Understanding The Longterm Effects Of Bulimia
Bulimia is an eating disorder where the person who has it binges or seriously overeats, then purges all the food they've consumed by vomiting or using laxatives. This binge-purge cycle is what defines bulimia, and it may happen several times a week or even several times a day. Something that most people who have bulimia have in common is that they aren't focusing on the long-term effects of what they're doing to their bodies. In many cases, people with bulimia and the people around them don't even know about the long-term effects.
When doctors and recovery professionals talk about the side effects of bulimia, they're often talking about the short-term dangers. While those are real and serious, there can be a mistaken impression that once someone is on the road to recovery, their bodies will bounce back. Unfortunately, the effects of bulimia can last long past the acute stage of the disorder. Bulimia can have serious long-term effects on your physical, mental, and emotional health.
The physical effects of bulimia
The repeated act of overwhelming your stomach with excessive food quantities and regurgitating it back through your esophagus can injure your organs and cause significant disruptions to not just your digestive system, but other associated systems, as well.
1) Heart damage
When your body doesn't have enough calories to burn, it starts consuming muscle to survive. The heart is the most important muscle in the body, and long-term malnutrition can weaken your heart. Since a weak heart can't pump blood as effectively, long-term effects can include low blood pressure or heart palpitations. The long-term effects can lead to cardiac arrest.
Seve weight fluctuations can also damage your heart and weaken its walls. A 1991 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that both men and women whose weight fluctuated significantly were more at risk of coronary disease and heart disease-related death.
2) Teeth damage
One of the most common long-term side effects of bulimia is tooth damage and decay. Regular vomiting can erode the enamel of your teeth, causing decay, damage, and even tooth loss. Gum disease and long-term damage to the salivary glands in your mouth (the ones that produce saliva) are also potential issues. Though tooth decay and gum disease are rarely fatal, they can be extremely painful and require very expensive dental procedures to fix or mask.
3) Damage to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
Unsurprisingly, damage to your GI tract is the most prevalent long-term side effect of bingeing and purging. Because repeated vomiting weakens the muscles that are supposed to keep your food in your stomach, many people who have bulimia also experience acid reflux.
Sometimes an individual with bulimia may purge using laxatives instead of vomiting. Overusing laxatives can damage the nerve endings in your intestines and anus, making it difficult to go to the bathroom normally. Chronic constipation, along with tooth decay damage, is another one of the most common effects of bulimia and can carry on even after the laxative use has stopped. Overusing laxatives can also damage the blood vessels in the anus. When this happens, the person with bulimia may develop hemorrhoids. While hemorrhoids can be treated over the counter, they can also require prescription medication, ligation, or surgery and be very painful.
4) Kidney damage
People with bulimia are often dehydrated, which can cause long-term damage to the kidneys. They are also at a significantly greater risk for kidney stones and kidney failure. Over the long term, if the individual's kidneys start to fail, they may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
5) Throat damage
Have you ever had a sore throat after throwing up? That is because the stomach acid that comes up when you vomit irritates the tissues and lining of your esophagus. Repeated vomiting, which can happen with bulimia, can irritate the esophagus to the point that a person can develop esophagitis, an inflammation of the esophagus that can result in scarring. As we discussed earlier, bulimia can cause acid reflux. When acid reflux is recurring or chronic, it is called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. In the worst-case scenario, GERD can result in not only esophagitis but also a rare type of esophageal cancer.
6) Damage to the metabolism
In bulimia, like in other eating disorders, the body doesn't get as much nutrition and calories as it requires to function optimally. Because the body is designed to keep you alive, your metabolism slows down, causing your body to burn fewer calories day-to-day. This usually endures past the time that people with bulimia begin eating more regularly, which causes weight gain. This phenomenon can be very stressful and emotionally damaging to someone who has battled an eating disorder.
7) Fertility problems
One of the most emotionally damaging long-term physical effects of bulimia is the effect it can have on fertility. The malnutrition that comes with bulimia often impacts the production of sex hormones. Women might miss periods as the body shuts down non-essential functions, which can affect long-term fertility. Both men and women may discover their infertility when they begin to try to have children.
8) Other issues
Additionally, according to the National Institutes of Health, bulimia can cause abnormal levels of serotonin and tryptophan in the body, which can cause "a disruption in both the acute and longer-term mechanisms controlling hunger and satiety." In other words, because bulimia disrupts the chemical levels in your body, you may have long-term difficulty determining if you are hungry or full.
Due to sustained levels of malnutrition, people recovering from bulimia may experience low bone density later in their lives, which can lead to fragile and broken bones as they grow older. They are particularly susceptible to this issue because bulimia often develops around puberty when the teen body and skeletal system are still developing.
