Sunday, April 11, 2010

Recognize Signs and Symptoms of Malnutrition

Poor nutrition or malnutrition can be defined as poor nutritional intake. This can be caused by lack of food intake, choosing foods that are not appropriate or due to other reasons such as infectious disease that causes less absorption of nutrients from food. Clinically severe malnutrition characterized by intake of protein, energy and micro nutrients such as vitamins that are not sufficient or excessive resulting in health problems.

Differences in malnutrition and hunger

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Malnutrition is different from hunger. People who suffer from hunger is usually due to not getting enough food and suffer hunger in the long term may be headed toward malnutrition. However, people who eat a lot without realizing it can also be malnourished if they do not eat foods that contain nutrients, vitamins and minerals is sufficient. Thus malnutrition can actually be experienced by anyone, without knowing the structure of social and economic factors
People who suffer from malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies that will be needed by the body to grow or to maintain health. Someone can be exposed to malnutrition in the long term or short with a light or heavy conditions. Malnutrition can affect physical and mental health. People who suffer from malnutrition would be easy to hit by the disease or even died from side effects. Children who suffer from malnutrition may also be disrupted growth, they usually do not grow like it should (dwarf) with below normal weight.

Causes of Malnutrition

People will suffer malnutrition if not able to benefit from the foods they consume, for example in patients with diarrhea, excessive nutrients, or due to an unbalanced diet, so do not get enough calories and protein for body growth.
Some people can suffer from malnutrition due to experiencing a particular disease or condition that causes the body is unable to digest or absorb food properly. For example in patients with celiac disease who experience gastrointestinal disturbances, triggered by a protein that is widely available on gluten flour. Celiac disease affects the body's ability to absorb nutrients resulting in deficiency.
Then there is also disease cystic fibrosis affects the pancreas, whose function is to produce an enzyme needed to digest food. Likewise, people with lactose intolerance are hard to digest milk and other dairy products.
Here are some factors that could cause malnutrition:

    
* A diet that is not balanced nutritional content
    
* There are problems in the digestive system
    
* The presence of certain medical conditions
As mentioned earlier, malnutrition can occur if the body does not get enough food and nutrients, such as in cases of starvation. 1 type of vitamin deficiency can also be categorized as poor nutrition. In some cases of malnutrition can show very mild symptoms or no symptoms. But in other cases of severe malnutrition can cause permanent organ damage although it has been saved.
Currently malnutrition remains a significant problem worldwide, especially in children. Poverty, natural disasters, political problems and wars can lead to malnutrition and starvation, and even anywhere in the world.

Signs and Symptoms of Malnutrition

Malnutrition can affect the health of the body both physically and mentally. The more severe conditions suffered malnutrition (nutrition more or less) will increase the risk of physical health problems.
In severe malnutrition such as marasmus cases can occur (weak muscles) due to protein and energy deficiency, cretinism and brain damage due to iodine deficiency, blindness and the risk of infectious diseases that increase due to defisensi vitamin A, it is difficult to concentrate due to iron deficiency.
Signs and symptoms of malnutrition depend on the type of nutritional deficiency. However, common symptoms of malnutrition are:

    
* Fatigue and lack of energy
    
* Dizziness
    
* Low immune system (resulting in difficulties for the body fight infection)
    
* Skin that is dry and scaly
    
* Swollen and bleeding gums
    
* Tooth decay
    
* It's hard to concentrate and have a slow reaction
    
* Weight loss less
    
* Slow Growth
    
* Weakness in the muscles
    
* Abdominal bloating
    
* Bones are easily broken
    
* There are problems with organ function

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When a pregnant woman suffered severe malnutrition, the possibility his son would be born with low weight and are at risk for not surviving. The children who experience malnutrition are also often difficult to follow the lessons in school.

Malnutrition Handling

To diagnose the occurrence of malnutrition, the doctor usually will do:

    
* Checking the patient's height and weight to determine BMI (body mass index)
    
* Conducting blood tests to see abnormalities
    
* Conduct inspection X-ray to check if there are abnormalities in bone and other organs
    
* Checking for disease or other conditions that can lead to malnutrition
For the handling of malnutrition. Usually a doctor or nutritionist will suggest to dietary adjustments, including the type and amount of food. If needed can also be given vitamin supplements or vitamins to help meet the needs of those less. If the causes of malnutrition due to disease or certain medical conditions then, other therapies are advised to handle it.

source : http://medicastore.com

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