The second week there is no appetite. Increasing appetite with folk remedies. When to go to the doctor

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

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 affected by the time of day, emotional condition, nationality of a person, religion, 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 complete absence 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.
Gastrointestinal diseases intestinal tract which are accompanied by pain and discomfort.
Malfunctions of organs endocrine system for diabetes mellitus, hormonal imbalance.
Oncology (stomach, colon or blood cancer).
Autoimmune diseases (scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis).
Depression, neuroses, neuropsychic disorders.
Side effects after taking painkillers medical supplies– 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 ulcer and duodenum.
Schizoaffective disorder.

Associated symptoms

There is an opinion that a good appetite- 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 appoint full examination body, including:

clinical blood test, blood sugar test, hormone test to rule out 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

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. Last appointment food 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.

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 different 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 severe, such as from exposure 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 is an alarming signal that indicates serious changes in the functioning of the body. IN Lately, 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 it can become for a person poor appetite, it is important to realize the very need for food. Food is the connecting link human body With environment. In addition, she 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, and 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 concentration decreases nutrients in blood. 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 entry of an active substance (cholecystokinin) into the blood signals saturation. Thus, loss of appetite can disrupt the nutritional balance - the correct ratio in the body nutrients, 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 long period time, has extremely Negative consequences for the body, can cause “starvation” of all organs and tissues, including the brain.
When balanced rational nutrition the diet corresponds to the gender, age, type of activity and weight of the person. Thus, children's nutrition and appetite preschool age 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 manifests itself partially or complete loss th 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 a neglected state, with anorexia, muscle atrophy occurs, disturbances in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system are noticed, the functions of entire systems and work are disrupted. individual organs. 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 while 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, intense exercise physical exercise. Availability of information will help you choose proper 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 normal functioning 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 beastly 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 may be accompanied painful sensations, 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.
Result improper treatment and consumption of harmful foods

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 eating narcotic substances, smoking, abuse of weight loss drugs, 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, it is necessary to maintain the correct combination in the diet food products 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 in the body, constantly throwing into the 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 there is increasing weakness and rising heat. 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, if not treated, can lead to fatal outcome. 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 various diseases. And all these symptoms should be treated only under the supervision of a therapist. Because correct treatment will be able to 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 various medications: preparations 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

Treat the disease with early stage It’s 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 propel food through the 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.

painful, sensitive or bloated 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 good health. But even minor physical or psychological problems may affect the appetite of a healthy person. 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 illnesses of cardio-vascular system, acute heart failure.
3. Pneumonia, HIV, hepatitis, kidney infections, influenza.
4. Inflammation of the intestines, digestive canal or pancreatitis.
5. Endocrine problems, low level thyroid hormone, diabetes.
6. Some types of cancer - blood cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer.
7. Autoimmune diseases– rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma.
8. Certain medications, antibiotics, anesthetics, chemotherapy, diabetes medications.
9. Drugs digitalis, Demerol, morphine, sympathomimetics - for example, ephedrine.
10. Mental disorders: anorexia nervosa, depression, schizophrenia.
11. Pregnancy.
12. 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, you should medical examination– These symptoms may indicate serious health problems.

During a medical examination, a number of tests are performed 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, organ examination abdominal cavity,
testing kidney function, liver function,
barium enema,
thyroid function test,
Analysis of urine,
x-ray of the upper gastrointestinal tract,
pregnancy test.

Consequences of long-term lack of appetite.

If a lack of appetite persists for several weeks, the result 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 various internal organs(kidneys, nervous system, eyes), and cancer is fatal.

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, you will need surgical intervention. 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.

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When appetite is disturbed, not all people perceive this as an alarming symptom. And in vain: a change in appetite may be one of the signs (although not unambiguous) of diseases of the stomach and/or duodenum. An appetite imbalance is also observed in other pathologies, for example:

infections of various types;
intoxication (poisoning);
problems with the endocrine system;
diseases of the nervous system, mental disorders;
vitamin deficiencies, anemia and other depletions.

Increased and decreased appetite: main reasons

Increased appetite is observed in patients with recovery period, also this syndrome often accompanies. Classic examples of perverted appetite are observed during pregnancy in women, as well as against the background of various mental disorders.

The symptom “no appetite” may be a sign characterized by a decrease in pancreatic secretion. With cancer (), patients often experience a rejection of a certain type of food, mainly meat and its derivatives, as well as a decrease in appetite up to anorexia - complete indifference to food. Sometimes experienced doctors correctly diagnose cancer based on a single symptom: when the patient complains for a long time of poor appetite, lack of pleasure from eating even his favorite food, as well as a perversion of taste.

