Decreased or lack of appetite (anorexia) is a common symptom characteristic of infectious, oncological, mental, endocrine pathologies and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Causes of lack of appetite

Appetite is the need to eat food, gradually turning into a feeling of hunger. Despite the banality of this definition, behind it lies a very complex mechanism responsible for regulating the energy balance in the human body. It includes several levels: the nuclei of the hypothalamus, the brain stem, the pleasure center, sending and receiving signals through biologically active substances. The source of the latter can be adipose tissue, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands. They produce hormones that regulate appetite.

Thus, a decrease in the blood level of insulin, a pancreatic hormone, leads to an increase in appetite (the phenomenon of insulin crisis). Leptin is a hormone produced in adipose tissue. High concentrations of leptin in the blood lead to an increase in body weight due to fat. During fasting, the level of leptin in the blood plasma decreases, while fat is mobilized and broken down, and a feeling of hunger appears.

Another hormone, ghrelin, produced in the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines of a hungry person, tells the central nervous system that the gastrointestinal tract is ready to eat food. The higher its level in the blood, the more you want to eat. Immediately after eating, its plasma concentration begins to decrease, reflecting the intake of nutrients into the body.

There are many similar hormones and hormone-like substances that take part in regulating the need for food. The presence of diseases that can disrupt these connections is a potential cause of loss of appetite. The most striking example of such a pathology is appetite disturbance in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Victims of anorexia refuse to eat until the body is completely exhausted. Research aimed at studying the causes of this disease has revealed that with anorexia, almost all parts of the mechanism that regulates appetite are affected. This is why anorexia nervosa is difficult to treat.

There are other types of eating disorders that are also associated with appetite regulation disorders (bulimia, psychogenic overeating, psychogenic vomiting).

Predisposing factors for poor appetite

Appetite is also affected by other factors, related or unrelated to any disease:

• Taking medications;
• Psychological problems, severe stress (loss of appetite due to depression);
• Medical procedures and manipulations;
• Eating environment;
• Some physiological conditions (loss of appetite during pregnancy);
• Quality and appearance of food (food can be disgusting if there are negative associations);
• Alcohol abuse, drug addiction.

Diagnosis of appetite disorders

Identification and assessment of loss of appetite is complicated by the fact that there are no specific criteria that allow us to consider the need to eat as a clear sign of impairment. Individual characteristics vary significantly from person to person and depend on gender, age, profession, sports, bad habits and hormonal status. For example, older people cope with hunger more easily and maintain a feeling of satiety with food longer. Individuals who exercise intensely or moderately are more likely to feel hungry/unsatisfied with food intake. When diagnosing, these differences must be taken into account.

Patients themselves may not complain that they have lost their appetite, especially if the reason lies in depression/consequences of severe stress/psychological problems. In such cases, close relatives pay attention to reducing food consumption. Questionnaires or questionnaires are widely used to objectively assess appetite.

Severe symptoms of the underlying disease, such as fever, pain, diarrhea, themselves imply no need to eat. In such cases, diagnosis of appetite disorders is usually not required, since a bright clinic will not allow one or another serious disease to be missed.

Another thing is pathologies in which lack of appetite is the only symptom. Incorrect assessment can lead to late diagnosis and complications. An example is the notorious anorexia nervosa. In most cases, the pathology is detected by family and friends already in the presence of pronounced changes, when body weight is significantly reduced.

Common diseases accompanied by lack of appetite (pathology + code in accordance with the international classification of diseases ICD-10):

• Anorexia nervosa F50;
• Depression F30;
• Anxiety disorders F40;
• Acute stress disorder F43.0;
• Bipolar disorder F31;
• Drug addiction F10;
• Thyroid hormone deficiency E03.9;
• Tuberculosis A15;
• Infectious mononucleosis B27;
• Brucellosis A23;
• Viral hepatitis B15, B16, B17;
• HIV infection B23.0, acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS B24;
• Stomach cancer C16;
• Lung cancer C33;
• Liver cancer C22;
• Pancreatic cancer C25;
• Hodgkin's lymphoma C81;
• Iron deficiency anemia D50.9;
• Stomach ulcer K25;
• Duodenal ulcer K26;
• Gallstone disease K80.

The minimum required examination for a pathological decrease in the need for food:

• General blood test with leukemia formula;
• General blood test;
• Biochemical blood test;
• Stool analysis;
• Urinalysis;
• Chest X-ray;
• Electrocardiography;
• Consultation with a therapist.

Warning signs associated with lack of appetite

Loss of appetite during pregnancy

Dizziness, nausea and vomiting in pregnant women in the first trimester are often accompanied by a lack of appetite. For most women, these symptoms are mild or moderate. However, in severe cases, with frequent vomiting making it impossible to eat, serious complications can arise that threaten the health of the mother and child. Loss of more than 5% of weight due to dehydration, disturbance of water-salt and electrolyte balance in pregnant women can lead to pulmonary embolism, acute renal failure, blood coagulation disorders with the risk of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome. In such cases, immediate hospitalization in the department of pathology of pregnant women and consultation with an obstetrician-gynecologist are required.

Loss of appetite in a child aged 0 to 3 years

Due to their intense metabolism, newborns and infants, as well as preschool children, have a good appetite. For this reason, lack of appetite should be regarded as a significant symptom, regardless of age.

Lack of appetite or breast refusal in newborns can be due to various reasons - from banal intestinal colic to a serious illness. If you have additional symptoms, such as drowsiness, lethargy, bluish skin, convulsions, high temperature, you should immediately seek emergency medical help.

Loss of appetite in an adult

The lack of need to eat in combination with a sharp, causeless loss of body weight is an alarming sign. The cause may be serious diseases, such as tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, HIV infection, tuberculosis, and cirrhosis of the liver. If additional symptoms are present, such as insomnia, sudden mood swings, irritability, depression, bipolar disorder, or suicidal thoughts should be suspected.

Loss of appetite in older people

In old age and senility, the need for food intake is significantly reduced due to a decrease in metabolic rate. Despite this, there is no loss of body weight. For this reason, an abnormal decrease in food intake in older people with weight loss is also a sign of pathology.

To answer the question, let’s first define what appetite is.

What is appetite

This is the expressed need of the human body for food.
This is not hunger yet, when you just really want to eat.
E that preference for certain products, which, most often, depends on various factors: on the general emotional state, on the time of day, on various national and even religious habits.

Reasons why poor appetite

If they talk about decreased appetite, they usually mean either partial or complete refusal of food due to lack of desire to take it (anorexia). An unexpected change in appetite may also occur, that is, a violation of the body’s normal taste needs for any product (during pregnancy).

