a short-term decrease in appetite, nothing bad will happen. But systematic refusal to eat for a long period of time has extremely Negative consequences for the body, can cause “starvation” of all organs and tissues, including the brain.
With a balanced, rational diet, the diet 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 replenish physical activity or expended mental labor. In the same way, it is important to take into account some nutritional features of older people, nutrition after rehabilitation period, during pregnancy, etc.
If a child has no appetite, the baby may not receive enough 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 appetite, those who are engaged in physical labor experience an increase in fatigue. It’s hard to even imagine what a bad appetite of a nursing mother can mean for a baby. 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. Particularly widespread in last years got anorexia nervosa. During the course of the disease, the patient manifests a persistent desire to correct the “excesses” of the figure. In an advanced state, with anorexia, muscle atrophy occurs, disturbances in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system are noticed, the functions of entire systems and the functioning 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 when maintaining proper nutrition. Reducing appetite is equally important for health overweight and stimulation of appetite during exhaustion.
In most cases, we suffer from eating poor quality food and gluttony, so there are a huge number of recommendations available ways and methods that tell you how to reduce your appetite. To be brief, they all boil down to the fact that it is necessary to eat low-calorie foods, avoid eating sweets and flour products, fried and spicy foods, foods that stimulate the appetite, and intense physical exercise. Availability of information will help you choose the right diet or the most suitable way to lose weight.
For people suffering from lack of weight, it is necessary to increase appetite, that is, to arouse the desire for food. If you have lost your appetite, you don’t need to despair, but you shouldn’t put off solving the problem either.

Any persistent symptoms of lack of appetite should be assessed by a professional gastroenterologist.

Loss of appetite nausea

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

These symptoms often occur because fluid accumulates around the liver and intestines, interfering with digestion. If you notice any changes in appetite or digestive problems, this may mean your heart failure is getting worse and you should see your doctor or nurse.

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

To avoid risking your own health once again, do not trust traditional methods, and consult a doctor.

Weakness loss of appetite

Lack of vitamin B causes loss of appetite, weakness and apathy, increased irritability, insomnia, weight loss, the appearance of vague dull and acute pain, mental depression and constipation. In children, this often leads to 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 disturbances of mental balance, poor memory, unaccountable fears, stiffness and persecutory delusions. The mystery of scientists around the world remains the relentless tendency for man to self-destruct his body. Contrary to common sense, the almost ideal mechanism of a human being is destroyed due to improper lifestyle and nutrition. Often shameless intemperance in eating 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 functioning. Here are the main reasons that cause poor appetite.
Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT)
Gastritis, cholecystitis, dysbacteriosis can be accompanied by pain, toxicosis, weakness, this often leads to poor appetite and severe exhaustion.

Wrong diet

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

Starvation

There are several methods 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 recommendations and under the supervision of nutritionists, therapeutic fasting benefits. However, failure to comply with the conditions and rules of fasting, or the presence of diseases for which fasting is contraindicated, can lead to a complete loss of appetite. Fasting includes voluntary refusal of food and as a protest.
The result of improper treatment and consumption of harmful products

Long-term use of medications, herbal infusions or potent drugs, without the advice of doctors or due to an erroneous diagnosis, is one of the reasons for poor appetite. Refusal to eat can be caused by drug use, smoking, abuse of weight loss products, or use of low-quality medications.

Improper (irrational) nutrition
Untimely eating, as well as poor quality food lead to the formation of poisons and toxins, which lead to loss of strength and poor appetite. In addition, the diet must comply with the right combination food products of different groups (vitamins, proteins, fats).

Psycho-emotional state

One of the reasons for a person’s refusal to eat includes psychological and emotional disorders, associated with the loss of loved ones or animals, quarrels and other troubles. Often, the resulting depression and feeling of inferiority are the cause of isolation and refusal to eat.

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

Temperature loss of appetite

In most cases, all this occurs during poisoning of the body. After all, infectious poisoning always has symptoms of incessant vomiting and diarrhea, and with all this, there is weakness of the body, constantly breaking into a cold sweat. But if vomiting is accompanied, then at the time of all this you will need to drink about two liters of water to cleanse your intestines of infection. But after all this, you need to take the patient to the infectious diseases department of the clinic. After a series of droppers and gastric lavage, the body recovers acid-base balance. And with all the weakness of the body will go away a little. In case of poisoning, the patient will need to go on a strict diet and take special antibiotics in order to eliminate all the infections that caused the disease.