A special condition that should be distinguished from loss of appetite is sitophobia, refusal of food. This may be a consequence mental illness or an established fear of pain that worsens after eating - for example, in chronic ulcers. A perverted appetite with a desire to eat chalk, coal and similar substances is observed not only in pregnant women, but also in patients with gastritis with reduced or absent acid formation (achylic form).

Pathologies of the stomach and intestinal tract (duodenum) are extremely rarely accompanied by increased appetite; They are more likely to have a poor appetite. The syndrome that occurs with peptic ulcer disease should be interpreted rather as a need for frequent appointments food than as an increase in appetite: it is provoked by pain that occurs one and a half to three hours after eating (the so-called late pain) or after 5-6 hours (“hunger” pain). The desire to eat as quickly as possible, and in a supine position, is also typical for patients with disorders that arose after gastric resection; first of all, with the development of hypoglycemia - a complex symptom complex based on an imbalance of plasma glucose levels.

What is appetite?

The Latin word appetitus is translated as “desire, desire” and means the pleasure that a person receives in the process of eating. From a medical point of view, appetite is a special physiological mechanism that forces a person to provide his body with nutrients in a timely manner.

Appetite is a complex and multi-valued concept. It is directly related to the work of a set of special brain structures called the food center; its most active sections are located in the cortex of both cerebral hemispheres and the hypothalamus. So, we want to eat, first of all, with our heads!

What determines the presence or absence of appetite?

All information related to food comes to the food center of the brain and is processed:

how and in what quantities it arrives;
how is it absorbed?
what are the nutritional conditions;
How are food reserves used in the body?

Appetite does not arise when our body’s food resources are already exhausted, but in advance; This is a proactive system. Therefore, when there are changes in the established diet, the brain can give an “alarm signal”, and appetite-forming stimuli will begin to act differently, causing a decrease or increase in appetite.

Factors that affect appetite:

how intermediate metabolism occurs in the body, what is the level of its products in the blood;
how well/badly metabolic products are absorbed by cells;
how much water is contained in body tissues;
whether sufficient fat reserves have been accumulated.

Appetite is stimulated when the stomach is empty and its walls contract. To a person with low temperature the body also wants to eat. Works to increase appetite external factors, to which the body has developed a conditioned reflex: for example, the sight delicious dish, its smell (it’s not for nothing that thrifty housewives always go to the store after lunch). Even the sight of a wall clock marking the start of the lunch break can be an irritant!

Appetite gradually slows down during eating: the food taken stretches the gastric walls, its digestion begins, the breakdown products are absorbed and absorbed by the body, the hormonal levels change accordingly, and the food center gives the command - that’s enough, the person is full!

Types of appetite and its disorders

There are types of appetite:

general, or simply “I want to eat!”, when a person is ready to take any food;
specialized forms, when appetite is directed towards a particular type of product and is dictated by the body’s need for a specific group of substances: proteins or carbohydrates, fats, vitamins or minerals, etc.

On the one hand, appetite ensures that the right type of food enters the body in certain quantities. On the other hand, it “turns on” the mechanisms necessary for its absorption: salivation, secretion of gastric digestive juice. This is a well-established system by nature itself, and its impeccable operation most often indicates that a person is prosperous in both body and soul: a good level of appetite has at all times been considered a sign of health. But loss of appetite, on the contrary, signals the ill health of a particular system or organ. Anorexia (no appetite) or bulimia (pathological increase in appetite) often indicates problems with digestive tract, endocrine disorders, vitamin deficiency, mental disorders and even brain tumors. To return normal appetite, it is necessary to establish the correct eating schedule and, of course, begin to treat the underlying disease.

One of the most powerful factors that stimulates appetite is a change in blood sugar levels, especially if it occurs abruptly. To modern man It’s very easy to provoke this: just eat a handful of candies in a few minutes, drink a bottle of soda in one gulp on a hot day, or go have a snack in a restaurant fast food. Then everything goes according to the established scheme:

excess sugar appears in the blood (its level can increase by 100-200%);
the body “sounds the alarm” and triggers a mechanism for accelerated conversion of sugar into fat deposits;
the sugar level drops sharply below normal, and the food center again assesses the situation as critical - you need to eat urgently!
the person experiences a new attack of appetite.

Appetite disorders of all types are sometimes combined under the general term dysrexia. There are clear subgroups of pathologies:

hyporexia – decreased appetite;
anorexia – when a person has no appetite at all;
hyperrexia – pathological increase in appetite;
bulimia – an extreme version of hyperrexia, uncontrollable gluttony, “voracious appetite”;
pararexia – any perversion of appetite.