Decreased and loss of appetite can be caused by various reasons. For example, there may be no appetite if:

1. If you constantly violate your meal schedule and do not follow a daily routine at all. For example, going to bed late and, accordingly, getting up late, then intercepting pieces during the day. Snacking has a huge impact on your appetite.
2. Or, if a person is not tired (either mentally, physically, or emotionally), then he may also have no appetite. If energy is not consumed by a person throughout the day, then the body does not have a need to restore it.
3. Often observed lack of appetite during times of severe mental or mental stress - stress. You can’t think of anything else here other than just forcing yourself to eat.

But there are also very serious reasons why there is no appetite.

1. Loss of appetite maybe if intoxication has occurred in the body due to some kind of incipient (or sluggish) inflammatory process or due to food or chemical poisoning. In this case, there is no need to force yourself to eat, since the body itself knows better what it needs at this moment - to save energy, not spending it on digesting food, but to use it to remove toxins and waste products.
2. During periods of exacerbation of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach ulcer, gastritis, etc.), when appetite is reduced by severe pain and discomfort. In this case, you don’t want to eat because there is no desire to experience them again. After all, if you don’t eat, then nothing hurts!
3. People suffering from various thyroid diseases may also lack appetite. That is, in those people who have various endocrine disorders, especially those associated with decreased thyroid function, with abnormalities of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus (subcortical structures of the brain).
4. A consequence of impaired metabolism in the body, which occurs, especially in oncological conditions.
5. Appetite is also taken away by various kinds of neuropsychic disorders (neuroses, depression), which are also treated with medication when you consult a doctor.

Therefore, be more attentive to yourself and your body, treat it with care and concern, do not cause serious illnesses (physical and psychological), and seek medical and psychological help in a timely manner.

Eating three nutritious meals a day can seem like a daunting task when you don't have a healthy appetite. A more motivating way to eat is to divide three main courses into five or six small portions.

As your appetite improves, you can begin to increase the quantity of these meals or add more ingredients to consume more calories throughout the day. For example, if you are eating a sandwich with meat, also include some vegetables and cheese to add more calories and nutrients.

Let's summarize:

Eat five or six smaller meals a day instead of three large ones. As your appetite improves, you can begin to increase your portions and add more ingredients.

2. Eat nutrient-rich foods

People who have poor appetite tend to consume empty calories such as candy, potato chips, ice cream and baked goods in order to gain weight. Although these types of foods may seem more appetizing and high in calories, they are a bad idea because they provide very little nutrition to the body.

Instead of consuming these types of foods, focus on foods that provide you with calories and a wide range of nutrients, such as protein and healthy fats. For example, instead of ice cream for dessert, you can have 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt with the sweetness of berries and cinnamon. Likewise, if you're craving pizza, you can make it at home and add more vegetables and protein for extra nutrients.

Let's summarize:

Reduce your intake of empty calories. Instead, focus on consuming more nutritious foods that contain protein, healthy fats and whole grains.

3. Add more calories to your meals

If you are concerned about how to increase your appetite, there is another way that will help increase your appetite and provide your body with enough nutrients throughout the day. You just need to add more calories to your diet.

One way to do this is to prepare meals with high-calorie ingredients such as butter, nut oils, olive oil or whole milk.

For example:

• Add 45 calories: Cook eggs with butter.
• Add 80 calories: Cook oatmeal with whole milk instead of water.
• Add 80 calories: Add olive oil and avocado to salads.
• Add 100 calories: Spread a little peanut butter on apple slices and use as a snack.

Simple supplements like these can further provide your body with healthier calories and increase your overall calorie intake.

Let's summarize:

When preparing different meals, add high-calorie ingredients to help you consume more calories throughout the day.

4. Make mealtimes an enjoyable experience.

How to increase your appetite easily and pleasantly? Cooking and dining with others can help stimulate your appetite more than eating alone. To make your food more appetizing, you can invite friends and family over for lunch/dinner. If they can't come and keep you company, try eating while watching TV.

These strategies can help take your attention away from food. The study found that eating with friends can increase food consumption by 18%, and eating while watching TV can increase food consumption by 14%. Having lunches and meals together, combined with entertainment, can help you enjoy food more and improve poor appetite.

Let's summarize:

If you eat with friends and family or eat in front of the TV, you can distract yourself from the food you are eating, which will encourage you to eat more of it.

5. Trick your brain with different plate sizes

How to improve your appetite by tricking your brain? If you have a poor appetite, the sight of large portions can make you feel overwhelmed and reluctant. The way to avoid these negative feelings is to trick your brain into thinking that you are still eating a small portion. You can do this by serving the food on a large plate instead of a small one.

Some studies have shown that increasing the size of your plate can make you eat larger portions of food. This happens even if you don't really like the food. In other words, you can eat more food if you serve it on a larger plate. This may increase your daily calorie intake, especially if you eat high-calorie foods.

Let's summarize:

Eating larger plates can help you eat more.

6. Eat on time

Try planning out your daily eating schedule and setting a reminder for each meal to start eating regularly. A regular eating schedule is important to stimulate your appetite - this will help you consume enough calories and nutrients every day.

Let's summarize:

Scheduling and setting meal reminders can help you increase your appetite and keep track of your food intake.

7. Don't skip breakfast

Consuming breakfast on a daily basis is important when you want to increase your appetite and gain weight.

A review study found that skipping breakfast can cause you to eat less throughout the day, which can have the opposite effect. Additionally, breakfast helps increase the body's thermogenesis effect, causing you to burn more calories throughout the day. It's good for your appetite.

If you're trying to eat more, eating breakfast every day is just as important as eating regularly throughout the day.

Let's summarize:

Eating breakfast daily can increase your appetite and increase thermogenesis, which may encourage you to eat more.

8. Eat less fiber

A high-fiber diet has been shown to promote a feeling of fullness and reduce calorie intake - this is especially beneficial for those who want to lose weight, but just want to improve their appetite and possibly gain weight.

Although high-fiber foods are recommended in a balanced diet, they can slow down digestion and keep you feeling fuller longer. Therefore, you may want to adjust your fiber intake if you are wondering how to improve poor appetite.

To improve your appetite, increase your intake of low-fiber foods and slightly reduce your intake of high-fiber foods - this will help relieve the feeling of fullness and may help you eat more throughout the day.

Let's summarize:

Reducing the amount of fiber in your diet can reduce the feeling of fullness in your stomach and encourage you to eat more food throughout the day.

9. Drink your calories

Chugging calories can be a more motivating way to increase your calorie intake than chewing food when you don't feel too hungry. A practical way to drink up your calories is to replace some of your meals with nutritious, high-calorie drinks.

