ISLAMABAD, (National Times) – Polyphagia is a medical term describing excessive hunger or appetite. It also leads to a strong drive for overeating.<\/p>\n
This could lead to a binge eating disorder. Many different health conditions can cause a person to develop polyphagia, but it commonly has links to diabetes.<\/p>\n
People with polyphagia may not feel full after eating a large amount of food.<\/p>\n
Polyphagia is one of three main signs that may indicate if someone has diabetes. The other two signs include polydipsia, which refers to excessive thirst, and polyuria, which involves frequent and excessive urination.<\/p>\n
Diagnosing and treating polyphagia typically depends on the underlying cause. For example, it may involve managing uncontrolled diabetes, if the person has it.<\/p>\n
Another name for this condition is hyperphagia.<\/p>\n
What is polyphagia?<\/p>\n
Polyphagia describes excessive hunger or increased appetite. It can lead to an extreme drive to consume larger quantities of food than individuals typically would.<\/p>\n
For example, it can occur when a person has uncontrolled diabetes. A lot of sugar, or glucose, builds up in the blood, and an individual subsequently passes it in their urine. This can also mean that the person loses energy they would have otherwise received from the sugar.<\/p>\n
Therefore, someone experiences extreme hunger and eats a lot of food to compensate for the lost sugar.<\/p>\n
Polyphagia may have links to polydipsia in a person with diabetes. Polydipsia means drinking excessive amounts of fluid. As the kidneys produce more urine to get rid of the sugar from the blood, the person gets thirsty and needs to drink more water than typical.<\/p>\n
There are various conditions that can cause polyphagia.<\/p>\n
Causes<\/p>\n
Polyphagia can present as a symptom of several medical conditions relating to both mental and physical health.
\nDiabetes<\/p>\n
There are different types of diabetes, including type 1 and type 2.<\/p>\n
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmuneTrusted Source condition that stops the body from making insulin altogether. Conversely, type 2 diabetes refers to insulin resistance, which means cells in the body do not produce a typical response to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas works harder to make more insulin but then eventually stops.<\/p>\n
Insulin is essential for survival because it allows sugar from the blood to enter the body\u2019s cells, which need the substance as an energy source. Without adequate levels of insulin, excess sugar stays in the blood. Over time, this can lead to heart, kidney, and eye disease.<\/p>\n
Apart from polyphagia, other symptoms of diabetes includeTrusted Source:<\/p>\n
\u2022 urinating a lot, often at night<\/p>\n
\u2022 extreme thirst<\/p>\n
\u2022 unintentional weight loss<\/p>\n
\u2022 blurred vision<\/p>\n
\u2022 numbness or tingling in the hands or feet<\/p>\n
\u2022 extreme tiredness<\/p>\n
\u2022 slow wound healing<\/p>\n
\u2022 getting more infections than usual<\/p>\n
Type 1 diabetes may also causeTrusted Source nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains.<\/p>\n
Hypoglycemia<\/p>\n
Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar.<\/p>\n
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), when blood sugar falls below 70 milligrams per deciliterTrusted Source, doctors call it hypoglycemia. Typically, blood sugar levels fluctuate throughout the day.<\/p>\n
People with type 1 diabetes are more likely to have hypoglycemia, but not everyone reacts to low blood sugar in the same way.<\/p>\n
It is important to know the signs of hypoglycemia. Without intervention, this event can lead to serious health consequences.<\/p>\n
Some symptoms of hypoglycemia include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 fast heartbeat<\/p>\n
\u2022 shaking<\/p>\n
\u2022 sweating<\/p>\n
\u2022 nervousness or anxiety<\/p>\n
\u2022 irritability or confusion<\/p>\n
\u2022 dizziness<\/p>\n
\u2022 hunger<\/p>\n
Learn more about how a person can rescue their blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n
Hyperthyroidism<\/p>\n
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland within the neck. It produces thyroid hormones that regulateTrusted Source metabolism. Metabolism refers to how a person converts food and drink into energy. This means it can affect all organs and various processes in the body.<\/p>\n
Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid overproduces hormones, which can cause an atypical response and increased metabolism. Without treatment, it can cause serious health problems, such as:<\/p>\n