Sometimes disorder is confused with its pseudoforms; There is even a special term - pseudodissection. Thus, a very hungry person can “eat like a wolf,” and someone who has had a very heavy breakfast may experience a decrease or lack of appetite at traditional lunch time.

Gluttony and anorexia

Excessive, uncontrolled appetite is colloquially called gluttony. This pathology is characterized constant desire eat and the inability to stop eating food even after the body is full. Gluttony leads to betrayal, obesity and all related problems, often very serious. Gluttony is a disease that needs to be treated!

Lack and loss of appetite (anorexia) these days can develop against the background of a strict diet that involves maximum restriction of calories consumed by a person. The situation is traditional for women and some men who have a “fad” - they consider themselves too plump, even if in fact they are more likely to be thin. The situation gets worse if, considering diet to be an insufficient remedy, a person begins to take medications (laxatives, diuretics) for the same purpose - to lose weight. And here is the result: the activity of the food center was disrupted - appetite disappeared, the body lost almost all of its fat reserves, and exhaustion set in (not only of the body, but also of the psyche). It all ends with a bunch of serious diseases, and sometimes real starvation. Similar cases were noted several years ago, during the period of “fashion” for super-thin figures of top models, advertised by the American and European media.

With bulimia, many patients find, as it seems to them, the ideal way to “fight” the disease: after eating, they induce vomiting or take powerful laxatives. The logic is simple - from large quantity food can make you gain weight, so you just need to reject it until it is absorbed by the body. Hence the habit of most patients with bulimia to eat alone, arranging real feasts with an incredible number of dishes and subsequent cleansing of the stomach. The danger of this situation is that a person does not consider himself sick (since he does not gain excess weight) and does not resort to medical care. It happens that bulimia is " reverse side» anorexia, developing in a person after a long period of complete lack of appetite.

What to do if your appetite is impaired or lost?

Any violation of the usual relationship with food - a decrease or absence of appetite, a sudden change in it - is a symptom of the body’s troubles, which requires consulting a doctor! The following can help determine the causes of appetite pathologies and help restore it:

psychotherapist;
nutritionist;
specialist in gastroenterology;
endocrinologist

If you find it difficult to choose which doctor to see, first consult with a therapist or family doctor.

Food is a source of energy for our body and at the same time a way of obtaining pleasure. IN modern society people are faced with the problem of overeating. But what to do if the opposite is true - you don’t feel like eating at all?

The desire to eat is physiological mechanism, which, under normal conditions of the body, is triggered about three times a day. If the feeling of hunger occurs less frequently or does not appear at all, this requires detailed analysis. First of all, it is necessary to analyze the reasons that influenced the change in appetite. It can be:

In addition, the monthly cycle can also affect the lack of hunger.

Fell in love: lost appetite

Who is not familiar with the situation when, having fallen in love, we completely forget about everything in the world, including food. Falling in love has some similarities with a nervous disorder. Biochemical processes, which provokes falling in love, cause the production of the hormone dopamine. It causes constant bursts of energy, inspiration and strength. The production of large amounts of adrenaline leads to trembling knees, sleep disturbances and increased heart rate, and also causes poor appetite.

Lost appetite due to stress

The modern world dictates a frantic pace of life, when adults tend to manage absolutely everything: make a career, start a family and look good at the same time. “Stressorexia” is a type of eating disorder when the body, exhausted by stress, goes on a “hunger strike.” This disease is a combination of depression and anorexia. Most often sick similar disease are women 20-40 years old who cannot or do not want to reduce the volume of their own loads.
If you think this is in a good way control your weight, then this is not true, since a long stay in similar condition is fraught with serious consequences.

Lost appetite after antibiotics

In case of admission medications You need to be aware of possible side effects. A sudden loss of appetite can be caused by medications. Similar symptoms are also observed after surgery. In addition, if you notice a lack of feeling of hunger, as well as nausea after taking a course of antibiotics, this may be caused by a disorder natural microflora intestines.

Lost appetite: what to do

First of all, walking in the fresh air, as well as moderate physical activity, will help restore a good appetite. Good effect Various decoctions and infusions from medicinal plants, such as wormwood, mint, yarrow, calamus root, spring dandelion. Citrus and black radish juice also have a similar effect. Please note that morning is the most important time for eating.

However, most often, the return of lost appetite is possible only after eliminating the reasons that caused its disappearance. To do this, you should consult your doctor, since most hunger-inducing conditions require medication assistance. This is especially true for those who are faced with prolonged fasting, which entails changes in the body: dysfunction of the endocrine system, inflammation of the stomach, liver, and pancreas. Timely consultation and treatment with specialists such as an endocrinologist, psychotherapist, gastroenterologist will ensure a full recovery and return lost appetite.

