It is recognized that bulimia can at times result in death if it is not treated and allowed to continue. Bulimia is well recognized, and it is known by over eating binges and inflicting oneself to purge. Other ways of purging involve using laxatives or maybe diuretics. The distortion consists of feeling fat when oftentimes that is not the case. Several features about the beliefs include remarkably negative feelings when it comes to weight and food. A widespread time frame for bulimia to appear is shortly once puberty occurs, perhaps several years following this change. Several additional psychological components include social pressures at school and feelings of depression.The untreated bulimic can experience life threatening lack of adequate nutrition and excessive loss of fluids. This disorder can strike almost anyone if the circumstances are right, and some well-known women have passed on from the effects of bulimia. For example, the very successful singer from the 70s, Karen Carpenter, battled bulimia for some time. Her condition affected her heart a great deal and it simply killed her. Bulimia can be successfully taken care of, but clearly it is of critical necessity to begin treatment immediately.

However, the untreated problem can result in severe deficiencies of vitamins and minerals which lead to other complications. In cases where heavy use of laxatives is involved, then that may make the person badly constipated. Other related side effects are deterioration to throat and mouth structure from the stomach acid. In addition, that acid will cause early tooth decay and perhaps serious difficulties involving the gums. Needless to say life threatening conditions involve heart and kidney impairment. What happens is the constant loss of fluids will produce perilously low levels of electrolytes within the body. Extreme decrease in electrolytes for too much of a period may cause heart attack and death. The death rate due to bulimia is actually calculated to generally be in the area of ten percent of the total.

Successful treatment of this disorder involves the patient and family unit, family doctors, and professional psychiatric or psychological guidance and treatment. Frequently the patient will be under the proper care of a registered dietician, and that is so a healthy and balanced diet can be accessible. Professional mental health care will work to get rid of the pattern of binging and purging. Added efforts will center on education and understanding of the dangerous nature of bulimia. Very often there are specific issues in the patient's life, and they will be dealt with, too. A high percentage of bulimics will need to learn how to express themselves and what's on their minds with others, and that will help in the recovery progression.

Bulimia is usually dealt with, but there has to be immediate intervention. Another critical area is having strong support from the immediate relatives. Other very helpful approaches for gaining help from others includes group therapy. Even so, the critical first step is for the bulimic person to admit to the problem. The understanding must exist that one's perspective and view concerning eating is distorted and causing this problem.