4 Causes of Unexplained Weight Loss
Unexpected changes in your work and personal life can alter your body in unimaginable ways. If you are losing weight without trying, it may be a cause for concern. Stress, anxiety, or an underlying condition might be to blame. See a doctor immediately if you noticed more than a 5% weight loss between 6 to 12 months.
Mention any drastic changes to your physician. And notify us when you are visiting a chiropractor near LAX or participating in weight management programs. In this blog, we detail four possible medical conditions.
- Muscle Loss
Experiencing weakness? If you notice that your limbs look smaller than usual, it could indicate muscle wasting (loss). The body is composed of fat mass, including muscle, water, and bones. Losing too much unnaturally is harmful to your health. It is most likely to occur in people that:
- Do not exercise
- Work a desk job
- Bedridden
Visiting a physical therapist at our LAX chiropractic center is a great option to rebuild your strength. We offer targeted treatments and exercises to improve your mobility and help build back tissue. Other causes include:
- Broken bones
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Nerve damage
- Stroke
- Aging
- Depression
Weight loss is one of many side effects of depression. Individuals experiencing sadness, loss, or emptiness for a period can see a drastic impact on their body mass. Symptoms vary per person, including:
- Little to no appetite
- Loss of interests
- No energy
- Oversleeping or Insomnia
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Sadness
Doctors recommend anti-depressants and therapy to treat depression. Many patients also incorporate our elite chiropractic acupuncture to boost endorphins (feel-good hormones) and release pent-up emotions.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease. Instead of the immune system working to protect your body, it attacks the lining of your joints. According to Healthline, 41 out of 100,000 people are diagnosed with RA annually. Internally the inflammation quickens the metabolism rate and reduces weight.
Outside of weight, patients may schedule a routine chiropractic appointment to minimize painful joint swelling. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, it is easy to go undiagnosed. Sometimes people with onset RA feel stiffness when their hand doesn’t move for minutes to an hour. Contributing factors are:
- Age
- Genes
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is known for causing unwanted weight loss. The immune system attacks pancreatic cells that make insulin. With such a loss of insulin, the body cannot make glucose for the energy needed to keep and stay active. With such high blood glucose levels passing through the body, sugar and calories are unlikely to retain. It also causes:
- Dehydration
- Fatigue
- Blurry Vision
- Increased thirst
- Increased hunger
Paired with the necessary treatment, weight management programs can help manage treatments and keep diabetes under control.
Try Not to Ignore the Warning Signs
In this blog, we briefly list four out of many possible causes of unexplained weight loss. It is natural for your weight to fluctuate. But unexpectedly losing or gaining too much too soon is harmful.
If you are looking for elite chiropractic care, contact the physical therapy specialists at Advanced Spine & Sports.