Bulimia can be described as a disorder whereby the sufferer binge-eats and then uses some extreme measures such as vomiting to try and rid the body of the food eaten to prevent any weight gain. The symptoms of bulimia include a detrimental focus on weight or body shape, a sense of being unable to control food amounts eaten, taking laxatives or throwing up after eating (especially large amounts), and exercising to the extreme.

Bulimia

Individuals who are bulimic often go through cycles of weight loss and weight gain and can suffer from depression, dehydration, fatigue, anxiety, damage to the gums and/or teeth and persistent diarrhea. There is also the chance of developing problems with the bowels or kidney’s.

Bulimia is a disorder that is very often linked to stress, a low self esteem and emotional issues. It is generally thought to be more common than anorexia but at the same time is less noticeable because individuals who suffer from it usually remain at their average body weight. This is why the condition can go unnoticed for a long period of time.

Gender and the sexual orientation of an individual have been found to be linked to whether someone has an eating disorder.

When the body cannot use glucose efficiently due to lack of the hormone insulin or because any insulin available may not be working effectively, diabetes occurs. The body converts all glucose from food into energy and this glucose is found readymade in sweet or starchy foods like cakes and pasta. The liver can also make its own glucose.

Under normal circumstances, insulin created in the pancreas regulates the amount of glucose in the bloodstream, but when the body starts not being able to regulate the glucose levels, diabetes occurs.

Diabetes is a condition that has been recognized for over 3,500 years. What is interesting is that for all the people that actually have the condition, there are nearly another 33% that number again who have the condition but do not know it. Three-quarters of all diabetes sufferers are classed as having type 2 diabetes, with the remainder having type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The difference between these two types of diabetes is that in type 1 the body is incapable of producing insulin whereas in type 2, not enough insulin is produced. As a rule, type 1 usually manifests itself in childhood or early adulthood and can be treated using insulin injections and diet control. Type 2 diabetes usually affects people as they grow older, normally after forty years of age.

Diabetes Symptoms

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus which can lead to AIDS. There are many ways to contract this virus, with the most common being through unprotected sex and the sharing of needles.

People who are infected with HIV may initially not realize there is anything wrong with them as they do not show any symptoms. Nevertheless, some people tend to develop some flu like symptoms which can last for several weeks. Some of these symptoms may include fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, aching muscles and joints, rashes and swollen lymph glands.

HIV Virus Structure

When the virus enters the body, it takes residence in white blood cells that are known as CD4 lymphocytes. The virus takes total control of these cells and starts producing billions of replicas of itself every day.

Once infection of HIV occurs, the body starts to attack the virus and because of this the virus cannot make any copies of itself. This in turn leads to a false sense of wellness as although one would still have HIV, the infected person will begin to look and feel better. Unfortunately, during this period the virus is still attacking the lymph nodes, which are the body’s immune system center.

During the course of ten to fifteen years, the HIV manages to kill so many of the CD4 cells that the body no longer has the ability to fight off infections. Once the CD4 cell count drops below a certain number (200 or lower per mL – the average is 600 to 1000) the sufferer is classed as having AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Once a person has AIDS, the risk of infection form almost anything can cause fatal complications.

HIV Virus Cycle