Are you hungry? It doesn't have to be a reason to rejoice, serious illnesses can be behind loss of appetite
There are plenty of reasons why you're suddenly hungry. From the completely innocent ones to the ones you'd better see a specialist about. By the way, if you are experiencing a prolonged loss of appetite, i.e. one that lasts for three days or more, a visit to the doctor should be a matter of course, as it may be a serious illness. But we won't skip now, it's time to look at the reasons, roughly graded according to their degree of "innocence".
Heat
Summer temperatures really aren't the kind of weather where everyone enjoys a stew with six and heavy cream cakes. "When we eat and digest, it warms our bodies up," says dietitian Kacie Vavrek. "It's no wonder we subconsciously crave to get hotter. As a result, people generally have smaller appetites in the summer than in the winter and are more likely to skip certain meals."
Colds
Even in today's weather, we can easily catch the "man's deadly disease on all fours", just by a sharp change in temperature or by staying in air-conditioned rooms. And it is the cold in full swing that takes away not only a person's zest for life, but also his appetite for food. According to Dr. Jeremy Korman, this is due to an autoimmune process where white blood cells release substances called cytokines. While these help the body fight infection, they also cause fatigue, drowsiness and loss of appetite. "It's not rare to lose weight during a common viral illness," adds Dr. Korman.
Medications
You don't exactly have to swallow Adipex to lose your appetite. Many types of prescription drugs have appetite suppressants in their side effects. These include the stronger pain relievers with codeine and some antibiotics. So look at the package insert and pay attention to how your medication affects your stomach. Often those that the leaflet says may cause, for example, diarrhoea or stomach pain, will cause anorexia, even if these symptoms do not occur on their own.
Stress
Stress and anxiety affect everyone a little differently. While some people get into the habit of 'sugar coating their nerves' and having a second dinner at 10pm, others lose their appetite almost completely. According to Harvard Health, the adrenaline production associated with these unpleasant conditions is to blame. It is adrenaline, among other things, that suppresses appetite. However, as the Cleveland Clinic writes, adrenaline production is usually only short-lived, soon followed by hormones that, in turn, stimulate the desire to gorge on whatever good food we can get our hands on.
Serious illness
Unexpectedly rapid weight loss, loss of appetite and lack of appetite can also be symptoms of some serious diseases. As we pointed out at the beginning, if you're not hungry for three days or more and it's not the heat, a cold or even a deadline week at work, it's time to see a doctor. Maybe your reduced appetite has another, completely innocent explanation, but it could also be a sign of incipient diabetes, thyroid problems, or even cancer. That's why it's better to get tested rather than just indulge in "at least I'll look good in a swimsuit". However, Men's Health points out that in similar states of inappetence, you don't lose fat, you lose muscle. As you know, gaining those back is a chore.
At the same time, you shouldn't succumb to the old wives' tale advice popular among alternative medicine fans. If you are hungry, it means that you are really hungry and your body needs nutrients. It doesn't mean you're tired, it doesn't mean you should drown out your hunger with an intense warm-up, and it doesn't mean your chakras are misaligned. Trust your body.
