dangers

Anorexia and bulima can cause many health problems and issues the three main being:

Malnutrition is caused by undereating or overeating. The word malnutrition indicates deficiency for energy, protein and micronutrients either singularly or in combination. It can cause severe health risks including respiratory infections, kidney failure, blindness, heart attack and death.

Dehydration is caused by the depletion or lack of intake of fluids in the body. Restriction/Starvation, vomiting and laxative abuse are the primary causes in sufferers of Eating Disorders. Symptoms include dizziness, weakness, or darkening of urine. It can lead to kidney failure, heart failure and death.

Electrolyte Imbalances, electrolyte are essential to the production of the body's "natural electicity" that ensures healthy teeth, joints and bones, nerve and muscle impulses, kidneys and heart, blood sugar levels and the delivery of oxygen to the cells.

Other complications include:

Lanugo is a soft downy hair on face, back and arms. This is caused due to a protective mechanism built-in to the body to help keep a person warm during periods of starvation and malnutrition, and the hormonal imbalances that result.
Edema is swelling of the soft tissues as a result of excess water accumulation. It is most common in the abdominal area of Anorexics and/or Bulimics (can be caused by Laxative and Diuretic use).
Muscle Atrophy is the wasting away of muscle and decrease in muscle mass due to the body feeding off of itself.
Impaired Neuromuscular Function is due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies (specifically potassium), and malnutrition.
Pararalyis (transient or temporary paralysis) is extreme weakness of muscles or not being able to move at all. It is caused by low levels of potassium, and/or the degeneration of nerve cells, in the spinal cord or in the brain, which have been deprived of essential nutrients. Left untreated, periods of paralysis may happen more frequently and more severly, lead to permanent muscle weakness, and even result in death.
Tearing of Esophagus is caused by self-induced vomiting
Mallory-Weiss tear is associated with vomiting. It is a tear of the gastroesophageal junction
Gastric Rupture - spontaneous stomach erosion, perforation or rupture.
Gastrointestinal Bleeding is bleeding into the digestive tract.
Esophageal Reflux is one of the Acid Reflux Disorders. This is where partially digested items in the stomach, mixed with acid and enzymes, regurgitates back into the esophagus. This can lead to damage to the esophagus, larynx and lungs and increases the chances of developing cancer of the esophagus and voice box.
Reflux can sometimes become severe enough that food cannot be kept down at all and medical attention should be sought immediately.
Barrett's Esophagus is associated with Cancer of the esophagus and caused by Esophageal Reflux, this is a change in the cells within the esophagus.
Cancer of the throat and voice box (Larynx) due to acid reflux disorders.
Insomnia is having problems falling and/or staying asleep.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a continuous and crippling fatigue related to a weakened immune system.
Hyperactivity is having manic boughts of not being able to sit still.
Swelling, in face and cheeks area, following self-induced vomiting
Callused or bruised fingers this is caused by repeatedly using the fingers to induce vomiting.
Dry Skin and Hair, Brittle Hair and Nails, Hair Loss are cause by vitamin and mineral deficiencies, malnutrition and dehydration.
Hypotension is a Low Blood Pressure disorder caused by lowered body temperature, malnutrition and dehydration. It can cause heart arrythmias, shock or myocardial infarction.
Orthostatic Hypotension is a sudden drop in blood pressure upon sitting up or standing. Symptoms include dizziness, blurred vision, passing out, heart pounding and headaches.
Low Platelet Count also known as Thrombocytopenia is caused by low levels of vitamin B12 and Folic Acid, and/or by excessive alcohol. It may also be an indication of a suppressed immune system or immune dysfunction.
Low Blood Sugar also known as Hypoglycemia can indicate problems with the liver or kidneys and can lead to neurological and mental deterioration.
Elevated Blood Sugar also known as Hyperglycemia can lead to diabetes, liver and kidney shut down, circulatory and immune system problems.
Diabetes is classified as a high blood sugar as a result of low production of insulin. This can be caused by hormonal imbalances, hyperglycemia, or chronic pancreatitis.
Ketoacidosis is high levels of acids that build up in the blood,known as ketones, caused by the body burning fat ,instead of sugar and carbohydrates, to get energy. It can be a result of starvation, excessive purging, dehydration, hyperglycemia and/or alcohol abuse, it can also be a result of uncontrolled or untreated diabetes. It can lead to coma and death.
Iron Deficiency, also known as, Anemia makes the oxygen transporting units within the blood useless and can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, increased infections, and heart palpitations.
Kidney Infection and Failure, your kidneys "clean" the poisons from your body, regulate acid concentration and maintain water balance. Vitamin Deficiencies, dehydration, infection and low blood pressure increase the risks of and associated with kidney infection thus making permanent kidney damage and kidney failure more likely.
