How does bulimia affect your physical health?

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that involves recurrent binge eating followed by purging. Purging can be done through vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics, or exercising excessively. This cycle can have several adverse effects on your physical health, including:

- Dehydration: Vomiting and purging can lead to severe dehydration, which can cause fatigue, dizziness, muscle weakness, and constipation. In severe cases, dehydration can even be life-threatening.

- Electrolyte imbalance: Vomiting and purging can also lead to electrolyte imbalances, which can cause muscle cramps, seizures, and heart problems.

- Tooth damage: Stomach acid from vomiting can erode tooth enamel, leading to cavities and tooth sensitivity.

- Esophageal damage: Vomiting can cause inflammation and damage to the esophagus, leading to pain, difficulty swallowing, and heartburn.

- Menstrual irregularities: Bulimia can disrupt hormone production, leading to irregular or absent menstrual periods.

- Infertility: Bulimia can cause fertility problems in both men and women.

- Osteoporosis: Bulimia can lead to decreased bone density and increased risk of osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle.

- Malnutrition: Bulimia can lead to malnutrition, as the body is not getting the nutrients it needs from food. This can cause fatigue, weakness, and a compromised immune system.

- Heart problems: Bulimia can increase the risk of heart problems, such as irregular heartbeat, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death.

- Kidney problems: Bulimia can cause dehydration that leads to kidney damage and increase the risk of kidney failure.

- Liver damage: Bulimia can cause liver damage, such as cirrhosis.