However, you should not panic if you do not feel hungry for several hours: perhaps the previous meal was too filling or you simply did not have time to use up the energy received due to lack of physical activity.

A healthy appetite is a sure sign of a properly functioning body. What to do if you have no appetite?

The main rule is not to ignore the “alarm bell” from your own body.

We need to understand the reasons and, of course, try to eliminate them as quickly as possible.

Let's talk about what may lie behind the reluctance to eat and what to do if there is no appetite.

Contents [Show]

Appetite: causes of disturbance and ways to solve problems
What to do if your pet refuses to eat

Human appetite, reasons for its disturbance and ways to solve problems

Appetite in the general sense of the word is identified with the feeling of hunger: one of the basic reactions of the body, inherent in any living organism.

To live, you need to eat - and how and when to do this, the brain (or rather, its part called the hypothalamus) signals us with the help of a feeling of hunger.

The word appetite can also describe the eating habits of an individual person.

“He has a great appetite!” - the touching of grandmothers by the way their grandchildren wrap up homemade cutlets with mashed potatoes - this is just right here.

And finally, appetite can manifest itself as a particular desire to eat something special, following signals from the brain about the need for certain substances.

Find out what loss of appetite may indicate

Thus, appetite covers and satisfies three purposes of our nutrition:

Getting energy
Getting vitamins and minerals
Having fun

For healthy body All of the above points are equally important.

The first and second are the key to physical well-being, but for harmony mental state you can't do without a third one.

Decreased or loss of appetite (hypo- and anorexia, respectively) - serious problem, which can occur in a person of any age.

It is not always a cause for concern, but it is always a reason to “slow down,” listen to yourself and understand why the body decided that it doesn’t really need food.

Loss of appetite as an independent problem

Hypo- and anorexia are not always a sign of some kind of disorder in the body.

As a rule, this can be easily understood by the absence of accompanying symptoms.

Wrong lifestyle and bad habits will sooner or later make themselves felt

If all you experience is loss of appetite, the cause is most likely due to one of the following:

Unhealthy Lifestyle. Bad habits affect normal work internal organs and lead to a decrease and sometimes loss of appetite. A sedentary lifestyle also reduces our need for food, since virtually no energy is wasted. The solution is simple and complex at the same time - go in for sports, give up bad habits, and your appetite will normalize on its own.
Weather. Weather-sensitive people may experience a decrease in appetite during problem periods, but those who do not suffer too much from weather changes usually need less food during the hot summer months. At this time, the main task of the body becomes to support normal water balance- you need to drink more fluids, and your appetite will return when the heat subsides.
Reaction to taking medications. Some medications have side effects noticeable decrease in appetite. Never take pills without a doctor's prescription and read the instructions carefully.
Excessive enthusiasm for diets. When dieting, people often ignore the feeling of hunger or abuse the body in other ways - and all this undermines the very mechanisms for regulating the feeling of hunger, and it can simply turn off. Be sure to consult with a nutritionist, select diets that suit you and do not follow them for too long.
Stress, experiencing strong emotions or emotional burnout may also cause temporary loss of appetite. Losing your appetite for a day due to anxiety is normal, but make sure that such incidents do not become a habit. Take care of your psychological comfort, and your brain will respond to you with gratitude - and a good appetite.

To avoid symptoms of anorexia due to the listed factors, learn how your body normally works.

This will take some time and require some discipline, but the result is worth it: knowing your standards, you can easily identify deviations from them, and it will become easier to notice the reasons.

Loss of appetite can also be caused by decreased physical activity and poor lifestyle choices.

Tip: keep notes not only about your physical condition, but also a “mood diary”. With its help, you can easily observe the dynamics of your own psychological state, and if problems arise, you can establish when and why they started.

In addition, the reasons for lack of appetite can be completely natural.

If an elderly person has no appetite, there is no need to immediately wonder what to do.

If a person is generally healthy, and the reluctance to eat is not accompanied by other symptoms, most likely this is just a manifestation of age. The older we get, the less energy the body requires.

Many parents begin to panic if their child has no appetite.

What to do in such situations? I like Dr. Komarovsky's advice: don't force children to eat.

A healthy child, having walked around and spent energy, must beg for food himself, and only then is it worth feeding him.

This works well at 2 years of age and up. What to do if a younger child has no appetite and cannot yet clearly communicate to his parents about his needs?

Stick to correct mode feeding, make sure that the child is full during the meal and do not encourage snacking - even if it provides you with an hour or two of peace.

