What are the dangerous physical complications of anorexia?
Anorexia is a disease with many serious consequences, as 5 to 20 percent of anorexics die of major organ failure, due to their constant starvation. Physical complications of anorexia include: • Cardiac problems, such as a slow or rapid heartbeat • Anema (an unusual amount of bruising) • Decreasing testicular function in men • Missing menstrual periods in women • Tooth decay • Loss of skin color • Dizziness and fainting • High cholesterol • Lanugo (excessive growth of hair on the body) because the body is trying to keep itself warm due to its loss of fat • Liver damage • Baldness • Pancreatitis, with symptoms including extreme stomach pain and fever For more information, read our free articles and reports on anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders, including causes, statistics, dangers of various diets, dangers of laxatives and more detailed lists of behavioral and physical symptoms.
