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my legs seriously wont stop shaking. im not cold anymore, so im not shivering, but my legs are shaking pretty badly. it unnerving. does anyone know a possible cause, or have you experienced this? i havent been eating that much, but more than normal so i dont think its from starving...but who knows.
One of the most serious effects of anorexia are hormonal changes, which can have severe health consequences:
Reproductive hormones, including estrogen and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), are lower. Estrogen is important for healthy hearts and bones. DHEA, a weak male hormone, may also be important for bone health and for other functions.
Thyroid hormones are lower.
Stress hormones are higher.
Growth hormones are lower. Children and adolescents with anorexia may experience retarded growth.
The result of many of these hormonal abnormalities in women is long-term, irregular or absent menstruation (amenorrhea). This can occur early on in anorexia, even before severe weight loss. Over time this causes infertility, bone loss, and other problems. Low weight alone may not be sufficient to cause amenorrhea. Extreme fasting and purging behaviors may play an even stronger role in hormonal disturbance.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the most common medical cause of death in people with severe anorexia. The effects of anorexia on the heart are as follows:
Dangerous heart rhythms, including slow rhythms known as bradycardia, may develop. Such abnormalities can show up even in teenagers with anorexia.
Blood flow is reduced.
Blood pressure may drop.
The heart muscles starve, losing size.
Cholesterol levels tend to rise.
A primary danger to the heart is from abnormalities in the balance of minerals, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, which are normally dissolved in the body's fluid. The dehydration and starvation that occurs with anorexia can reduce fluid and mineral levels and produce a condition known as electrolyte imbalance. Electrolytes (e.g., calcium and potassium) are critical for maintaining the electric currents necessary for a normal heartbeat. An imbalance in these electrolytes can be very serious and even life threatening unless fluids and minerals are replaced. Heart problems are a particular risk when anorexia is compounded by bulimia and the use of ipecac, a drug that causes vomiting.
Long-Term Outlook on Fertility
After treatment and an increase in weight, estrogen levels are usually restored and periods resume. In severe anorexia, however, even after treatment, normal menstruation never returns in 25% of such patients.
If a woman with anorexia becomes pregnant before regaining normal weight, she faces a higher risk for miscarriage, cesarean section, and for having an infant with low birth weight or birth defects. She is also at higher risk for postpartum depression.
Women with anorexia who seek fertility treatments have lower chances for success.
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