Don't force your child to eat

If loss of appetite is the main problem that worries you, it will be easy to solve.

First, use the tips already given above for each individual case: give up bad habits, try to improve your lifestyle and deal with the emotional sphere.

Diet variety: Sometimes loss of appetite is caused by monotony of food.

Eat more appetite-stimulating foods

Treat yourself to delicacies or try to dine in good company - perhaps the food will also seem more attractive during an interesting conversation.

Eat more foods that stimulate your appetite.

These include:

Citrus
Sour apple varieties
Grenades
Cranberry
Raspberries
Blackberry
Garlic
Pickled cabbage
Radish
Cheremsha

There are plenty to choose from. You can also supplement your diet with vitamin-rich freshly squeezed juices and just vitamins - but first you should definitely read about the rules of consumption and daily requirements.

Secondly, you can resort to folk remedies.

You can bring back the missing feeling of hunger with useful herbal decoctions. The corresponding preparations can be found in pharmacies, or you can prepare them yourself.

In older people, lack of appetite is often age-related

I want to tell you about my favorite lemon balm tincture, which is especially good if you have lost your appetite due to stress: it will calm frayed nerves, restore the desire to snack, and delight you with the taste.

To prepare, take two teaspoons of lemon balm herb, brew half a liter of boiling water, cover with something and leave to steep for four hours.

Half an hour before your planned meal, drink half a glass, sweetening it with honey if desired - you will notice the result very soon.

Loss of appetite as a symptom

Loss of appetite can sometimes indicate more serious problems.

Typically, such cases are easily identified by the presence of accompanying symptoms: if anorexia is a symptom of a serious problem, it will not come alone.

Wild garlic is considered an excellent means of combating poor appetite (and at the same time a storehouse of the first spring vitamins).

Let's look at the most common diseases, among the manifestations of which is loss of appetite:

The first on the list will be the common cold - and at the same time all kinds of acute respiratory viral infections and others infectious diseases. If you or your child has a fever, sniffles, cough or other cold and flu symptoms, and no appetite, do not worry about the question “what to do”: go to the therapist or call your family doctor at home. Don't worry - a lack of appetite with such illnesses is completely normal. The body’s forces are aimed at getting rid of the cause of the disease, the immune system works at full capacity, and there are simply no resources left for digestion. Do not try to eat or force feed the patient - when the illness passes, the appetite will return on its own.
If the lack of desire to eat is accompanied by intense nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea, you are most likely poisoned. Intoxication, regardless of what caused it, is a very serious problem: do not wait until it “goes away on its own” and call an ambulance.
Diseases of the digestive system itself and the internal organs of the abdominal cavity can cause a complete loss of appetite. Abdominal pain is usually an accompanying symptom. Here it is also important not to neglect the problem and go to a gastroenterologist on time.
Interruptions in the functioning of the endocrine system. This requires attentiveness to yourself, since other symptoms can easily be attributed to stress, fatigue and many other factors. In order not to miss the onset of problems with the endocrine system, regularly undergo a medical examination and take blood tests - in particular, at least once a year for thyroid hormones.
Depression, problems in the nervous system, mental disorders. In this case, you need to look for emotional rather than physical symptoms. Constantly low mood, indifference to everything, or, conversely, periods increased activity and euphoria, accompanied by loss of appetite, may be evidence of serious nervous disorders. Don’t be afraid to go to a specialized specialist for advice.
And finally, the most unpleasant option is oncology, which can be suspected if you have no appetite, feel sick (especially in the morning) and feel dizzy, and have chronic weakness. In this case, loss of appetite can be either general or related to individual foods that you previously enjoyed eating. What to do is obvious - immediately contact a specialist.

Advice: If you are unsure about one or more symptoms, visit your GP or consult your family doctor. He will help you figure it out and refer you to a specialized doctor.

Try a simple and delicious decoction of lemon balm and honey.

What to do if your pet refuses to eat

The people were dealt with; Now let's talk about those cases when you noted the disappearance of your pet's appetite.

It’s easy to understand that a cat or dog has no appetite: the bowl sits untouched all day, and the pet often also behaves unusually, demonstrating lethargy or unusual activity. What to do?

Of course, first of all, don’t worry.

Remember, an animal is like a small child; it cannot say what hurts or worries you, but it perfectly senses the mood of its owners.

You won’t help him in any way with your worries, but you may well aggravate the problem. So - calm and only calm!

The only thing you can do at home if your cat or dog has no appetite is to make sure that you offer your pet suitable food.

If your pet stops looking at food with interest, take him to the veterinarian

Sometimes ours four-legged friends long before us they understand that some product is spoiled and refuse to eat it; This can also be a reaction to a new, unusual food or even a new taste.

