Bulimia affects different organs. And the longer you have bulimia, the more organs will be affected and damaged.
The organs that suffer the most are: heart, kidney, brain, digestive system, bones, skin and endocrine glands.
The heart is damaged by the constant electrolyte imbalances caused by continuous purging and becomes weaker the longer the bulimia continues. Some people can even die from this complication when a weak heart goes into “heart block.” This is when the heart suddenly stops beating due to an extremely low deficiency of potassium or another mineral induced by vomiting and laxative abuse.
Kidney damage is very common among long-term bulimics. The kidneys are organs that normally correct mineral abnormalities in the body. But when a person’s mineral balance is constantly disturbed, as in the case of bulimia, the kidneys are under enormous pressure to correct it and eventually become damaged.
The brain also suffers from the moment bulimia begins. People have distorted thought patterns like depression and anxiety. The longer bulimia lasts, the stronger the addiction to bingeing and purging becomes. Long-term effects of bulimia brain damage include suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and other self-harm symptoms. Impulsive behavior may occur and people may become less responsible for their actions.
The digestive system is also severely affected. The stomach experiences delays in emptying its food contents and people suffer from pain in the abdominal area, bloating, acid reflux, stomach ulcers and esophageal problems.
In cases of long-term bulimia, patients lose the feeling of hunger or satiety. Sometimes their taste is distorted, causing them to eat strange food combinations or experience cravings (for example, cravings for very salty or sour things).
Bones become weak due to the development of low bone density after many years of bulimia. People can and do complain about pain in their bones, plus they are in a lot of pain and bones can break even with the slightest stress or pressure.
The skin loses its youthful appearance even at a relatively young age. Dry skin, skin inflammation, abnormal irritation, and continuous pimples are common problems for bulimics.
Hair loss due to mineral and protein depletion is inevitable in long-term bulimia.
The endocrine glands eventually stop working properly and produce fewer hormones than the body needs: this causes a person to age rapidly and lose muscle tone.
Menstruation becomes irregular or stops and because of this a woman is unable to conceive and have a baby.
In short, the long-term effects of bulimia nervosa can be extremely dangerous. And treatment for this disorder becomes more complicated the longer it goes on.
The best way to prevent these dangerous effects from occurring is to treat the disease as soon as possible.
It is best to start educating yourself and your family on what to do and what to change at home to help the victim. Home and family support has been shown to be the best way to treat this condition. But it has to be the right help and the right support.