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Abnormal heart rhythms and chest tightness
I am bulimic and have been for about 8 years now. Im 20 years old, am 5'9" about 110 lbs. I purge about 20 times a day. I have recently started feeling a tightness in my chest if I have to stand for long periods of time or am walking around alot. My arms start to tingle and I get light headed. This has been going on for about 2 months. Even more recently I have started experiencing a feeling like my heart is fluttering in my chest, accompanied by difficulty getting a deep enough breath and then followed by a feeling like my heart is racing. Im concerned that because of my eating disorder I could potentially be near to having a heart attack. Is this something I should be worried about? Or am i just overreacting?
Reminds me of Karen Carpenter who died from heart failure caused from her eating disorder. Not eating properly affects more than your weight. It affects all the organs of your body. Please check with your doctor. I hope you can find a balance between feeling good about yourself and feeling healthy too.
You are not overreacting, and are wise to be concerned and willing to seek advice.
With purging, fluid-electrolyte imbalance (especially potassium problems) as well as nutritional deficiencies can lead to dangerous heart arrhythmias. It is important to call your doctor and explain everything that's been going on, no holes barred. If he/she is not aware of how often you are purging right now and how you've been feeling, your current symptoms, etc., it's vital to let your doctor or the nurse know. Please make the call today.
My sister had anorexia nervosa and ended up hospitalized with a heart arrhythmia, after injuring herself from falling and hitting her head on a glass table. Her blood sugar was dangerously low and she could've died.
Take care.
---Yvette
With purging, fluid-electrolyte imbalance (especially potassium problems) as well as nutritional deficiencies can lead to dangerous heart arrhythmias. It is important to call your doctor and explain everything that's been going on, no holes barred. If he/she is not aware of how often you are purging right now and how you've been feeling, your current symptoms, etc., it's vital to let your doctor or the nurse know. Please make the call today.
My sister had anorexia nervosa and ended up hospitalized with a heart arrhythmia, after injuring herself from falling and hitting her head on a glass table. Her blood sugar was dangerously low and she could've died.
Take care.
---Yvette
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