\u2022 blood clots<\/p>\n
\u2022 stroke<\/p>\n
\u2022 Graves\u2019 ophthalmopathy, an eye disease<\/p>\n
\u2022 osteoporosis, or weak bones<\/p>\n
\u2022 muscle problems<\/p>\n
\u2022 menstrual fertility<\/p>\n
\u2022 fertility problems<\/p>\n
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 weight loss despite an increased appetite<\/p>\n
\u2022 rapid or irregular heartbeat<\/p>\n
\u2022 irritability<\/p>\n
\u2022 trouble sleeping<\/p>\n
\u2022 fatigue<\/p>\n
\u2022 shaky hands, muscle weakness<\/p>\n
\u2022 sweating or difficulty tolerating heat<\/p>\n
\u2022 frequent bowel movements<\/p>\n
\u2022 swelling of the neck, called a goiter<\/p>\n
Premenstrual syndrome<\/p>\n
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) commonlyTrusted Source occurs between ovulation and the start of the next menstrual cycle. Symptoms can be severe for some people, but others may experience no or only mild symptoms.<\/p>\n
The dramatic fall in estrogen and progesterone following ovulation may cause PMS.<\/p>\n
Some symptoms of PMS includeTrusted Source:<\/p>\n
\u2022 cramping<\/p>\n
\u2022 headache<\/p>\n
\u2022 swollen or tender breasts<\/p>\n
\u2022 digestive problems, such as constipation, diarrhea, or bloating<\/p>\n
\u2022 clumsiness<\/p>\n
\u2022 lower tolerance for noise or light<\/p>\n
\u2022 tiredness<\/p>\n
\u2022 irritability<\/p>\n
\u2022 appetite changes or food cravings<\/p>\n
\u2022 difficulty concentrating or remembering things<\/p>\n
\u2022 anxiety<\/p>\n
\u2022 mood changes<\/p>\n
\u2022 loss of interest in sex<\/p>\n
Binge eating disorder<\/p>\n
Binge eating can causeTrusted Source a person to eat a large amount of food in a short time, and they may feel unable to control what or how much they eat. Having a binge eating disorder means that a person experiences distress due to binge eating.<\/p>\n
Eating excess amounts of food is not necessarily a sign of a disorder. However, if a person binges at least once a week for 3 months and does not feel in control of their eating, they may have binge eating disorder. It is important to speak with a doctor if a person has concerns that they or someone they know may have this condition.<\/p>\n
Some symptoms include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time, such as within 2 hours<\/p>\n
\u2022 feeling a lack of control over eating \u2014 for example, if a person cannot stop eating or control what or how much they are eating<\/p>\n
\u2022 eating more quickly than usual during \u201ca binge episode\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 eating until uncomfortably full<\/p>\n
\u2022 eating large amounts of food even when not hungry<\/p>\n
\u2022 eating alone due to embarrassment about the amount of food they consume<\/p>\n
Other conditions<\/p>\n
Some other causes of polyphagia may include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety<\/p>\n
\u2022 certain types of medications, such as corticosteroids<\/p>\n
\u2022 stress<\/p>\n
\u2022 bulimia<\/p>\n
\u2022 rare medical conditions, such as Prader-Willi Syndrome and Kleine-Levin Syndrome<\/p>\n
Diagnosis<\/p>\n
Polyphagia can indicate an underlying health problem. Therefore, a doctor will check for other symptoms a person may be experiencing and how long they have been experiencing this condition. They may also ask about an individual\u2019s diet.<\/p>\n
Doctors may order the following:<\/p>\n
\u2022 thyroid function tests to assess if thyroids are functioning well<\/p>\n
\u2022 blood glucose tests to assess if someone has diabetes or other conditions<\/p>\n
\u2022 other tests to rule out other medical conditions<\/p>\n
Treatment<\/p>\n
Treatment for polyphagia will depend on the underlying cause.<\/p>\n
Doctors may prescribe medications and advise on making certain lifestyle changes to help manage physical conditions, such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism.<\/p>\n
If a person\u2019s polyphagia is a symptom of a mental health condition, doctors may refer people to a mental health specialist.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD, (National Times) – Polyphagia is a medical term describing excessive hunger or appetite. It also leads to a strong drive for overeating. This could lead to a binge eating disorder. Many different health conditions can cause a person to develop polyphagia, but it commonly has links to diabetes. People with polyphagia may not feel […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n