Osteoporosis is the thinning of the bones with reduction in bone mass due to depletion of calcium and bone protein, predisposing to fractures.
Osteopenia is below normal bone mass indicating a calcium and/or vitamin D deficiency and this can lead to Osteoporosis. Hormone imbalance/deficiencies associated with the loss of the menstrual cycle (which can be caused by anorexia and bulimia) can also increase your risks of Osteoporosis and Osteopenia.
Degenerative Arthritis can be caused by hormonal imbalances and vitamin deficiencies.
TMJ Syndrome and Related TMJ Problems is degenerative arthritis within the tempero-mandibular joint in the jaw ,where the lower jaw hinges to the skull, creating pain in the joint area, headaches, and problems chewing and opening/closing the mouth. This can be caused by vitamin deficiencies and teeth grinding, often related to stress.
Amenorrhea more commenly known as Loss of Menstrual Cycle is due to lack of secreting hormone, Oestrogen, by the ovaries. Loss of the menstrual cycle can also lead to Osteopenia and Osteoporosis.
Easily Bruising Skin is caused by Vitamin Deficiencies that decrease the body's ability to heal itself, low blood pressure, low platelets count and/or extreme weight loss will all lead to easily bruised skin that can take a long time to heal.
Gum Disease is caused by stomach acids and enzymes (from vomiting), vitamin D and calcium defiencies, and hormonal imbalance. It can also be due to the lack of exercise the teeth can get from the process of eating certain foods. Dental problems can sometime indicate problems with the heart.
Liver Failure, the liver aids in removing waste from cells, and aids in digestion. You cannot live without your Liver. Fasting and taking acetaminophen (drug found in over-the-counter pain killers) increases your risks for Liver damage and failure. Loss of menstruation and dehydration (putting women at risk for too much iron in their system), and chronic heart failure can lead to liver damage or failure.
Bad Circulation, Slowed or Irregular Heartbeat, Arrhythmias, Angina, Heart Attack, there are many factors associated with having an Eating Disorder that can lead to heart problems or a heart attack. Sudden cardiac arrest can cause permanent damage to the heart, or instant death. Ectrolyte imbalances (especially potassium deficiency), dehydration, malnutrition, low blood pressure, extreme orthostatic hypotension, abnormally slow heart rate, electrolyte imbalances, and hormonal imbalances call all cause serious problems with the heart, high blood pressure, accumulation of fat deposits around the heart muscle, high cholesterol, decreased exercise due to lack of mobility, diabetes and hormonal imbalances can all lead to serious problems with the heart.
Infertility is the inability to have children. It can be caused by loss of menstrual cycle, and hormonal imbalances. Malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies can also make it impossible to succeed with a full-term pregnancy, and can increase the chances significantly of a baby born with birth defects.
Problems during pregnancy these including potential for high risk pregnancies, miscarraige, still born babies and death or chronic illness from minor to severe, in children born. This is due to malnutrition, dehydration, vitamin and hormone deficiencies.
Depression, mood swings and depression will all be cause by physiological factors such as electrolyte imbalances, hormone and vitamin deficiencies, malnutrition and dehydration. Living with the Eating Disorder behaviors themselves will cause depression. Depression can also lead the sufferer back into the cycle of the Eating Disorder (or may have initially been the problem before the onset of the ED). Stress within family, job and relationships can all be causes. There are also a percentage of people born with a pre-disposition to depression, based on family history. Depression can lead to Suicide.
Temperature Sensitivity is caused by loss of healthy insulating layer of fat and lowered blood pressure.
Cramps, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, incontinence is caused by the increased or decreased bowel activity.
Peptic Ulcers can be caused by increased stomach acids, due to vomitting
Pancreatitis is when the digestive enzymes attack the pancreas. It can be caused by repeated stomach trauma (such as with vomiting), alcohol consumption or the excessive use of laxatives or diet pills.
Digestive Difficulties is a deficiency in digestive enzymes will lead to the bodies inability to properly digest food and absorb nutrients. This can lead to malabsorption problems, malnutrition and electrolyte imbalances.
Weakness and Fatigue iscaused by generalized poor eating habits, electrolyte imbalances, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, depression, malnutrition, heart problems.
Seizures: the increased risk of seizures in Anorexic and Bulimic individuals may be caused by dehydration. It is also possible that lesions on the brain caused by long-term malnutrition and lack of oxygen-carrying cells to the brain may play a role.
Death may be the result of any of the following or any combination of the following: heart attack or heart failure; lung collapse; internal bleeding, stroke, kidney failure, liver failure; pancreatitis, gastric rupture, perforated ulcer, depression and suicide.