Diagnosis and treatment of anorexia nervosa

In recent years, with the continuous improvement of people’s living standard, the continuous enrichment of material supply, as well as the pursuit of the standard of “thinness is beauty” and the influence of the culture of “slimness”, some people intend to abstain from eating and drinking, resulting in body weight significantly lower than the normal standard, which in turn forms an eating disorder called “anorexia nervosa”. Eating disorder, clinically known as “anorexia nervosa”. The age of onset of this disease is usually between 10-30 years old, with the peak age of onset being 17-18 years old, and it is more common in females. The incidence of the disease tends to increase year by year. The onset of the disease occurs when the individual’s life situation has changed significantly and he or she finds it difficult to cope. The most important feature is that the patient is overly concerned with body image and diets excessively resulting in significant weight loss. The patient’s diet is characterized by a reduction in calorie intake at the beginning, and gradually they avoid foods high in sugar or protein and cholesterol altogether. In addition to controlling their diet, most patients also increase their exercise, such as running, swimming, dancing, and practicing aerobics. Once the habit of exercise is formed, it tends not to disappear in a short period of time. Even if the weight has been reduced significantly, anorexia nervosa patients still think that they are not satisfied with their shape, and I do what I want, continuing to diet or increase exercise. The vast majority of people are not really anorexic initially. The appetite is quite good, only that they are afraid to eat, or force themselves to vomit or try to induce vomiting after eating. The majority of patients first visit the internal medicine or obstetrics and gynecology departments, often not because of wasting, but because of symptoms such as irregular menstruation, edema of the lower extremities, constipation, bradycardia, hypotension, and abdominal pain. Clinical diagnosis of the disease has the following points: 1. Obvious weight loss. The weight loss is more than 15% than the normal average weight loss, and there is delayed or stopped development. 2. Self-intentionally caused weight loss. At least 1 of the following: 1) avoidance of “fat-causing foods”; 2) self-induced vomiting; 3) self-triggered defecation; 4) excessive exercise; 5) use of anorexics or diuretics. 3, often psychological fear of fat. Refers to a persistent overvalued concept of an unusual fear of gaining weight, and the patient sets an excessively low weight threshold for himself. 4, often accompanied by widespread endocrine disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Women show amenorrhea (menopause for at least 3 consecutive menstrual cycles), and men show loss of sexual interest or hypogonadism. 5. Symptoms have been present for at least 3 months. 6. There may be intermittent episodes of binge eating. 7, Exclude weight loss due to somatic diseases {such as brain tumor, intestinal diseases or malabsorption syndrome, etc.}. The general principle of treating this disease is to correct malnutrition first, and at the same time or later to carry out psychotherapy and Chinese acupuncture treatment and auxiliary drug treatment. Correcting malnutrition: firstly, strengthen nutrition, increase weight and restore health. Supply high-calorie diet and help patients to restore normal eating habits. Pay attention to correct electrolyte disorders. 2.Psychological treatment: one of the main therapies. Patients have misinterpretation of eating, weight and body image, as well as problems in family, interpersonal relationship and social adaptation. Therefore, cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, family therapy and other methods are usually used to give patients psychological support such as explanation, relief, comfort and encouragement. Help patients to change their negative cognition, especially eliminate the concept of excessive fear of fat, and establish the concept of health is beauty. Adjust the family atmosphere to keep the patient’s mood stable. 3, acupuncture and auxiliary drug therapy: for some patients with depression, obsessive-compulsive concepts, vomiting, amenorrhea, emaciation, lethargy, fatigue and other symptoms of symptomatic treatment (can be appropriate use of antidepressant drugs to do supportive therapy). Particularly worth mentioning is acupuncture, a medical technique that is increasingly playing an important role in modern common diseases. It is based on the overall concept, dialectical treatment as the guiding principle, the use of the heart, liver, spleen meridian of some specific points, the disease for the integrated treatment (liver decompression, wake up the spleen to open the stomach to stop vomiting, blood regulating, nourishing the heart and tranquilize the spirit), the clinical effect is good, is not lost as a recommended green treatment. Of course, if the patient does not have obvious evidence of vomiting and retching, it is best to be combined with aromatic appetizers to be taken orally, the effect will be better. As the course of the disease is often chronic and prolonged, with periodic remissions and relapses, and often with persistent malnutrition and wasting, about 60% of the patients have a better therapeutic effect through the combined treatment of the above methods. If you happen to suffer from this disease, do not lose confidence and actively seek medical treatment. A new life is unfolding in front of you, and the door to health will be opened by your own hands!