How does anorexia affect ECG?

How does anorexia affect ECG?

Cardiovascular complications account for most of the morbidity and mortality associated with anorexia nervosa. Electrocardiography (ECG) can reveal evidence of sinus bradycardia, ST-segment elevation, T-wave flattening, low voltage, and rightward QRS axis, although these changes are clinically insignificant.

What happens to your heart when you have anorexia?

The heart specifically becomes smaller and weaker, making it more difficult to circulate blood at a healthy rate. Other affects of anorexia on the heart include: Abnormally slow heart rate (bradycardia) when weak heart muscles cannot pump at a healthy rate. Low blood pressure as a result of slow heart rate.

What lab results can indicate anorexia?

Possible explanations for abnormal blood results

• Sodium – Hyponatremia is common in patients with anorexia nervosa.
• Potassium – Hypokalemia is extremely common in anorexia nervosa purging subtype and severe bulimia nervosa.
• Urea – Low urea is commonin low weight patients due to general malnutrition.

Does anorexia cause tachycardia or bradycardia?

Bradycardia is a characteristic feature of anorexia nervosa particularly with significant weight loss. When anorexia nervosa patients present with nonspecific symptoms, resting tachycardia should prompt a search for potentially life-threatening conditions.

Why do anorexics get chest pains?

As patients with anorexia lose weight, they lose muscle mass, both of the skeletal and cardiac type. When patients lose cardiac muscle mass, they can develop mitral valve prolapse. This can give the symptom of sharp pain beneath the sternum.

What is refeeding syndrome in anorexia?

Refeeding syndrome (RS) is one of the serious complications during treatment of anorexia nervosa. It includes hormonal and metabolic changes that occur during the process of refeeding in chronically malnourished patient when nutrition is introduced in an excessive and improper amount.

Can malnutrition cause irregular heartbeat?

Key points. Anorexia nervosa can result in a slow or irregular heart beat as well as very low blood pressure.

What two 2 symptoms affecting the cardiovascular system can be attributed to anorexia nervosa?

Cardiac complications are the most common cause of death; the mortality rate is about 10%. Cardiac effects from anorexia nervosa include profound bradycardia, hypotension, decreased size of the cardiac silhouette, and decreased left ventricular mass associated with abnormal systolic function.

How do you diagnose anorexia nervosa?

The disorder is diagnosed when a person weighs at least 15% less than their normal/ideal body weight. Extreme weight loss in people with anorexia nervosa can lead to dangerous health problems and even death.

Can a doctor tell if I have an eating disorder?

But before a doctor can treat an eating disorder, they have to diagnose the condition. Some people may deny a problem. But certain symptoms can show that someone may have an issue with food. Doctors use physical and psychological evaluations to diagnose eating disorders.

Why does heart rate slow with anorexia?

The malnutrition associated with anorexia causes individuals to lose muscle mass. The heart, being a muscle itself, is impacted and shrinks. When this happens, the body will respond by slowing the heart rate to conserve energy.

Why does anorexia cause low heart rate?

Low heart rate and low blood pressure are among the ways that anorexia is detected and diagnosed. When the body is subjected to prolonged fasting or starvation, the body undergoes hormonal and metabolic changes to protect itself from muscle or tissue breakdown. One of those responses is a slowed heartbeat.

Which ECG findings are characteristic of unstable angina?

The ECG in unstable angina may show hyperacute T-wave, flattening of the T-waves, inverted T-waves, an ST depression. ST elevations indicate STEMI and these patients should be treated with percutaneous coronary intervention or thrombolytics while they wait on the availability of a catheterization lab.

How is unstable angina diagnosed and treated?

Unstable angina results from acute obstruction of a coronary artery without myocardial infarction. Symptoms include chest discomfort with or without dyspnea, nausea, and diaphoresis. Diagnosis is by ECG and the presence or absence of serologic markers. Treatment is with antiplatelet drugs, anticoagulants, nitrates, statins, and beta-blockers.

What are the electrocardiographic abnormalities of anorexia nervosa (AN)?

Electrocardiographic abnormalities in anorexia nervosa include sinus bradycardia, low-voltage rightward QRS axis, conduction disturbances including junctional rhythms, and QT-interval prolongation. QT prolongation has been reported independent of drugs or electrolyte abnormalities.

What is unstable angina (UA)?

Unstable angina (UA) is defined as myocardial ischaemia at rest or on minimal exertion in the absence of acute cardiomyocyte injury/necrosis. [1] Collet JP, Thiele H, Barbato E, et al. 2020 ESC guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation.