Today, overweight is an urgent problem. This is due to the fact that many people lead an inactive lifestyle, abuse high-calorie foods. There are many ways to deal with extra pounds. A sharp loss of body weight is taken less seriously than its set. However, such a symptom may indicate a violation of the body.
Fast weight loss - a condition that requires attention
Experts say that if an individual’s body weight decreases by more than five percent every seven days, this phenomenon signals health problems. Rapid weight loss is accompanied by a deterioration in well-being. According to medical research, there are two categories of factors that trigger weight loss - general and pathological. And if in the first case the individual, as a rule, is able to independently solve the problem, and the body weight is stabilized, then the second requires seeking medical help. It is not worth neglecting this symptom. After all, it is often associated with pathologies that lead to sad consequences.
General factors
Rapid weight loss is not always a symptom of the disease. There are other circumstances that provoke strong weight loss. Common causes of weight loss include the following:
1. Emotional overstrain, fear, grief, or a feeling of depression.
2. Too mobile rhythm of life, irregular eating.
3. Transitional age.
4. Intensive sports.
5. Addiction to alcohol or drugs.
6. Significant events in the life of an individual (exams, change of job, romantic relationship).
However, experts argue that in most cases, sharp weight loss causes medical reasons. Various malfunctions in the work of organs and systems of the human body provoke not only weight loss, but also other unpleasant symptoms.
In what situation is it worth worrying about your health?
The rapid loss of kilograms, which is not only noticeable when weighing, but also striking others, is usually associated with a deterioration in physical condition and a decrease in the ability to lead a normal life. A person who is losing weight for no apparent reason (intensive training, changes and dietary restrictions, emotional upheavals) should consult a doctor and undergo examinations. This recommendation is especially relevant in cases where weight loss is accompanied by disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, fever, fatigue, or any other ailments.
Diseases causing rapid weight loss
The list of pathologies that provoke sharp weight loss is quite extensive. To the ailments leading to a noticeable decrease in body weight, experts consider the following:
1. Diabetes mellitus.
2. Cancerous neoplasms.
3. The presence of parasites in the body.
4. Disorders of the adrenal glands and thyroid gland.
5. Inflammatory processes in the pancreas.
6. Serious infectious processes (syphilis, tuberculosis).
7. Disruptions in the activity of the stomach, gall bladder, intestines or liver.
8. Deviations in eating behavior.
9. Mental illness, impaired mental activity.
These and other causes of weight loss are discussed in the following sections of the article.
Weight Loss in Cancer Pathologies
Malignant neoplasms in the body signal themselves by a change in the shade of the skin, eye proteins, weight loss, and fragility of the nail plates and hair. And although the patient may not be aware that he is developing a tumor, such symptoms often make him start to worry about his health, undergo examinations. As a rule, sharp weight loss is observed with cancer pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. With a disease of other organs, this symptom indicates an advanced stage of the disease.
You can suspect the presence of neoplasms in the presence of the following manifestations:
1. Long healing, even minor damage to the skin.
2. Nodules, swelling in any part of the body.
3. Disorders of bowel movements and urination.
4. A hoarse voice.
5. A constant feeling of being overwhelmed.
6. Change the shade of the skin.
If these signs are found, a person must contact a medical institution. The sooner the pathology is detected, the greater the patient's chances of recovery.
Tuberculosis
This is an ailment that in most cases affects the respiratory tract. As a rule, with this infection, the patient has pronounced symptoms. One of its signs is weight loss. Among other manifestations of tuberculosis can be listed:
1. A strong cough with sputum containing blood and pus.
2. The feeling of being overwhelmed.
3. Severe sweating, especially during sleep.
4. Feeling of discomfort in the chest area.
5. Isolation of mucus from the nose.
This infection cannot be dealt with at home.
In-patient therapy, doctor's supervision and medication for a long time allow patients to get rid of it at an early stage of the disease. A person who refused medical measures dies after two to three years.
Slimming Diabetes
This pathology is considered one of the common causes of rapid weight loss. In the presence of this ailment, the patient has an excessive craving for food, fatigue, decreased vision, intense thirst and frequent urination. High blood sugar and lack of insulin are found in the blood. However, such manifestations are characteristic only for the first variety of the disease. The second type, on the contrary, leads to a set of extra pounds.
Thyroid Disruption
Another common cause of weight loss is thyroid disease. These pathologies are accompanied by hormonal disorders.