Smoothies, milkshakes and juices can be good meal replacement drinks. Try making them with nutritious ingredients such as fruits and vegetables. You can also add good sources of protein such as whole milk, yogurt or protein powder for extra calories and nutrients.

Let's summarize:

Drinking calorie-dense and nutritious drinks instead of some snacks throughout the day can help motivate you to consume your food.

10. Include healthy snacks

Eating large meals can be intimidating, while small, easy-to-eat snacks can be more convenient, making it less of an effort to increase your food intake. Snacks can also be helpful when you're on the go.

However, appetizers are not intended to replace main courses, but rather to complement them. Therefore, avoid eating snacks before meals because they may worsen your appetite.

Here are some examples of healthy snacks:

• Fruits such as bananas, apples and oranges.
• Protein bars or granola bars.
• Greek yogurt or cottage cheese and fruit.
• Olive oil and crackers.
• Salty snacks such as popcorn or mixed dried fruits and nuts.

Let's summarize:

Eating small, healthy snacks throughout the day can help increase your calorie intake and increase your desire to eat.

11. Eat more of your favorite foods

How to increase your appetite - with what foods? When you have a dish in front of you that you know and love, you are probably much more inclined to eat it than a dish that you find unappealing. Research shows that if you can choose your food, you will be able to eat more and eat more often than if you don't have the ability to choose your foods.

To help you consume more of these foods, it's important to take some time to plan and prepare them ahead of time so you can always use them. However, if your favorite foods are unhealthy (from fast food restaurants, for example), you can try making them yourself or serving them with healthier ingredients to make them more nutritious.

Let's summarize:

Eat more of the foods you love. This will help you eat normally and stimulate your appetite.

12. Use herbs and spices

Another remedy that improves appetite is herbs and spices. Some foods can slow digestion and produce gas, which can lead to a feeling of heaviness, bloating, and decreased appetite.

A type of seasoning called carminative herbs and spices may help reduce bloating and flatulence, and improve appetite. They can also stimulate bile production to facilitate the digestion of fats.

Here are some examples of carminative herbs and spices that are classified as appetite-increasing foods:

• fennel
• coriander
• cinnamon

In addition to helping reduce the feeling of heaviness in your stomach, these herbs and spices can help make your meals more delicious and appealing. When your food smells and tastes good, it can create a good appetite.

Bitter tonics are another type of herbal preparation that can help increase appetite by stimulating the production of digestive enzymes. Here is an appetite-improving herb that is classified as a bitter tonic:

• gentian
• Blessed Knikus
• centaury

You can start supplementing with some of these herbs, spices, or bitter tonics by adding them to your meals or consuming them as teas or tinctures.

Let's summarize:

Some herbs, spices and bitter tonics are good for increasing your appetite, aiding digestion, reducing flatulence and making your food more palatable.

13. Increase physical activity

How to increase your appetite naturally without resorting to taking various herbs? During physical activity, your body burns calories to maintain energy levels. Physical activity can increase your appetite as your body needs to replenish the calories it burns.

One study involved 12 people who underwent physical activity for 16 days. During this period, they burned an average of 835 extra calories per day. In addition, scientists observed increased cravings for food in the subjects, from which they were able to replenish 30% of the calories burned during exercise.

You shouldn't expect to improve your appetite after your first workout, but if you are consistent and stick to a weekly workout schedule, your appetite will likely improve within just a few days.

Additionally, physical activity can affect several processes in your body that have been shown to stimulate hunger. These include increases in metabolic rate and muscle mass, as well as changes in hormone production.

Let's summarize:

Physical activity can cause you to burn more calories and stimulate your appetite, increasing your metabolic rate and hormone production.

14. Limit drinks during meals

Drinking fluids before or during meals can negatively affect your appetite and cause you to eat less. Research has shown that drinking water before meals can reduce calorie intake and help with weight loss. This appears to affect older people more than younger people.

In contrast, avoiding drinking water or drinks before meals can increase calorie intake by 8.7%. So try to drink water at least 30 minutes before meals and see if your appetite improves.

Let's summarize:

Drinking water or other liquids consumed before or with meals can affect your appetite and cause you to eat less.

15. Some supplements may also help.

Deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals can reduce your appetite. If you're wondering how to increase your appetite, consider including some of these supplements in your diet, which serve as appetite boosters when deficient:

• Zinc: Lack of zinc in the diet can lead to loss of appetite and taste disturbances, which may contribute to a decreased desire to eat (see Zinc deficiency: symptoms in women and men).
• Thiamine: Thiamine deficiency can lead to decreased appetite and increased energy expenditure during rest, leading to weight loss.
• Fish oil: Some studies have shown that this natural product, in the form of clear gelatin capsules, may help increase appetite and reduce feelings of fullness in women after meals.
• Echinacea: This is a plant used to stimulate the immune system and fight disease. Research has shown that echinacea also contains compounds called alkylamines, which can stimulate your appetite. You can learn more about the beneficial properties and uses of Echinacea here - Echinacea: medicinal properties and contraindications, use of Echinacea.

Let's summarize:

Deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals can cause poor appetite. Taking certain supplements can help increase your appetite.

16. Keep a food diary

Keeping a food diary will help you keep track of what you eat and make sure you're consuming enough calories throughout the day. Writing down each meal and your hunger levels can also help you understand how your appetite is improving. Aim to write down every food item, meal, and snack you eat, no matter how small. When your appetite is poor, counting each calorie gives you an idea of ​​how well you are achieving your daily goal.

Let's summarize:

Keeping a food diary will help you track your food intake and improve your eating habits and appetite.

Let's sum it up

Many factors can affect your appetite, including physical illness, mental conditions, medications, and vitamin or mineral deficiencies. However, small changes can make a big difference. You can try to increase your appetite by inviting people over for meals and cooking new recipes, and using spices, herbs and high-calorie ingredients to make food more appealing and nutritious.

Try to limit your intake of water and drinks before and during meals, and moderate your intake of high-fiber foods, as these may worsen your appetite. If you find large meals challenging, motivating yourself to eat smaller meals more frequently can help increase your appetite.

Another trick is to eat your largest portion when you are hungry. The rest of the time, you can include smoothies and high-calorie drinks in your diet, which are easier to consume. If you're having trouble eating, it's always a good idea to consult your doctor, who can give you advice on how to increase your hunger and gain healthy pounds.

In order to compensate for the lack of all microelements in the body, a person must eat properly and rationally. If there is no appetite, and the food itself causes rejection and a lot of other unpleasant sensations, then the person needs help. Lack of appetite can be caused by a variety of reasons, including not only diseases and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Few people know, but this can also happen due to nervousness. In what situations lack of appetite is accompanied by nausea and weakness, we will find out further.

