Symptoms
These cycles often involve rapid and out-of-control eating, which may stop when the bulimic is interrupted by another person or the stomach hurts from over-extension, followed by self-induced vomiting or other forms of purging. This cycle may be repeated several times a week or, in more serious cases, several times a day and may directly cause:
- Chronic gastric reflux after eating
- Dehydration and hypokalemia caused by frequent vomiting
- Electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and even death
- Esophagitis, or inflammation of the esophagus
- Boerhaave syndrome, a rupture in the esophageal wall due to vomiting
- Oral trauma, in which repetitive insertion of fingers or other objects causes lacerations to the lining of the mouth or throat
- Gastroparesis or delayed emptying
- Constipation
- Infertility
- Enlarged glands in the neck, under the jaw line
- Peptic ulcers
- Calluses or scars on back of hands due to repeated trauma from incisors
- Constant weight fluctuations are common
The frequent contact between teeth and gastric acid, in particular, may cause:
- Severe dental erosion
- Perimolysis, or the erosion of tooth enamel
- Swollen salivary glands
- Constant vomiting can lead to gastroesophageal reflux
Read more about this topic: Bulimia Nervosa
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