Finally, according to the National Eating Disorder Association, "over time, binge eating can potentially increase the chances that a person's body will become resistant to insulin, a hormone that lets the body get energy from carbohydrates, which can lead to Type 2 diabetes."
The mental and emotional effects of bulimia
Both bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa have serious long-term mental and emotional effects. Long-term malnutrition can alter the chemical balance of the brain, leading to mental health issues like clinical depression and anxiety. This risk is made more serious because, as mentioned, bulimia often arises during the teen years while the body and brain are still developing.
Eating disorders like bulimia can additionally damage relationships and self-esteem. According to the National Institutes of Health, "mood and anxiety symptoms are very common. These symptoms, low self-esteem and body image disturbance, can all have a negative effect on social relationships, which in turn may be damaged by a lifestyle that may be chaotic and characterized by impulsivity." Low self-confidence, a weak support system, and susceptibility to depression or anxiety can sometimes lead to issues like self-harm, substance use, and suicidal thoughts or tendencies. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, help is available. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255 and is available 24/7, or you can text the word “HOME” to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.
Seeking treatment for bulimia
There are many negative long-term side effects of bulimia, which can range from irritating to life-threatening. Some of the mental and physical effects of bulimia can last long past the time when the individual with bulimia has technically recovered, negatively impacting their quality of life.
The best way to manage the long-term side effects of bulimia is to get professional treatment as soon as possible. The sooner treatment begins, the more likely you are to minimize the long-term damage. Since the person experiencing bulimia often tries to hide their condition for as long as possible, the first step is to recognize that the problem exists.
In the face of bulimia, family and friends can feel helpless and unsure of what to do. If you don't know where to start, you can reach out to a licensed and certified mental health professional at BetterHelp.com.
Even if the person experiencing bulimia isn't ready or refuses to get treatment, one of the online counselors at BetterHelp can help you learn more about what the person's going through and how to talk to them about their condition. Recovering from bulimia and preventing long-term complications can require the whole family, and it is best to start the process as soon as possible.
Online therapy as a tool for bulimia recovery
One of the main reasons online therapy may be advantageous for someone living with bulimia is that it reduces the need to go to an in-person therapist’s office for treatment. People who have bulimia may feel the weight of the stigma associated with engaging in behaviors that others may find perturbing, though there is nothing to be ashamed of – bulimia is a disease. Online therapy allows you to schedule appointments from space and convenient time, which may encourage you to be more open in your discussions with your therapist.
Online therapy has also been proven effective in helping many people heal from bulimia nervosa. In a study investigating how online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) could impact the recovery process of people with bulimia, researchers found promising results. Participants experienced improved symptoms after completing various homework assignments, such as keeping activity diaries, rating their moods, and engaging in semi-structured interviews with their clinicians.
Just like a face-to-face counselor, an online therapist will emphasize that the recovery process is not linear. They can be instrumental in helping you identify triggers which may influence you to initiate binge cycles and pose questions to help you consider how those triggers came about. Additionally, they can collaborate with you to determine healthier coping mechanisms. You can read a couple of counselor reviews below from people who have sought treatment for bulimia through the online therapy platform BetterHelp.
Counselor reviews
"I've gone through many counselors in my life, but none of them have been able to make a connection with me and get me on the right path. Although we are in different countries and time zones, Grace always replies in a timely manner and always has availability for an appointment. Grace has always made me feel extremely comfortable when it comes to talking about anything, that I can be open and has always made me feel understood. Grace has helped me overcome an eating disorder, helped me while I was in a really terrible workplace, help with having difficult conversations with people, and has given me so many useful tools that help to calm my anxiety. Grace has been a huge help with my personal development, and definitely, since signing up to BetterHelp, I have noticed huge positive improvements in my life."
"Dr. Baggs has helped keep me grounded and greatly assisted with my eating disorder and anxiety. She is someone that definitely listens to what you specifically desire for help and does not force anything upon you. Great counselor."
Takeaway
What are the long-term effects of vomiting every day?
Long-term vomiting akin to what is observed in bulimia nervosa can have serious adverse health effects. Rare occurrences of vomiting during bouts of stomach bugs or other illnesses are normal, and the body can adequately protect itself and repair damage caused by acidic emesis. During long-term vomiting, the body is not able to make adequate repairs, and more serious concerns, like malnutrition or cardiac problems, become more likely.
Some of the potential effects of long-term vomiting are listed below:
- Digestive complications, including gastroesophageal reflux, ulcers, and gastric rupture.
- Accelerated tooth decay, often resulting in loss of a tooth and gum disease.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Electrolyte imbalances can lead to serious, sometimes fatal, heart problems.