Combination of symptoms

In order to understand where to look for the cause, you should analyze the specifics of all existing symptoms:

Lack of appetite - the fact that a person could use some food is signaled by the brain, the neural endings of which send a signal to the digestive organs, forcing the person to think about food. As a result, gastric juice is gradually produced, and the level of insulin in the blood increases. If there is no appetite, it means that the brain is busy with completely different, more important things at the moment. This can also be supported by diseases of the digestive tract, as a result of the progression of which, lack of appetite occurs as a natural protective reaction. Nausea - this process is also completely physiological, it is necessary in order to empty the contents of the stomach in critical situations. This sign is extremely important in diagnosis, because in combination with other symptoms it allows a more accurate diagnosis to be made. Weakness is a condition known to everyone, especially to those people who are forced to work a lot and hard. A person finds it difficult to perform usual actions, while feeling increased stress and fatigue.

Nausea, weakness and lack of appetite are perhaps the most common symptoms that both adults and children are familiar with. What prerequisites may influence the occurrence of such a clinical picture?

Reasons

If we systematize all the possible causes that can cause weakness with nausea and complete lack of appetite, then they can be conditionally divided into two large groups: pathological and non-pathological.

Non-pathological causes

These reasons have nothing to do with the presence of diseases. They occur when the body is affected by external pathogenic factors, or occur as a natural process. Their main feature is the following:

symptoms last no more than 4-5 days, after which they go away on their own; do not require medical care or medication; do not have life-threatening side effects on the body; may be repeated, but not more than once a month; do not cause acute weight loss.

Menstruation and premenstrual syndrome - during hormonal changes and preparation for fertilization, a woman’s body is literally subject to the actions of hormones. Sharp jumps in progesterone and estrogen, to which the body gradually adapts, can provoke nausea, weakness, and loss of appetite. When the cycle ends and a new one begins, the woman may also experience headaches and abdominal cramps, which is a completely natural process that does not require intervention. Overeating, especially at night - when during the day a person did not have the opportunity to eat fully, and meals were reduced to a maximum of fast food, then when you come home, where a delicious dinner awaits, it is difficult to control yourself. As a result, the gastrointestinal tract had no load all day, and in the evening, when, in fact, the body and all its systems are preparing for sleep and slowing down their life support processes, the food eaten can cause poor sleep. Eating heavy food before bed leads to nausea, which indicates the inability of the pancreas to produce the required amount of enzymes. Symptoms are especially acute in the morning, when nausea can continue with vomiting, which will lead to weakness and lack of appetite. Prolonged fasting - unauthorized refusal of food, supposedly in order to lose extra pounds, can cause nausea and weakness. The fact is that if food does not enter the stomach for a long time, the secretion produced has a detrimental effect on the mucous membranes, causing irritation. Sometimes nausea occurs immediately after a person experiences a strong feeling of hunger. Lack of food reduces performance and also causes weakness. Chronic fatigue syndrome is observed in people who constantly experience fatigue and loss of energy. This condition is typical for people who work seven days a week, and the number of hours of work is greater than rest. Workaholism is laudable, but it takes a toll on your health. Lack of adequate sleep affects the nervous system and brain, which can give incorrect commands to the entire body.

These reasons are most common in everyday life, since the modern rhythm of life makes proper nutrition and normal rest impossible.

Pathological causes

Associated with the presence of a disease in the body. In most cases, medical attention is required to resolve. This group includes the following reasons:

Dysbacteriosis is an intestinal disease in which the balance of beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms involved in the digestive process is disrupted. Poor digestion has a detrimental effect on the entire body, since it is not possible to obtain all the nutrients it is rich in from food. Endocrine diseases - hormonal imbalance and insufficient production of certain hormones can provoke nausea, sometimes vomiting, followed by weakness and lack of appetite. Chronic diseases of the digestive system that have worsened - most often such symptoms are inherent in gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, as well as gastroduodenitis. Nausea, weakness and lack of appetite are the first signs that old diseases require attention and timely preventive treatment. Mental disorders - if a person constantly experiences increased emotional stress and stress, while there is no rest and support from loved ones, depression may occur. This psycho-emotional state implies indifference to everything that happens around, and is also accompanied by lack of appetite, nausea and general weakness. Intoxication – if pathogenic microorganisms are active in the body, this provokes intoxication. Especially often, such processes occur in the stomach and intestines, when bacteria entering from the outside begin to actively “take root” into the body and take from it everything that is available. In this case, nausea and loss of appetite are the primary signs indicating the presence of pathogenic microflora. Cardiovascular diseases - similar symptoms are familiar to people suffering from chronic arterial hypertension, when the pressure in the body is increased. Nausea can occur even after eating, and weakness is dictated by the wear and tear of the blood vessels. Drug dependence - if a person, either voluntarily or out of necessity, constantly takes medications, the gastrointestinal tract receives an enormous load, digesting and assimilating chemical compounds. As a result, nausea and lack of appetite may indicate the presence of gastritis and peptic ulcers, as well as pathologies of the pancreas. The presence of oncological diseases - when a person has cancer (no matter what organ), and chemotherapy is carried out, all processes in the body, including digestion, go astray. Appetite decreases, which causes fatigue and drowsiness. Nausea and vomiting may occur, especially after taking chemotherapy drugs. The presence of an infection or virus in the body - many will think about why, when you are sick, you don’t feel like eating at all. The answer is very simple. The fact is that at the moment of active production of leukocyte cells, the body concentrates all its forces on this process, allowing the patient to recover as quickly as possible. Lack of appetite in this case is a justified measure. Excessive amounts of toxins can cause nausea and weakness, which can only be eliminated by maintaining adequate fluid balance.

Also, a decrease and complete lack of appetite, weakness and nausea are characteristic of the following categories of the population:

Drug addicts – long-term use of narcotic drugs gradually reduces the sensitivity of the brain and nerve cells, which leads to social degradation. Moreover, all the processes occurring in the brain are aimed at only one thing: searching for a dose at any cost. People who smoke - nicotine kills microscopic cells found in the stomach. From here, the process of breaking down food becomes somewhat more complicated. Plus, tar-rich tobacco smoke can affect the circulatory system, causing anemia. Alcoholism is the abuse of alcoholic beverages, which is carried out systematically, leads to disruption of the digestive processes, and also has a destructive effect on the cells of the pancreas and liver. Toxicosis of pregnant women manifests itself as a protective reaction of the body. At the beginning of pregnancy, the hormonal background is rearranged in such a way that all conditions are favorable for the development of the fetus, although the body itself tries in every possible way to reject the fetus, perceiving it as a foreign substance.