For example, my cat ignored rabbit-flavored canned food for days on end, although she ate all other products from this manufacturer with a bang. Everything is individual.

If you have established that the reason for the lack of interest in food does not lie in the food itself, then there can only be one answer to the question “what to do”: urgently take your pet to the veterinarian!

Explain to him that the cat/dog has no appetite, tell him how long this has been going on and what you have already done.

After examining the animal, the doctor will determine the cause and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Animals are like little children

Advice: do not try to diagnose your pet yourself!

I would only like to wish that there is nothing serious behind the interruptions in appetite, and that the problems are solved quickly and effectively.

Be healthy!

life-reactor.com

Sudden and severe weight loss is no less alarming than weight gain. If a person loses more than 5% of his total body weight every week, this has a negative impact on his overall well-being and appearance. The reasons for losing weight are divided into 2 large groups: general and medical. WITH common reasons a person can cope on his own or with the help of friends and relatives. As for the second group, it is impossible to do without the help of medical knowledge. Weight loss associated with diseases of organs and systems is the most life-threatening. Read about 10 diseases that cause weight loss on estet-portal.com.

Common reasons for losing weight

This is not to say that sudden weight loss may be due solely to the progression of pathological processes in organism. There are other reasons for losing weight. Stress and depression, mental tension, phobias and other problems can provoke weight loss. Moreover, the worship of a skinny body pushes modern girls following diets, exhaustion from physical activity, and all this, together with the fast pace of life, leads to severe weight loss.

So, the first group of reasons for weight loss:

eating disorder:
phobias;
diets and even hunger strikes;
transitional age;
hormonal imbalances;
addiction to drugs or alcohol;
increase in physical activity.

Weight can “jump” during sessions and exams, when moving to a new job, when moving to another country or city, or when falling in love. Sometimes when hormonal surges weight may decrease, although most often female body There is an accumulation of fat deposits and a set of extra pounds.

10 diseases that cause weight loss

80% of weight loss occurs due to medical reasons weight loss associated with dysfunction of one organ or the whole organism. Be careful and watch your weight. When sharp decline body weight and deterioration in health, you should immediately consult with specialists and undergo a medical examination.

Oncology – cancer never sleeps

When the color of the skin or sclera of the eyes changes, weight loss, hair loss, and nails break - these are only a small part of the consequences of the first stages of a cancer tumor. The patient may not yet know that a formation is growing in the body, life-threatening. And weight loss can significantly speed up the process of identifying pathology. Most often, the patient loses weight with the development of malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas. These diseases can be accompanied by severe weight loss from the first days of tumor onset. As for other types, weight loss may appear after the growth of metastases in the body.

General and first signs of a cancerous tumor:

failure to heal wounds and ulcers;
presence of seals;
disturbance of urination and stool;
hoarseness of voice, cough;
weakness;
change in skin color.

Pulmonary tuberculosis

This disease manifests itself richly clinical picture, one of the first symptoms of which is weight loss. Tuberculosis is considered an intractable disease that can only be combated in the early stages. Other signs of tuberculosis include:

chesty and wet cough;
bouts of coughing with the release of blood and pus;
weakness, drowsiness, loss of strength;
heavy sweating;
chest pain, runny nose.

Tuberculosis cannot be treated independently, only by staying in a dispensary, under the supervision of doctors and long-term use of medications in the first place. latent stage can guarantee a cure. A person dies 2-3 years after tuberculosis damages the lungs if treatment is refused.

Diabetes

Another reason for weight loss is diabetes. It is the first type of diabetes that provokes weight loss, the second type promotes obesity. Usually the patient constantly experiences increased appetite, and it is almost impossible to satisfy; hunger is always present. This is due to an imbalance of glucose in the blood. During the course of the disease, an increase in glucose and insulin deficiency is observed in the blood.

Other symptoms of type 1 diabetes:

dry mouth and thirst;
sweating;
irritability and weakness;
the presence of constant hunger;
vision problems;
frequent urination.

Thyrotoxicosis

This disease is a pathology of the thyroid gland. Intoxication with thyroid hormones occurs in the body when the thyroid gland secretes these hormones. Also called hyperthyroidism. Weight loss in this disease is associated with an increase in metabolic rate. The patient constantly overeats and loses weight.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism:

intolerance to stuffiness;
cardiopalmus;
tremor;
diarrhea;
thirst;
menstrual irregularities in women and decreased libido in men;
attention disorder.

