Health/Addiction: Stuff You Should Know

• Eating Disorders

Abnormal and unhealthy eating behaviors can develop from obsessive attitudes about food or body image. Some turn to food for comfort and end up consuming unhealthy amounts of food in a short period of time – BINGE EATING. others in search of the ‘perfect body” starve themselves or limit calories to an absurdly low level – ANOREXIA, or they practiced forced vomiting after eating and take diuretics or laxatives like candy – BULIMIA. People struggling with anorexia and bulimia also often become addicted to exercise.

So what are the risk factors of eating disorders? Here are just a few:

- Binge Eating – obesity, heart disease, liver and kidney problems, certain types of cancer, energy loss
- Anorexia – dry brittle bones, hair and nails, digestive problems, fainting, stunted growth, kidney failure
- Bulimia – inflammation of the esophagus due to frequent vomiting, dehydration, tooth and gums problems, heart problems that can lead to death.

• Nicotine

Smoking resulted in 4.9 million deaths in 2000. That number is expected to rise to 8.9 million by 2020. – (Action on Smoking and Heath, Australia 2003; WHO 2002)

Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, including ammonia (floor/toilet cleaner), arsenic (rat poison), formaldehyde (body tissue preserver), hydrogen cyanide (gas chamber poison). – (Surgeon General’s Report, US Government 1989)

“A cigarette is the only consumer product that when used as directed kills it consumers.” – (Dr. G.H Brundtland, Director – General Emeritus, WHO 2005)

Tobacco and puberty form a vicious link. Tobacco tends to be consumed more by the poor. In turn, it contributes to poverty through loss of income and loss of productivity due to ill-health and premature death.” – (Dr. S. Pilanbangchung – Regional Director, WHO – SEAR 2005)

• Substance Abuse

Drug abuse is the use of any chemical substance, which results in an individual’s physical, mental, emotional, or social impairment. These include anxiety, depression, paranoia, psychosis, respiratory tract infections, nose and mouth ulcerations and other systematic diseases. Other diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Septicemia can also result from needle sharing among users of injection-type drugs. Cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer and lung disease can occur when drugs are used as high doses or fter prolonged use, however, some may occur after just one use. – (CESAR TODESILLAS, The Manila Times, November 21, 2005)

2 million people die premature deaths each year due to alcohol and illicit drug use. These substances are responsible for about 9 percent of the total global burden of disease. – (Action on Smoking and Health 2006)

Warning signs of substance abuse:

- sudden change in their behavior – like wanting to be left alone, paranoia, change of sleep patterns, becoming easily irritated or secretive.

- physical changes such as dilated pupils, blood shot eyes, unsteady movements, weight loss, and neglect of personal hygiene.
(Cesar E. Todesillas, “A Time to Reflect on Our Drug – Abuse Problems”, “The Manila Times, 21 November 2005)