The elderly can suffer from loss of appetite because of less exercise, decreased digestive function, or a combination of gastritis, liver and kidney impairment, and can lead to loss of appetite. Esophageal tumors, because of the narrowing of the inner diameter of the esophagus, can present with progressive worsening of eating difficulties, loss of appetite and difficulty in eating, both of which can present with eating disorders.
Gastroscopy is needed first, as well as liver and kidney function tests to determine the etiology.
Functional dyspepsia, or loss of appetite due to mild gastritis, can be improved by exercising more and eating foods such as fried white radish, hawthorn berries or hawthorn soup. Severe gastritis can be treated with drugs such as cimetidine, lactase, and stomachic suppressant tablets. Loss of appetite due to hepatitis can be treated with drugs such as Ganixin and Liu Wei Wu Ling Tablets. Severe renal insufficiency can lead to a significant increase in creatinine, urea nitrogen, which affects appetite and mostly requires dialysis treatment.
Esophageal tumors, which can impede the passage of food and cause difficulty in eating, usually need to be improved with surgery or radiation therapy treatment. If there has been extensive metastasis, or if the patient is too weak to tolerate surgery or radiation therapy, an esophageal stent or gastrostomy can be used to relieve the feeding difficulties.