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Patients with pathological diseases that justify weight loss frequently have signs and symptoms that lead to the suspicion of an organ, apparatus, or body system being afflicted.
Gastrointestinal tumors, such as those of the pancreas and liver, can impede food intake and induce weight loss before other symptoms arise.
Lung cancer can present as post obstructive pneumonia with dyspnea or cough and hemoptysis, but it is often symptom-free and should be suspected in nonsmokers as well.
Depression and loneliness, especially in the elderly, can cause severe weight loss. Anorexia and increased energy expenditure at rest are common symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure.
Some infectious disorders, such as HIV infection, TB, endocarditis, and fungal and parasite infections, can cause weight loss as a first symptom.
Hyperthyroidism or pheochromocytoma raises basal metabolism; apathetic hyperthyroidism in the elderly can cause weight loss and frailty, with few additional symptoms of thyrotoxicosis.
Due to glucosuria and the lack of insulin’s anabolic effects, new-onset diabetes mellitus is frequently associated with weight loss.
Hyperpigmentation, hyponatremia, and hyperkalemia are all signs of adrenal insufficiency.
Causes
Most weight loss occurs when a person consumes less calories than their body requires. You may be eating fewer calories because your appetite has dropped or because you have a digestive tract condition that prevents nutrients from being absorbed ( malabsorption ). People with a condition that leads them to burn more calories are less common (for example, an overactive thyroid gland). Both mechanisms are sometimes involved. Cancer, for example, suppresses hunger while increasing caloric expenditure, resulting in fast weight reduction.
Weight loss can occur as a result of almost any long-term sickness that is severe enough (for example, severe heart failure or emphysema). However, these illnesses are normally detected before weight loss; the current topic, on the other hand, is about weight loss.
The most common undiagnosed causes of inadvertent weight loss in cases of increased appetite include
- A thyroid gland that is overactive ( hyperthyroidism )
- Uncontrolled Diabetes
- Malabsorption-causing disorders
The most common unrecognized causes of unintentional weight loss in cases of decreased appetite are:
- Disorders of the mind
- Cancer
- Signs to be aware of drugs
- Drug addiction
Certain symptoms and characteristics in people who are losing weight involuntarily should be taken seriously. The following are some of these elements:
- Night sweats and a fever
- Bone ache
- Coughing up blood, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood
- Increased urination and excessive thirst
- In a person over the age of 50, headaches, pain in the jaw when chewing, and/or new vision abnormalities (for example, double vision, blurred vision, or blind spots) are common.
- Adverse effects of medications
- Drug addiction
Treatment
The root problem is addressed. Doctors frequently use behavioral strategies to encourage the affected person to eat more, such as encouraging the individual to eat, assisting with eating, providing favored or strong-tasting meals, and serving just small portions. If behavioral interventions fail, high-nutrition food supplements can be used. Feeding through a stomach tube is the last resort that is only justified in particular circumstances. Tube feeding, for example, maybe beneficial if a person has a problem that can be healed or addressed over time, but it may not be beneficial if a person stops eating due to severe Alzheimer’s disease.
Senior Essentials: Weight Loss That Wasn’t Intentional
Involuntary weight loss becomes more common as people get older, with rates as high as 50% among nursing home patients. Weight loss issues are more common in older persons, making them more vulnerable to unintended weight loss. Weight loss can also be influenced by typical age-related changes. In most cases, a number of elements are at play.
The following are some of the common age-related changes that might lead to weight loss:
- Increased sensitivity to certain inhibitory mediators and decreased sensitivity to certain appetite-stimulating mediators gastric emptying rate has slowed (prolonging the feeling of fullness)
- Sensitivity to taste and smell is reduced.
- Muscle mass is lost (sarcopenia)
Furthermore, social isolation is widespread among the elderly, which leads to a reduction in food consumption. Depression and dementia are major contributors, particularly among nursing home residents. Separating the precise contribution from the specific components can be tricky.
Vitamin supplements can help older adults who are deficient in certain vitamins (for example vitamins D and B12 ). Supplements should, however, be taken between meals and before bedtime, as they may diminish appetite at mealtime. Some folks may benefit from assistance with eating and shopping.
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