But if the patient experiences malignant histiocytosis, then it is accompanied by weight loss, and also with it, increasing weakness occurs and a high temperature rises. But diarrhea is also common with it.

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

But diarrhea is very dangerous for the body because when the body becomes dehydrated, the water-salt balance is disturbed, which can lead to death if left untreated. 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 rise in temperature and diarrhea, which leads to weakness of the body, is not an ideal human condition.

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 and 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 on your own and at home.

Loss of appetite in a child

Picky eating can persist in school-aged children

Parents very often believe that their children are picky or capricious when it comes to 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 fussy eaters.

While picky eating doesn't last long for some children, it becomes an ongoing problem for others. According to one study, in 21% of cases, parents characterized their children aged 4-5 years as picky eaters. Another study found that some children's picky eating habits persisted until they were 9 years old.

Typical behaviors of picky eaters include the following:

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:

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

In addition, picky children often receive insufficient amounts of certain vitamins and minerals compared to children with a normal appetite.

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

differences associated with nutrient intake;

reducing consumption of fruits, vegetables and fiber;
decreased consumption of certain microelements;
growth disorder;
slowing of mental development.

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

try to prevent the child from being distracted while eating: eat in a calm environment;

Take a neutral position in relation to food-related behavior: avoid excessive praise, criticism, stimulation and coercion;
feed the child at the correct 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 meals: meals should last 20-30 minutes, and if the child does not eat - 15 minutes;
use products according to the child’s age;
introduce new foods one at a time and offer the child the same food up to 5 times before you agree that he will not eat it;
encourage your child to eat independently;
Accept that while eating, your child does additional research typical for his age.

How to know if a child is in danger

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

loses weight or has stopped gaining weight;

grows 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 protective reaction of the body. This reaction involves slowing down the digestion process to prevent substances from entering the body that could interfere with healing. Loss of appetite can be a symptom of serious illness.

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

Loss of appetite may be a symptom of the following diseases

Addison's disease (Bronze disease)

Still's disease (Chronic polyarthritis in children)
Still-Choffard 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, consult a doctor now!

Diarrhea loss of appetite

Typically a series of wave-like muscle contractions propels food along digestive tract. If they get too fast colon cannot absorb as much liquid from food as it should. This leads to diarrhea.

Diarrhea can be acute or chronic; frequency loose stool may change from day to day and may vary from person to person different people. The stool may be bloody, contain mucus or pus, or both.

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

Diarrhea and other acute symptoms intestinal infection suddenly appearing exclusively loose stools;

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

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

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

Diarrhea due to painful intestinal sensitivity In this case, diarrhea can alternate with constipation and normal stool.

a painful, tender, or swollen belly;
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 a stomach disorder, 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 caused by a variety of factors, ranging from digestive problems to serious illnesses. 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, digestive canal or pancreatitis.
5. Endocrine problems, low thyroid hormone levels, 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. Selected species dementia - such as Alzheimer's disease.

In addition, some bad habits also cause loss of appetite: drinking soft drinks or sweets between meals. Sometimes, overeating heavy meals rich in saturated fat can cause loss of appetite. In addition to this, many more reasons can be named. 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 may indicate serious problems with health.

At medical examination A number of tests are carried out to determine the causes of poor appetite. Using a blood test, they determine whether the cause lies in hormonal imbalance, diabetes, or liver disease. A urine test can detect kidney infections. A chest x-ray can detect lung cancer or pneumonia. Among medical procedures Diagnosing the causes of poor appetite, the most common are:

complete blood count,

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

Consequences of long-term lack of appetite.

If a lack of appetite persists for several weeks, the result may be exhaustion of the body, a lack of nutrients necessary for its normal functioning. Many consequences depend on the cause of the loss of appetite. Thus, 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.

Treatment largely depends on the cause of this 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 no treatment is required as such; after a few weeks, the appetite will recover on its own.

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

Getting rid of bad appetite at home.

At home, including nutritious meals, snacks, and drinks rich in proteins in your diet will help you 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.