Whelehans Health Blog

Bulimia Nervosa (Part 4) Tips for family members Recovery takes years rather than weeks or months. Psychological treatment is core to treatment as patients must be convinced that they need to attain a normal weight. Progress should be monitored by weighing; monitoring needs to be managed skilfully so it does not become a battleground. Substance misuse (including alcohol, deliberate overdoses, use of laxatives or misuse of prescribed insulin) greatly increases risk. Weight fluctuations and binge-purge methods rather than pure starvation alone increases risk. Depression, anxiety, and family arguments are usually caused by the disorder (rather than these factors causing the...

Bulimia Nervosa (Part 3)   Causes Bulimia tends to develop slowly with the person gradually becoming more obsessive about their weight which can eventually lead it to get out of control. As with other eating disorders, bulimia can be associated with depression, low self-esteem, stress, misuse of alcohol and self-harm. Bulimia is often associated with other psychological problems. Research shows that bulimia is more common in people who have anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorders. There may be genetic link, for example, research suggests that people who have a close relative who has or has had bulimia...

Bulimia Nervosa (Part 2) Complications of bulimia In addition to the psychological effects causes and effects of anorexia and bulimia, physical complications can include:   Dental problems: Persistent vomiting (for those suffering from bulimia) causes stomach acid to damage the teeth enamel which can lead to tooth decay. Excessive vomiting can also cause bad breath and a sore throat.   Poor skin and hair: A lack of nutrients through malnutrition, persistent vomiting or laxative use can affect the health of skin and hair. It can cause skin and hair to become dry and fingernails to become brittle.   Irregular periods: The...

Bulimia Nervosa (Part 1) Bulimia nervosa is better known as bulimia is where people try control their weight by severely restricting the amount of food they eat, then binge eating and purging the food from their body by making themselves vomit or using laxatives.  Warning signs Signs include an obsessive and unhealthy attitude towards food and eating, being overcritical about weight and shape (even though not overweight) and frequent visits to the bathroom after eating, after which the person might appear flushed and have scarred knuckles (from forcing fingers down the throat to bring on vomiting).   Who is affected by bulimia...

Ozempic®: Part 6 How to use?   This is my final of 6 articles on Ozempic. If you missed any, you can find them on www.whelehans.ie. Ozempic pen is used for type 2 diabetes and weight loss. It is given by subcutaneous injections once a week starting with a lower dose and eventually increasing to the maintenance dose of 1mg weekly. It is easy to use and once shown, the patient can inject themselves weekly.   Step 1: What you need? The Ozempic pen, a new disposable needle (included in pack), an alcohol swab, and a sharps disposal container.  ...