A similar condition provokes pronounced symptoms, for example:
1. Increased craving for food and weight loss.
2. Feeling of heat.
3. Trembling hands.
4. Frequent and loose stools.
5. Increase in heart rate.
6. Constant thirst.
7. Disorders of memory and attention.
8. Failures of the menstrual cycle in women.
9. Reduction of sexual desire in the stronger sex.
Addison's disease
With improper functioning of the adrenal glands, a person loses weight. In addition, this pathology is characterized by the presence of the following symptoms:
1. A feeling of muscle weakness and weakness.
2. Bronze shade of the skin.
3. Hypotension.
4. Pain in the abdominal cavity.
5. Loss of appetite.
6. Craving for food with a salty taste.
7. Vomiting and upset stool.
Senile dementia
This ailment is found mainly in the elderly. Most often, the disease affects people 65 years and older. However, sometimes it starts earlier, and this situation is associated with unfavorable heredity. With senile dementia, a severe memory impairment occurs. A person ceases to navigate correctly in the environment, does not recognize relatives and acquaintances, is not able to serve himself independently. The disease is accompanied by weight loss. Weight loss is due to the fact that the patient forgets to eat.
Hodgkin's lymphoma
This is a cancer pathology that affects the human lymphatic system. In the early stages, the disease is manifested by weight loss and an increase in the size of nodes in the neck and armpits.
In addition, Hodgkin's disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:
1. Loss of craving for food.
2. Excessive sweat at night.
3. Overweight.
4. High temperature.
Violation of the activity of the digestive tract
The list of such ailments includes many pathologies. As a rule, all of them are associated with insufficient absorption of nutrients. Naturally, at the same time, a person is rapidly losing weight. In addition, violations of the digestive tract are accompanied by disorders of bowel movement, a feeling of pain in the abdominal cavity, flatulence and vomiting, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, and temperature. Weight loss and diseases of the digestive organs are inextricably linked also because the patient with such ailments loses his appetite.
Parasite infection
Contrary to popular belief, a similar pathology occurs not only in children, but also in adults. It arises from the use of poorly washed vegetables and fruits, as well as meat products containing subtle eggs of worms. Abrupt weight loss, lack of craving for food, nausea, weakness and defecation disorders can be signs of the presence of parasites in the human body.
Emotional overload
Negative experiences (grief, excitement, depression) often lead to a rapid decrease in body weight.
An individual experiencing such feelings often refuses food. In addition, the substances that the body produces during periods of emotional overload contribute to the rapid processing of nutrients.
Addictions
Weight loss in men for addiction-related reasons is quite common. The use of tobacco and alcohol-containing products prevents the normal absorption of compounds important for the human body. As a result of this, a person loses kilograms.
However, this condition develops only in those individuals who suffer from addictions for a long time.
Maternity issues
Next, we will talk about weight loss during gestation and after childbirth.
Some time after conception, the expectant mother begins to feel the symptoms of pregnancy. Speaking of weight loss (causes in women), one should mention a phenomenon such as toxicosis. It occurs in the early stages of gestation and is accompanied by vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, dizziness. It must be remembered that such a malaise is not always safe for the mother and the fetus. If weight loss and nausea do not go away in late pregnancy, a woman should seek medical help.
In some cases, body weight may decrease after delivery. This is primarily due to the increased load that falls on the shoulders of a young mother.
As a rule, she does not even have time to rest and eat normally. Lactation also contributes to weight loss, as it involves the cost of nutrients. In addition, weight loss may be associated with a depressed state after childbirth, which is explained by overwork. We must not forget that many women, seeking to maintain their shape, after pregnancy begin to follow a strict diet. In conditions of intense physical exertion and lack of sleep, a young mother sometimes loses weight too much.
A few more possible explanations
There are other reasons that provoke a decrease in body weight. As such factors, you can list:
1. Teeth loss, difficulty chewing.
2. The use of drugs that cause loss of appetite and nausea (for example, during a course of chemotherapy for neoplasms).
3. Recovery from injuries, surgical interventions or severe infections.
4. Improper diet for weight loss, which deprives the body of the necessary substances and contributes to dramatic weight loss.
5. Lack of vitamins.
The danger of sudden weight loss
Many girls strive to get fit. They deliberately limit themselves to food, refuse any kind of food. The rapid loss of kilograms leads to serious consequences. The ability to work is reduced.
Hair and nails become brittle. There are disruptions in the menstrual cycle. Do not pick up a power system yourself. It is better to consult a doctor on this matter.