TOP 5 reasons

Among the most rare diseases that indicate their existence by provoking nausea, lack of appetite and weakness are:

Diabetes mellitus is determined by metabolic disorders in the body, as well as the absorption of glucose. A person may not suspect for quite a long time that he has problems with the pancreas and hormonal system. The pathology can develop over years and decades, until it takes on an acute form with more dangerous symptoms. Neurosis is a disorder of mental balance in which a person, under the influence of external stimuli, leaves his comfort zone. Nausea with neuroses appears exactly after appetite disappears. It is logical to assume that if food does not enter the body, it means there is no energy, and as a result, weakness appears. Pathologies of the thyroid gland - the rather small size of this gland can cause major health problems when its activity becomes uncontrollable. A lack or excess of thyroid hormones provokes various pathologies and diseases that are difficult to correct and treat. Oncology – in 95% of all cases of cancer diagnosis it is due to a random examination. A person may not even know about his problem, and the usual nausea in the morning, lack of appetite and weakness will be attributed to increased fatigue at work. Anorexia is a disease associated with a mental disorder and is the most life-threatening. Long-term refusal of food plays a cruel joke on a person, subsequently provoking a complete aversion to any food, even if it previously caused complete delight. Sudden weight loss is always accompanied by dizziness and insomnia. Absolutely all processes in the body are disrupted, so all available forces are aimed at maintaining vital processes.

When is medical help needed?

Only 3% of all patients who note constant nausea, weakness and loss of appetite seek help from doctors. Most conscious patients are ready to pay thousands for a “pill for all diseases” recommended by a kind aunt from a pharmacy.

Let's consider a number of situations when medical assistance is really urgently needed:

Nausea does not go away for more than 5 days, intensifies after waking up and ends with vomiting. In addition to general symptoms, more specific manifestations appear: pain in the abdomen, throat, and back. Body temperature increases and is not reduced by any medications. There is an acute attack of pain. Bloody discharge appears.

In these cases, there is no point in trying to help the person on your own. Self-medication is not only inappropriate, but can also cause complications. The most correct choice is to consult a doctor and complete medical examination.

What actions can you take?

If the emerging nausea, lack of appetite and weakness can be compared with the prerequisites (overeating, poisoning, PMS), and the general condition of the patient does not cause concern, you can resort to such actions as:

Drink a lot of pure mineral water. Take medications with enzymes: Pancreatin, Mezim, Pancreazym, which will speed up the digestion process and also help digest everything that the body could not break down on its own. PMS pain and lack of appetite can be eliminated with cranberry juice, nettle infusion and chamomile tea. If there are signs of an infection or virus on the face, the main task in this case is to maintain water balance (to prevent dehydration and speed up the removal of toxins from the body), as well as taking antiviral and antibacterial drugs.

Of course, the main reason is related to poor nutrition, so you can reduce the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms and completely eliminate them with the help of the following recommendations:

Avoid fast food and eat only healthy foods. Take food in small portions, not in one meal, but in 5-6 meals. The smaller the portion, the faster it is digested and absorbed in the body, without burdening it. Drink more pure mineral water, since it is the lack of water in the body that provokes disruption of all vital processes at the cellular level. Eat lean meats and fresh vegetables. Avoid fasting, even if it is for medicinal purposes. Only sports and proper balanced nutrition contribute to weight loss. Undergo an annual medical examination, without ignoring the testimony of doctors.

Thus, the unpleasant symptoms of nausea and loss of appetite can be associated with more than a hundred diseases, different in their focus. This fact indicates that if the symptoms do not go away on their own, and the clinical picture is supplemented by new manifestations, then you should definitely seek help from a doctor.

Do you still think that healing your stomach and intestines is difficult?

Judging by the fact that you are now reading these lines, victory in the fight against diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is not yet on your side...

Have you already thought about surgery? This is understandable, because the stomach is a very important organ, and its proper functioning is the key to health and well-being. Frequent abdominal pain, heartburn, bloating, belching, nausea, bowel dysfunction... All these symptoms are familiar to you firsthand.

But perhaps it would be more correct to treat not the effect, but the cause? Here is the story of Galina Savina, about how she got rid of all these unpleasant symptoms... Read the article >>>

Weakness or loss of strength

Weakness or loss of strength– a common and quite complex symptom, the occurrence of which depends on the influence of a number of physiological and psychological factors. In most cases, patients describe weakness in accordance with their individual sensations.

For some, weakness is identical to severe fatigue; for others, this term refers to possible dizziness, absent-mindedness, loss of attention and lack of energy.

Thus, many health care professionals characterize frailty as a patient's subjective experience that reflects a lack of energy needed to perform daily work and responsibilities that the person was able to perform without problems before the onset of frailty.

Causes of weakness

Weakness is a common symptom inherent in a wide range of diseases. The exact cause of the disease can be determined by the necessary studies and tests, as well as accompanying weaknesses and other clinical manifestations.

The mechanism of weakness and its nature are determined by the cause that provoked the occurrence of this symptom. The state of fatigue can arise both as a result of severe emotional, nervous or physical stress, and as a result of chronic or acute diseases and conditions. In the first case, weakness can disappear on its own without any consequences - here, good sleep and rest are enough.

Flu

Thus, a popular cause of weakness is influenza, an acute viral infectious disease accompanied by general intoxication of the body. Along with weakness, additional symptoms appear here:

elevated temperature; photophobia; pain in the head, joints and muscles; intense sweating.

Vegetative-vascular dystonia

The occurrence of weakness is characteristic of another common phenomenon - vegetative-vascular dystonia, which is a whole complex of various symptoms, among which are:

sleep disturbance; dizziness; interruptions in heart function.

Rhinitis

Rhinitis, which becomes chronic, is, in turn, accompanied by swelling of the nasal mucosa, which over time leads to an effect on the pituitary gland. Under this influence, the normal functioning of the main endocrine gland involved in the area of ​​edema is disrupted. Malfunctions in the functioning of the pituitary gland lead to an imbalance in many body systems: endocrine, nervous, immune, etc.

Other causes of weakness

Sharp and severe weakness is a symptom inherent in severe poisoning, general intoxication.

In a healthy person, weakness can occur as a result of: brain injury, blood loss- as a result of a sharp decrease in pressure.

Women experience weakness during menstruation.

Also weakness is inherent in anemia– a disease characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin contained in red blood cells. Considering that this substance transfers oxygen from the respiratory organs to the tissues of internal organs, an insufficient amount of hemoglobin in the blood leads to oxygen starvation experienced by the body.

Constant weakness is inherent in vitamin deficiency– a disease indicating a lack of vitamins. This usually happens as a result of following strict and irrational diets, poor and monotonous nutrition.

Chronic fatigue

Chronic fatigue is the body's protective reaction to constant overload. And not necessarily physical. Emotional stress can deplete the nervous system no less. The feeling of fatigue can be compared to a stop valve that prevents the body from pushing itself to the edge.