- Malnutrition and severe dehydration.
- Irregular menstrual cycles.
- Hair loss.
How do you treat long-term vomiting?
Repeated vomiting or other purging behavior - such as laxative abuse- can take a serious toll on the body and produce severe adverse health consequences. Because of the seriousness of long-term vomiting, it is important to have the condition evaluated by a medical professional. A doctor or other medical provider can help rule out medical causes that might lead to involuntary bouts of vomiting, like cyclic vomiting syndrome.
If self-induced vomiting is a concern, a medical provider can provide a referral to a mental health professional while helping to manage the medical complications of long-term vomiting. They might also prescribe psychiatric medication to help manage bulimia or another mental health concern. Psychotherapists generally rely on cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy to lower the frequency of vomiting episodes, but they will likely request that their patient also receives care from a medical professional.
What major effects can excessive vomiting cause?
If left untreated, excessive vomiting can cause several major effects that hinder a person’s health and well-being. Sometimes, the effects can be serious enough to threaten a person’s life. Excessive vomiting impacts several bodily systems; some of the most significant effects are listed below:
- Increased risk of an irregular heartbeat due to loss of electrolytes, which can sometimes be fatal.
- Heightened risk of malnutrition or dehydration.
- Digestive problems, like acid reflux, ulcers, or irritation of the esophagus.
- Exposure to acid can cause pre-cancerous changes in the esophagus and increase the risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma.
- Increased rate of tooth decay and gum disease.
- Irregular menstruation or complications during pregnancy.
How long does it take to recover from long-term vomiting?
The body begins to recover from long-term vomiting as soon as the person can cease vomiting completely. It is difficult to say exactly how long the recovery process takes. People who vomit involuntarily, as in cyclic vomiting syndrome, may be able to stop vomiting quickly once they have received medical treatment. Those whose vomiting is self-induced, such as those with bulimia nervosa or another serious eating disorder, may not be able to stop vomiting as quickly.
Individuals with bulimia often reduce the frequency of their purging episodes slowly. It is difficult to go “cold turkey” and immediately stop purging, even if treatment has already begun. Typically, a person will work with mental health and medical professionals to treat the condition. A therapist often administers psychological treatment options, like cognitive behavioral therapy, while a medical professional helps manage the harmful effects of vomiting.
As the frequency of vomiting episodes decreases, less damage is done, but much of the healing process is impossible until vomiting ceases completely. Determining how long recovery will take from that point is complex and will vary for everybody depending on how frequently they vomited and how long their vomiting went untreated. The process may take weeks or months, but most people are able to recover completely.
How long does it take for your body to recover from vomiting?
Occasional, rare bouts of vomiting attributable to a stomach bug or mild-to-moderate food poisoning are experienced by most people. In those instances, vomiting is typically limited and spontaneously disappears once the body has purged the pathogen or source of irritation. In those cases, recovery typically takes a few days and may be marked by a sore throat, lack of appetite, or mild abdominal pain.
Vomiting due to a mental health condition like bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder characterized by purging behaviors, may present with a much longer recovery. Bodily recovery does not begin until the person can successfully avoid purging, and the length of recovery is likely determined by how frequent the vomiting was before the start of the recovery process.
What makes vomiting short-term or long-term?
Short-term vomiting often occurs in response to a substance irritating the digestive tract or a pathogen, such as in viral gastroenteritis. It is typically limited to less than 48 hours. Nausea and vomiting that last longer than 48 hours require medical attention; if you are experiencing an ongoing urge to vomit that lasts longer than two days, seek medical guidance immediately.
Long-term vomiting is not self-limiting and may be due to an underlying medical condition, like cyclical vomiting syndrome, or it could be self-induced. Self-induced vomiting is common in some eating disorders, most notably bulimia nervosa. The National Alliance on Mental Illness lists several mental and physical effects of long-term vomiting due to bulimia, most notably cardiac problems, digestive problems, heightened cancer risk, malnutrition, and dehydration.
Why do we feel better after vomiting?
An involuntary urge to vomit - nausea - can be triggered in several ways, most commonly as a defense mechanism when the body suspects that a potentially dangerous substance has been ingested. Vomiting may also occur when the body detects a disruption in a normally functioning system, such as in the case of substance abuse. In these cases, vomiting triggers the release of endorphins, which can lead a person to feel better immediately after vomiting. Other factors, such as bowel motility, also likely improve, reducing the sensation of nausea.
Those whose vomiting is self-induced - like those with bulimia nervosa - likely feel better because they have satisfied a psychological urge. For example, those with bulimia vomit to purge excess calories from their bodies. They may feel better because the process of calorie removal is complete or because they no longer feel the sensation of being excessively full.
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