What is hyperphagia?
hyperphagia is a condition in which the desire to eat suddenly increases. It could be a physical urge or increase in appetite could be the result of an emotional problem. The condition may take a longer period of time without interruption or may disappear at intervals before rediscovery.
One of the main physical causes of hyperphagia may be hyperthyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too high hormone levels. These hormones are primarily responsible for metabolism, a chemical process that covers calories from food to usable energy. A person whose thyroid produces a large number of hormones can feel much more starving than usual, because his body believes that he needs more food for energy.
Another possible physical cause of hyperphagia is hypoglycaemia, a health condition that causes unusually low amounts of sugar in the bloodstream. The body acquires most of its energy from the sugar in the bloodstream so that it has a lower blood sugar level than usually can leadThe body longs for more food to gain more energy. Hypoglycaemia can be caused by kidney disease, alcoholism, pancreatic tumors, diabetes or starvation.
hyperphagia can also be a side effect of some drugs. Cyproheptadine, a medicine used to alleviate allergic symptoms, can increase appetite. Medicines used to control inflammation associated with asthma and arthritis, known as corticosteroids, can also cause hunger feelings as a side effect. Antidepressant drugs can also cause to increase appetite for some users.
Some mental health conditions can lead to hyperphagia. Anxiety disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and phobia, can cause the suffering to feel hunger and turn to food as a means to feel less nervous or stressed. Bulimia is a food intake disorderCH person systematically consumes a large amount of food and then cleans it by vomiting or bowel movements. People with bulimia can start eating more often for eating and getting into constant eating.
people suffering from hyperphagia can be treated if their doctors discover the basic condition that causes the condition. If hunger is a side effect of the drug, one can cooperate with a doctor to develop a low -calorie diet plan to prevent weight gain, especially if the drug interruption is not a safe choice. Regarding emotional or mental health problems that contribute to increasing appetite, therapy can be useful in teaching patients how to deal with their problems without using food and how to distinguish between physical hunger and mental urge to eat.