Causes of Starvation Symptoms, Starved Effects, Emaciation Treatment
Starvation is the most extreme form of malnutrition. It is a result of very little or complete lack of nutrition that’s required for survival.
Starvation amounts to your body being deprived of energy, nutrients and vitamins. And being starved for a lengthy period causes permanent organ damage. Then death if your starved dietary status is not remedied.
The wasting effect of general starvation causes emaciation. Being emaciated is an extreme loss of fat resulting in abnormal leanness due to prolonged under-nutrition.
The basic cause of starvation is an imbalance between energy in versus energy used. More energy spent than consumed can be due to a number of reasons, such as:
- coma
- stroke
- fasting
- poverty
- depression
- gastrointestinal disease
- eating disorders ~ anorexia nervosa, bulimia
- circumstances causing an inability to obtain food ~ famine, war, natural disasters, overpopulation
Your body will combat starvation by breaking down adipose tissue, muscle and eventually organ tissue for energy. Emaciation can reach the point of losing half your normal body weight.
Symptoms of starvation include:
- edema
- anemia
- irritability
- weakness
- dehydration
- skin rashes
- chronic diarrhea
- dry, cracked skin
- immune deficiency
- decreased sex drive
- loss of muscle mass
- difficulty concentrating
- extreme cold intolerance
- lowered body temperature
- digestion problems caused by reduced acid production
- vital organ shrinkage & function loss ~ heart, lungs, ovaries, testes
Death from starvation usually occurs within 3 months.
Vitamin deficiencies are commonly caused by starvation, often these starved effects result in:
- vitamin K ~ blood clotting effect
- vitamin B6 ~ blood formation effect
- riboflavin deficiency causes skin rash, anemia, sore mouth & throat
- vitamin B12 ~ nervous system working properly, blood formation effected
- marasmus ~ not enough energy consumed causes skinniness, stunted growth
- kwashiorkor ~ protein lacking causes enlarged liver, edema, growth retardation
- beriberi ~ thiamine deficiency causes heart failure, edema, brain & nerve disease
- rickets, osteomalacia ~ vitamin D, calcium deficiency causes bone density problems
- vitamin A deficiency causes loss of night vision, blindness due to effect of keratomalacia
- scurvy ~ lack of vitamin C causes hair damage, gum disease, poor wound healing, under skin, in muscles & joint bleeding
- pellegra ~ niacin deficiency causes diarrhea, skin rashes, brain function issues, trouble swallowing, tongue, mouth & vaginal irritation
Generally, these starved effects are found where food variety is limited.
In the final stage of starvation, you may experience:
- infections
- convulsions
- hallucinations
- severe muscle pain
- heart rhythm irregularity
Emaciation treatment involves a gradual reintroduction of solid food because your intestines may not be able to tolerate much. A liquid formula consisting of dried skim milk, oil and sucrose plus electrolyte, mineral and vitamin supplements is recommended to initially treat the starved. Gradually, adding solid foods.
You can consume ample amount of food, yet your body can be starved of necessary energy, nutrients and vitamins. So, make consuming a healthy diet a priority.
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