A number of chemical elements are responsible for the feeling of good spirits and a surge of fresh strength in our body. Let's list just a few of them:

serotonin: with a lack of this neurotransmitter, a feeling of disharmony with the outside world arises; oxygen: its deficiency in tissues has a detrimental effect on performance and general well-being; iron: a lack of this trace element leads to weakness, lethargy, and chilliness; iodine: without the required volume of this substance, malfunctions occur in the “hormone factory” - the thyroid gland; vitamins C, D, B6, B1: acute deficiency provokes a weakened immune system, problems with concentration, memory, and mood.

More often, this disease affects residents of large cities who are engaged in business or other very responsible and stressful work, living in unfavorable environmental conditions, with unhealthy ambitions, constantly under stress, eating poorly and not playing sports.

Based on the above, it becomes clear why chronic fatigue has become epidemic in developed countries recently. In the USA, Australia, Canada, and Western European countries, the incidence rate of chronic fatigue syndrome ranges from 10 to 40 cases per 100,000 population.

CFS - chronic fatigue syndrome

Weakness is an integral symptom of physical and mental stress. Thus, among modern people who have to be exposed to enormous stress at work, the so-called. chronic fatigue syndrome.

Anyone can develop CFS, although it is more common in women. As a rule:

the disease most often occurs in people aged 28-45 years; women get sick 2 times more often than men; The risk group is people whose work is associated with constant stress, for example, journalists, businessmen, dispatchers, as well as those living in areas with poor environmental conditions (increased pollution with chemicals, high radiation pollution); in 99% of cases, chronic fatigue occurs in people who spend a long time in rooms that have artificial lighting; There is a direct relationship between jet lag in humans and the development of chronic fatigue syndrome.

This condition indicates extreme depletion of vitality. Weakness here arises as physical and emotional overload increases. Further, constant weakness and loss of strength are accompanied by a number of additional symptoms:

drowsiness; irritability; decreased appetite; dizziness; loss of concentration; absent-mindedness.

Reasons

Chronic lack of sleep. Overwork. Emotional stress. Viral infections. Situation.

Treatment

Comprehensive treatment is the main principle. One of the important conditions for treatment is also compliance with the protective regime and constant contact between the patient and the attending physician.

Today, chronic fatigue is treated using various methods of cleansing the body, special medications are administered to normalize the functioning of the central nervous system and brain activity, as well as to restore the functioning of the endocrine, immune and gastrointestinal systems. In addition, psychological rehabilitation plays an important role in solving this problem.

The treatment program for chronic fatigue syndrome must include:

normalization of rest and physical activity; fasting and dietary therapy; vitamin therapy with preparations of vitamins B1, B6, B12 and C; general or segmental massage together with hydrotherapy and physical therapy; autogenic training or other active methods of normalizing the psycho-emotional background, psychotherapy; general immunocorrectors with an adaptogenic effect; other auxiliary agents (daytime tranquilizers, enterosorbents, nootropic agents, antihistamines in the presence of allergies).

In addition to treatment from specialists, you can relieve fatigue with simple lifestyle tips. For example, try to regulate physical activity, balancing periods of sleep and wakefulness, do not overload yourself and do not try to do more than you can do. Otherwise, this may negatively affect the prognosis of CFS. Over time, periods of activity can be increased.

By properly managing your available resources, you will be able to do more things. To do this, you need to properly plan your schedule for the day and even a week in advance. By properly distributing things - rather than rushing to do as much as possible in a short period of time - you can make steady progress.

The following rules may also help:

avoid stressful situations; abstain from alcohol, caffeine, sugar and sweeteners; avoid any foods and drinks that cause a negative reaction in the body; eat small, regular meals to relieve nausea; get plenty of rest; Try not to sleep for long periods of time, as sleeping too much can worsen symptoms.

Folk remedies

St. John's wort. Take 1 cup (300 ml) of boiling water and add 1 tablespoon of dry St. John's wort to it. This infusion should be infused in a warm place for 30 minutes. Directions for use: 1/3 glass three times a day, 20 minutes before meals. Duration of treatment – ​​no more than 3 weeks in a row. Common plantain. You need to take 10 g of dry and thoroughly crushed plantain leaves and pour 300 ml of boiling water over them, leave for 30-40 minutes in a warm place. Directions for use: 2 tablespoons at a time, three times a day, half an hour before meals. Duration of treatment – ​​21 days. Collection. Mix 2 tablespoons of oats, 1 tablespoon of dried peppermint leaves and 2 tablespoons of tartar leaves. The resulting dry mixture is poured with 5 cups of boiling water and left for 60-90 minutes in a bowl wrapped in a terry towel. Scheme of use: by? glasses 3-4 times a day before meals. Duration of treatment – ​​15 days. Clover. You need to take 300 grams of dried meadow clover flowers, 100 grams of regular sugar and a liter of warm water. Put the water on the fire, bring to a boil and add the clover, cook for 20 minutes. Then the infusion is removed from the heat, cooled and only after that the specified amount of sugar is added to it. You need to take 150 ml of clover infusion 3-4 times a day, instead of tea/coffee. Lingonberries and strawberries. You will need 1 tablespoon of strawberry and lingonberry leaves - mix them and pour 500 ml of boiling water. Infuse the medicine in a thermos for 40 minutes, then drink a cup of tea three times a day.

Aromatherapy

When you need to relax or relieve stress, place a few drops of lavender oil on a handkerchief and inhale its scent. Smell a few drops of rosemary oil on a handkerchief whenever you feel mentally and physically tired (but not during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy). For chronic fatigue, take a relaxing warm bath by adding two drops each of geranium, lavender and sandalwood oil and one drop of ylang-ylang to the water. To lift your spirits when you're feeling depressed, inhale the scent of a mixture of oils applied to a handkerchief every morning and evening. To prepare it, mix 20 drops of clary sage oil and 10 drops each of rose oil and basil oil. Do not use sage and basil oils during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Flower essences are intended to relieve mental disorders and relieve emotional stress. These are especially helpful if you are depressed or have lost interest in life:

clematis (clematis): to be more cheerful; olive: for all types of stress; rosehip: for apathy; willow: if you are burdened by the lifestyle restrictions imposed by the disease.

Symptoms of weakness

Weakness is characterized by a decline in physical and nervous strength. She is characterized by apathy and loss of interest in life.

Weakness caused by the development of acute infectious diseases occurs suddenly. Its increase is directly related to the rate of development of the infection and the resulting intoxication of the body.

The nature of the appearance of weakness in a healthy person as a result of severe physical or nervous strain is associated with the amount of overload. Usually in this case, signs of weakness appear gradually, accompanied by loss of interest in the work being done, fatigue, loss of concentration and absent-mindedness.

