Unexplained
weight loss has many causes, medical and nonmedical. Often, a combination of
things results in a general decline in your health and a related weight loss.
Sometimes a specific cause isn't found.
Usually, an
unrecognized cancer will have other symptoms or abnormalities of laboratory
tests, in addition to unexplained weight loss
.
Losing
weight without dieting or increasing physical activity may be due to loss of
appetite or when you are consuming the same amount of calories as usual. Either
way, it is usually cause for concern.
Potential
causes of unexplained weight loss include:
Achalasia -
Achalasia affects the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the throat to
the stomach. Achalasia can cause considerable weight loss and malnutrition.
Addison's
disease (adrenal insufficiency) - This disease occurs when the adrenal cortex
is damaged and the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones called
cortisol and aldosterone. Unintentional weight loss is one of the symptoms of
this ailment.
Cancer -
Cancer can go undetected in early stages. All types of cancer may lead to weight
loss.
Celiac
disease - This is gluten intolerance. It is caused by an immune reaction to
gluten. Adults and children may have unexplained weight loss despite having a
normal appetite. This may be a symptom of celiac disease.
Changes in
diet or appetite. This may also include changes in sense of smell and taste.
Cirrhosis -
is a severe scarring and poor function of the liver. This may be due to
exposure toxins, alcohol, viral infection and certain types of medication.
Unintentional weight loss may be one of the symptoms of this condition.
COPD - COPD
refers to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is a long-term lung
disease. COPD patients require more energy just to breathe! An individual
without lung disease uses about 100 calories a day expanding and contracting
the muscles involved with breathing. A person with COPD, however, needs between
430 and 720 calories a day just for the work of breathing.
Crohn's
disease - Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The intestinal tract includes your mouth,
esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum, and anus. Maintaining healthy body weight is one of the bigger challenges of life with
Crohn’s disease.
Dementia -
During the later stages of dementia most people will become increasingly frail
due to the progression of the illness.
Dental
problems - There will be difficulty in eating certain types of food.
Depression -
It changes the eating and sleeping patterns in many patients.
Diabetic
hypoglycemia - When you have uncontrolled blood sugar, you may gain or lose
weight. Weight gain is more common with hypoglycemia, as the only treatment for
hypoglycemia is to eat.
Heart
failure - Heart failure is often associated with rapid changes in weight. These
can indicate changes in your condition and so need to be monitored carefully.
Losing a lot of weight unintentionally over a short space of time can be
serious.
HIV/AIDS -
This is a life-threatening disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus.
Hodgkin’s disease - This is a form of lymphoma, which is a blood cancer that starts
in the lymphatic system.
Hookworms -
These affect the lungs and small intestine. A person with a heavy infection may
experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue and
anemia.
Hypercalcemia
- Hypercalcemia is a condition in which the calcium level in your blood is
above normal. Too much calcium in your blood can weaken your bones, create
kidney stones, and interfere with the way your heart and brain works.
Unintended weight loss may be one of the symptoms of this condition.
Hyperthyroidism
(overactive thyroid) - The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland
located at the front of the neck below your Adam’s apple. It produces
tetraiodothyronine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), two hormones which control
how your cells use energy. The process by which cells use energy is called
metabolism.
Hypothyroidism
(underactive thyroid) - The throid glands do not produce adequate amount of T3
and T4.
Kidney
disease - Deterioration in kidney function can result in loss of weight.
Lukemia -
Cancer in the blood cells
Medications
– such as diet pills.
Nutritional deficiency or Malnutrition occurs when the body is not able to absorb the
required amount of nutrition from the daily food intake.
Parkinson's
disease - Weight loss is frequent in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Peptic ulcer
- These are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach, esophagus, and
small intestine. This may be due to erosion from stomach acids. In severe cases
the symptoms will include weight loss.
Substance
abuse (alcohol, cocaine, other) - Sudden weight loss or weight gain may be a physical warning signs of drug abuse.
Tuberculosis
- It is an infectious disease affecting the lungs. It shows symptoms of severe
and long-lasting cough, fever and night sweats. Weight loss is one of the
symptoms of this ailment.
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