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia is characterized by a pathological fear of obesity and disordered eating (intentional) associated with a person's maximum weight loss. This disease overlaps with bulimia and gluttony. Teenagers and girls under 25 years of age are most susceptible to this disorder, although problems can also occur in men. For patients, it seems normal to refuse food in order to lose weight. This leads to severe exhaustion of the body, and if this disease is not stopped, it can be fatal.

Symptoms of uneven anorexia:

fear of gaining weight;
sleep disturbance;
the patient’s denial of their fear of excess weight and the presence of a problem in general;
depression;
feelings of resentment and anger;
changing perceptions of family and social life;
dramatic changes in behavior.

Adrenal insufficiency (hypocortisolism syndrome, Addison's disease)

With this disease, the process of production of hormones by the adrenal cortex is disrupted. Types of adrenal insufficiency: chronic and acute, primary and secondary. The disease manifests itself:

muscle weakness;
increasing fatigue;
darkening of the skin (to bronze color);
decreased blood pressure;
craving for salty foods;
loss of appetite;
abdominal pain.

Alzheimer's disease

Also called senile dementia. The disease is a loss of neural connections in the brain. It usually affects older people over 65 years of age. Although Alzheimer's disease can develop in early age, after 40 years, if any genetic predisposition. Manifested by loss of partial memory and disorientation. Most often, recent events in life are lost from memory, followed by loss of long-term memory. A person becomes lost in the area, ceases to recognize faces, feels emotions, loses acquired knowledge, speech and hearing aid. The patient may forget to eat, relieve himself, fall asleep or wake up. As a result, significant body weight is lost; a person cannot exist without additional help from relatives or close people.

Lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease)

This cancer, is a “proliferation” of lymphoid tissue that contains giant Reed-Berezovsky-Sternberg cells. At the first stage, the disease manifests itself as an increase in lymph nodes. Usually the cervical and axillary nodes become inflamed.

Associated symptoms:

loss of appetite;
enlargement (inflammation) and reduction of lymph nodes;
increased sweating at night;
temperature increase.

Ulcerative colitis

This disease is chronic and is an inflammation of the colon mucosa. Mainly manifested by the following intestinal symptoms:

pain in the abdominal area (cutting, aching, radiating to the left side);
diarrhea;
bloating;
decreased appetite;
fever;
disruption of the kidneys and heart.

Intestinal obstruction

The disorder is caused by a narrowing of the lumen of the large intestine and is late stage cancer. The lumen of the large intestine narrows due to the growth of a cancerous tumor, which blocks the patency feces and intestinal juices.

Manifested by the following symptoms:

retention of stool and gases;
abdominal pain on the left side;
vomit;
asymmetrical bloating (from the large intestine).

The above diseases are accompanied by weight loss and severe weight loss against the background feeling unwell. Any reasons for losing weight should alert a person. If any violations are detected, you should immediately seek help from specialists. Only timely treatment can serve as a speedy relief from other consequences of severe exhaustion of the body.

estet-portal.com

Many people these days notice that they have no appetite at all. What to do in such a situation? Before taking any action, it is necessary to find out what is the reason for the absolute lack of hunger.

Why did my appetite disappear?

Loss of appetite is not always associated with some serious illness. Nowadays, doctors identify several of the most common causes of this condition:

1. Overeating. No matter how much has been written and said about the benefits balanced nutrition, only a few monitor the number of calories. In addition, many people are accustomed to eating everything on their plate, even if they no longer feel like it. And others are accustomed to constant snacking “in between times.” All this leads to the fact that when the time comes for the next meal, the body simply does not need additional calories, and the feeling of hunger does not wake up.

2. Poor quality food. This is another reason why there is no appetite. What to do in this case? Firstly, give up fast food, sandwiches, chips and other unhealthy “goodies”. Abuse of sweet, fatty and dry foods leads to the fact that the secretion of the digestive glands is disrupted, a phenomenon called reflux occurs (food is thrown back into the higher sections of the gastrointestinal tract), and fermentation and putrefaction processes begin in the intestines. As a result, permanent background discomfort arises, due to which a person physically cannot experience the feeling of hunger.

3. Overwork and stress. Physical and emotional fatigue, worries, feelings of depression - all this completely discourages the craving for food. Therefore, be sure to ensure that the loads in your daily routine are reasonably alternated with rest, both active and passive.

4. Diseases of the digestive system. Peptic ulcer, gastritis, cholecystitis, enterocolitis and other gastrointestinal diseases lead to digestive disorders, which also lead to loss of appetite.

5. Pregnancy. In the first trimester, women often do not feel hungry due to toxicosis. And in the last months, a very common situation is when the uterus squeezes the stomach, reducing its volume. As a result, even after consumption small amount food, a feeling of fullness arises, which creates the illusion of lack of appetite.