Weakness caused by prolonged fasting or following a strict diet is of approximately the same nature. Along with this symptom, external signs of vitamin deficiency also appear:

pale skin; increased brittleness of nails; dizziness; hair loss, etc.

Treatment of weakness

Treatment of weakness should be based on eliminating the factor that provoked its appearance.

In the case of infectious diseases, the root cause is the action of an infectious agent. Here they apply appropriate drug therapy, supported by the necessary measures aimed at increasing immunity.

In a healthy person, weakness resulting from overwork eliminates itself. Basic control measures - good sleep and rest.

In the treatment of weakness caused by overwork, nervous overstrain, it is of great importance restoration of nervous strength and increased stability of the nervous system. For this purpose, therapeutic measures are aimed, first of all, at normalizing the work and rest regime, eliminating negative, irritating factors. Effective use of funds herbal medicine, massage.

In some cases, eliminating weakness will require diet correction, introducing into it foods rich in vitamins and essential microelements.

Questions and answers on the topic “Weakness”

Question:Good afternoon I am 55 years old. I have severe sweating, weakness, fatigue. I have hepatitis C, doctors say it is not active. A fist-sized ball is felt in the right side under the liver. I feel very bad, I often visit doctors, but to no avail. What to do? They send me for a paid examination, but there is no money, they don’t want to hospitalize me, they say that I’m still breathing, I haven’t fallen yet.

Answer: Hello. Complaints about poor quality medical care - Ministry of Health hotline: 8 800 200-03-89.

Question:I have been going to doctors for 14 years. I have no strength, constant weakness, my legs feel weak, I want and want to sleep. Thyroid is normal, hemoglobin is low. They picked him up, but didn’t find why. Sugar is normal, but sweat pours out like hail. I have no strength, I can lie all day. Help, advise what to do.

Answer: Hello. Have you consulted a cardiologist?

Question:Good afternoon Please tell me, I have cervical chondrosis, it often hurts in the back of the head and radiates to the frontal part, especially when I cough in the frontal part it gives pain. I'm scared that it could be cancer, God forbid. Thank you!

Answer: Hello. This is a manifestation of cervical chondrosis.

Question:Hello! Severe weakness, especially in the legs and arms, appeared suddenly, there are no headaches, there is anxiety and excitement. I saw an endocrinologist, a therapist, a cardiologist, did an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, took injections, but the condition was the same: either a strong heaviness appeared in the whole body, then it went away. Thank you!

Answer: Hello. If the endocrinologist, therapist and cardiologist did not find anything, then all that remains is to consult a neurologist to exclude circulatory disorders in the vessels of the spine and brain. If weakness appears due to stress or depression, see a psychotherapist.

Question:In the morning there is severe weakness, lack of appetite, everything shakes inside, the head seems to be in a fog, vision becomes distracted, there is no concentration, fear, depression about one’s condition.

Answer: Hello. There can be many reasons; you need to check your thyroid gland, hemoglobin and consult a neurologist and psychotherapist.

Question:Hello, for about 2 weeks I have been feeling weak in the evening, nausea, I don’t want to eat, and indifference to life. Tell me, what could it be?

Answer: Hello. There can be many reasons; you need to consult a therapist in person, who will refer you for examination.

Question:Hello, I’m 49, I’m doing fitness, working on my legs, but lately I’ve been losing strength and feeling dizzy. I sleep at least 8 hours, my hemoglobin is normal, I checked my thyroid, I take magnesium as prescribed, my blood pressure is low (all my life). Please advise what else needs to be checked.

Answer: Hello. You need an in-person consultation with a neurologist about dizziness.

Question:Hello, age 25 years old, female, severe weakness, dizziness, apathy for about a month, constantly want to sleep, no appetite. Tell me what to do?

Answer: Hello. If this occurs while taking medications, you should discuss this with your doctor; if not, you need an in-person consultation with a neurologist (dizziness).

Question:Hello, I have constant weakness in general, I can’t live normally, problems have started with my back and my life is downhill, I’m afraid that I won’t find a solution to the problem and I don’t know how to solve it, can you recommend anything? I am very excited, I live in fear, I am 20 years old, I am afraid of going crazy.

Answer: Hello. Constant weakness is a symptom of many diseases and conditions. You need to conduct an examination - take blood tests: general, biochemical, thyroid hormones and go to an in-person appointment with a therapist and psychologist.

Question:Hello! I am 22 years old. I've been feeling dizzy for about 4 days now. And it can be hard to breathe and due to all this I feel weak and tired. A week ago, for two days after a hard weekend, my nose was bleeding. Can you tell me what could be causing these problems? Thanks for the answer.

Answer: It is possible that you are overtired. Please tell me, have you recently had any situations when you slept poorly and little, or spent too much time at the computer? The symptoms you described may be due to increased blood pressure or intracranial hypertension. I recommend that you do an M-ECHO, EEG and consult a neurologist.

Question:For 3 months the temperature has been around 37, dry mouth, fatigue. Blood and urine tests are normal. Lately I have been suffering from sore throat frequently and have been treated with antibiotics.

Answer: This temperature is not considered elevated and, in the absence of complaints, does not require treatment, but if you are concerned about fatigue or dry mouth, you must undergo a series of examinations. I recommend that you do a bacteriological analysis (throat culture), a blood test for sugar, and a test for thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, T4, antibodies to TPO), since these symptoms can be a manifestation of many diseases. I also recommend that you do such a study, an immunogram, and visit an immunologist in person.

Question:Hello, I am 34 years old, female, for about 3 years I have had constant weakness, shortness of breath, and sometimes my arms and legs swell. There is no pain anywhere, dizziness is rare, gynecologically everything is fine, blood pressure is normal, only sometimes there is a temperature of 37.5 and above, without a cold, just like that. But the weakness has been getting worse lately, especially after sleep, and lately I can’t cure an acute respiratory infection or cold in any way; I’ve been coughing for a month or more (not strong). I won’t go to the doctors about this, I want to ask about it here. Is this chronic fatigue syndrome? And is there any way to get rid of this?

Answer: I advise you to undergo a comprehensive examination without fail, go to a clinic for autonomic disorders or to some psychosomatic clinic, where you will definitely be prescribed consultations with all specialists (psychiatrist, neurologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist). After the examination, the doctors will make a decision about you. Psychotherapy is mandatory in any case!

Question:Hello! I am 19 years old. Over the past week I have been feeling unwell. The stomach hurts, sometimes it radiates to the lower back, and sometimes there is mild nausea. Fatigue, loss of appetite (or rather, sometimes I want to eat, but when I look at the food I feel nauseous), weakness. What could this be connected with? My blood pressure is always low, and I have problems with the thyroid gland.

Answer: Perform a blood test, urine test, and a gynecological examination.

Question:Hello. I’m 22, and at work in the office I suddenly became ill. She felt dizzy and almost lost consciousness. No fever, cough, or runny nose. Not a cold. This didn't happen before. And I still feel weak. Lately I have noticed a tired state, after work I fall off my feet, although I work for 8 hours, not physically. I exclude pregnancy, because... I was menstruating. What tests would you recommend to take to determine what’s wrong?

Answer: Hello! Take a comprehensive blood test to rule out anemia first. Test your blood for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) on any day of your cycle. Monitor your blood pressure for several days to see if there is a decrease in pressure. If nothing comes to light, then additionally consult a neurologist to rule out circulatory disorders in the vessels of the spine and brain.

Increased appetite is a symptom that is characterized by excessive food consumption and can be a manifestation of both certain diseases and excessive physical activity, and certain physiological changes in the body. Also, increased appetite cannot be ruled out due to some psychological problems - strong, fear of dying from exhaustion. Increases appetite and taking certain medications.

Only a qualified doctor can establish the root cause of increased appetite in a child or adult, using the necessary laboratory and instrumental research methods. Self-medication and ignoring symptoms are unacceptable.

Etiology

Both external and internal factors can provoke the manifestation of such a symptom. External etiological factors include the following diseases:

• gastroenterological pathologies;
• problems with the thyroid gland;
• hormonal disorders;
• autoimmune diseases;
• malignant tumors;
• – in this case, despite the excessive appetite, the person will sharply lose weight;
• impaired metabolism.

External factors that can also provoke this clinical manifestation include:

• during early pregnancy, but late pregnancy is no exception;
• before menstruation and during ovulation;
• chronic stress, depression, constant nervous tension;
• physical or psychological fatigue is no exception;
• taking certain medications that cause hunger.

Increased appetite in older people may be due to memory problems, decreased concentration and diseases that are characterized by mental retardation. In this case, this will be due to the fact that the person simply forgets that he recently ate and against this background he may feel hungry.

Increased appetite during the postpartum period is due to the following:

• habit of eating more food during pregnancy;
• breast-feeding;
• features of the daily routine - frequent lack of sleep, constant tension, chronic fatigue.

Increased appetite in a child is often due to the following etiological factors:

• individual characteristics of the body;
• accelerated growth phase;
• puberty;
• recovery period after acute infectious diseases;
• in the hypothalamic region (it is this area that is responsible for the feeling of hunger);
• taking steroid drugs.

A qualified doctor can determine why a child or adult’s appetite increases through an appropriate examination. Based on this, it should be said that self-medication is unacceptable and can lead to the development of serious complications, including irreversible pathological processes.

Symptoms

There is no general clinical picture with increased appetite, since this is a clinical manifestation of a certain illness, and not a separate pathological process.

With excess thyroid hormones, increased appetite will be accompanied by the following clinical picture:

• visual enlargement of the thyroid gland;
• disruption of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• frequent, emotional instability;
• rapid physical fatigue, reduced performance;

In addition, women may experience changes in the menstrual cycle, and men may have problems with potency and...

Paradoxically, increased appetite can also be observed, however, in this case, we are not talking about all forms of this gastroenterological disease.

Increased appetite with gastritis can be caused by the uncontrolled secretion of gastric juice, the “” syndrome. In this case, the following clinical picture will be present:

• pain with gastritis can be localized in the pit of the stomach, which radiates to the back, but other localization of the unpleasant sensation is also possible;
• hunger pains – a person will feel severe discomfort with a long absence of food in the stomach;
• change in the act of defecation - prolonged or, on the contrary, severe attacks of diarrhea may be present;
• , sometimes with . This symptom most often appears after eating fatty, heavy foods;
• , with an unpleasant odor or air, depending on the form and severity of the disease;
• increased flatulence;
• a feeling of fullness in the stomach, regardless of the amount of food consumed.

Increased appetite, accompanied by loss of body weight, is a clear sign of helminthic infestations in the body, which will be characterized by the following clinical picture:

• paroxysmal;
• frequent attacks of nausea and vomiting;
• constipation alternates with bouts of diarrhea. Undigested food particles and third-party organisms may be present in the stool;
• almost constant feeling of fatigue;
• itching in the anus;
• pale skin;
• , in some cases.

Increased and even uncontrollable appetite can be present with severe stress, bulimia. In this case, the clinical picture will be characterized as follows:

• a person eats almost all the time, with the exception of sleep;
• high-calorie foods begin to predominate in the patient’s diet;
• isolation, depression;
• against the background of excessive food consumption, nausea and vomiting may occur, however, even after such reactions of the body, the person does not stop eating;
• the patient can swallow food without chewing;
• there are no restrictions on taste preferences;
• Bouts of overeating are especially intense at night.

It goes without saying that such a diet has an extremely negative effect on the state of the digestive system and leads not only to, but also other diseases of the cardiovascular system, pancreas, and musculoskeletal system.

Increased appetite can be a manifestation of cancer, in particular. In this case, the following clinic will be present:

• despite increased appetite, a person sharply loses weight;
• feeling of fullness and distension in the stomach;
• lack of pleasure from satiety;
• aversion to certain foods, which was not the case before;
• dull, pressing pain in the stomach area;
• change in the act of defecation - diarrhea is replaced by prolonged constipation;
• weakness, lethargy;
• increased body temperature;
• general malaise, irritability.

It should be noted that a similar clinical picture may be present in other gastroenterological diseases, and the nature of the pain is almost identical, therefore, you need to contact a doctor who will conduct an examination and establish an accurate diagnosis.

Appetite increases in people with a brain tumor, namely with the tumor localized in the hypothalamic region, which will be accompanied by the following clinical picture:

• headache and dizziness;
• frequent attacks of nausea, which are rarely accompanied by vomiting;
• psychological disorders - decreased cognitive skills, sudden mood swings, previously unusual behavior, aggression;
• visual and auditory hallucinations;
• change in taste preferences.

As the tumor grows, other areas of the brain will be affected, causing the development of related symptoms.

Excessive food consumption can be dictated by psychological problems (not to be confused with mental disorders). As a rule, in such cases there are no additional symptoms. In this way, a person can “seize” depression, nervous tension and personal problems, including fear. However, you need to understand that the presence of such a factor can lead to gastroenterological diseases and chronic overeating.

Increased appetite before menstruation and during early pregnancy may be a consequence of natural physiological changes in the body and does not pose a threat to life, but this does not mean that food consumption may be uncontrolled. The same applies to excessive amounts of food consumed during menopause or menopause, that is, a period of natural changes in the female body.