As for serious diseases, then, of course, the absence of hunger can be a symptom of one of them. However, as a rule, serious illnesses bring with them a whole “bouquet” of unpleasant symptoms ( general weakness, rapid causeless weight loss and others). Therefore, you should not worry ahead of time, it is better to analyze again all other reasons and think about what is the reason for your indifferent attitude towards food.

So, you realized that you have no appetite lately. What to do? Official and traditional medicine offer several recommendations for those who want to regain their normal appetite.

First, review your diet. Your diet should be complete so that your body receives all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals it needs. Best to eat homemade food, steamed or boiled dishes. Your menu must include fruits, vegetables, juices and dairy products. It is important to avoid snacking and not overeating. It’s not for nothing that doctors so insistently advise eating in small portions, but often (5-6 times a day).

There is one more trick that will help you overcome your lack of appetite. "What to do?" - you ask? Everything is extremely simple. There is even a special concept in cooking - “aperitif”. To put it simply in simple language, is an appetizer that is eaten before main courses to improve appetite. A salad of fresh vegetables, a few spoons of spicy snacks or a slice of lemon are ideal as an aperitif.

Don't underestimate spices as your helpers. They not only improve the aroma and taste of dishes, but are also very healthy. Many of them help digestive system digest food better, cleanse blood vessels and blood, break down bad cholesterol, saturate the body with vitamins. For example, horseradish improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and helps in the treatment of kidney and liver diseases, and Bay leaf strengthens immune system. Literally each of the spices known to us has its own beneficial properties, which you can use for yourself.

Don't panic if you lose your appetite. You already partially know what to do in such situations. But, in addition to all of the above, the problem may lie in abnormal blood sugar levels and a lack of certain vitamins (in particular, vitamin C). Therefore, it will be useful to start drinking ascorbic acid. A tablet of this remedy must be taken 30-40 minutes before. before the meal.

Some people seeking to increase food cravings resort to pharmaceutical bitters. They are sold over the counter and act as irritants to the stomach receptors, thereby increasing appetite.

There are also folk recipes which will help you if you have no appetite. What to do and how to take them? Here are the main tools that help cope with the problem in most cases:

Pour a teaspoon of crushed wormwood into a glass of boiling water. The infusion must be kept for half an hour before use, and then drink a tablespoon of the medicine before meals (3 rubles/day).

We buy crushed dandelion roots. Pour two teaspoons of raw material into a glass of cold water and leave for 8 hours. The product is taken four times a day, a quarter glass.

It is necessary to squeeze the juice out of four carrots and a bunch of watercress, dilute the resulting liquid clean water in a 1:1 ratio. Take before meals.

When should you see a doctor?

If, in addition to the lack of a natural feeling of hunger, you observe other alarming symptoms (pain, weakness, nausea, weight loss), you should not waste time trying to cope with the problem at home. It is better to undergo an examination as quickly as possible and find out why the body malfunctioned, and then undergo the appropriate course of treatment.

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

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

General information

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.

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

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.

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

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.

How to improve your appetite

A healthy person with normal physical activity experiences the feeling of hunger at least three times a day. At the same time, he has food preferences, but no aversion to certain types of food. And portions that give a feeling of fullness weigh at least 300 grams. If at least one of these points is violated, the person is considered to have a decreased appetite.

Why did I lose my appetite?

The most trivial reasons for lack of appetite are the following.

Hot weather. At elevated temperature air there is often no appetite. The reasons are simple: when food is digested, heat is released, and the body thus tries to protect itself from overheating.

Insufficient fluid intake. Digesting food and eliminating waste (nutrient breakdown products) requires a lot of fluid. If there is little fluid intake, the body may not be able to cope with the load, and intoxication will occur. Therefore, it is easier for the body to refuse food than to cope with such consequences.

Low physical activity. With low physical activity, a person expends little energy and does not require additional calories. Therefore, poor appetite in this case is the absolute norm.

Flaw fresh air. If you sit cooped up all day and breathe in house fumes, hypoxia (or lack of oxygen) will inevitably occur. This pathological condition disrupts the normal course of all processes in the body, and the digestion process is no exception. The consequence is reduced or completely absent appetite.

Taking some medicines. Before you start taking any medicine, even if prescribed by a doctor, you should definitely read the list of possible side effects. Decreased appetite is the most common side effect.

Initial stage of pregnancy. Usually, from the 6th week of pregnancy, various appetite disorders begin to appear, including its complete absence. This is normal if it is not accompanied by debilitating vomiting.