Consequences and complications of overeating

The consequences of excessive love for food have a negative impact on the nervous system and psyche. In any case, if episodes of gluttony have become a part of your life, you should consult a specialist.

Is it possible to gain weight in one day of overeating?

Most often, attacks of gluttony occur during the holidays, when the abundance of various dishes and products leads to a violation of the usual diet. First of all, it should be noted that it is almost impossible to gain weight in one day of overeating. Although many people complain of obesity after holiday feasts, these are only subjective sensations: heaviness in the stomach, swelling, general weakness.

• Excessive consumption of salty foods leads to swelling due to quenching the thirst caused by salt. Because of this, body weight changes slightly, but not significantly. As soon as the excess fluid leaves the body, the weight will normalize.
• As for eating too much fatty, sweet or fried foods, one day of overeating can cause indigestion, but not cellulite deposits on the hips or a layer of fat on the stomach.

To minimize the risk of gaining weight due to overeating, you need to work off the extra calories. To do this, you should maintain physical activity and drink more water.

Why is overeating dangerous?

The danger of uncontrolled food consumption is that this harmful addiction leads to disruptions in the functioning of almost all organs and systems. First of all, problems with weight arise. Obesity entails disruptions in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

The liver is also targeted. Regular consumption of fatty and fried foods is the cause of the degeneration of the organ's cells and their filling with fat. This threatens to disrupt the functioning of the entire gastrointestinal tract. The risk of developing gastritis, pancreatitis, changes in acidity and disruption of microflora increases.

Overeating is dangerous because of hormonal imbalances. If there is a deficiency of thyroxine (thyroid hormone) in the body, this leads to metabolic disorders. Women may have problems with conception, and men with erection. In addition, fatty, sweet, salty and other unhealthy foods have a negative effect on the external condition. Acne may appear, hair may become dull, and the condition of the teeth may deteriorate.

Feeling unwell after overeating

The most common complaint after overeating is “I feel sick.” This symptom occurs due to the stomach being overstretched, which puts pressure on adjacent organs and causes difficulty breathing. In some cases, the general deterioration in well-being is complicated by nausea and vomiting. Heartburn and hiccups are also possible.

In order to minimize discomfort after overeating, you should follow these recommendations:

• If you experience abdominal pain and signs of poisoning, then a sorbent and purified warm water will help.
• To improve the digestion process, you can take enzyme preparations based on pancreatin.
• If you feel heavy in the stomach and feel sleepy, you should do physical activity to better digest food. You can take a walk in the fresh air or do housework.
• After overeating, you should not go to bed, because the horizontal position of the body will only increase the discomfort and belching will appear.
• If belching with a sour, unpleasant smell appears in combination with gases and constipation, then a cleansing enema or laxative will help.

Eating healthy and nutritious foods in moderation is the best way to maintain good health.

Obesity from overeating

The main cause of the problem of excess weight all over the world is overeating. Weight gain due to excessive food consumption is one of the types of obesity as a disease. The main symptom of the disorder is the uniform distribution of fat in all parts of the body:

• Fat deposits on the lower cheeks and back of the head.
• Increase in chest girth.
• Increasing the volume of the arms.
• The belly grows and there are fat deposits in the lower part of the body.

The peculiarity of an eating disorder is that some people underestimate the amount of food they eat. At the same time, restrictions rarely lead to weight loss. Obesity is associated not so much with the amount of food, but with an imbalance of calories that entered the body and were spent.

The fight against obesity due to overeating comes down to these simple rules:

1. Drink a glass of water before each meal, this will help you eat less.
2. Eliminate sweets, flour products, salty, fried and fatty foods from your diet.
3. Spend more time on physical activity. Constant movement will prevent you from gaining weight.

In particularly severe cases, the problem of excess weight and eating disorders should be addressed by a specialist – a nutritionist and psychologist.

Volvulus from overeating

One of the types of intestinal obstruction that develops due to uncontrolled absorption of food is intestinal volvulus. The pathology is a twisting of one of the sections of the intestine around the mesentery or around its axis.

The diseased condition causes the blood vessels that feed the affected part of the intestine to twist and compress, causing necrosis of the intestinal wall tissue and leakage of intestinal contents into the abdominal cavity.

In addition to overeating, volvulus can be caused by the following reasons:

• Long-term fasting followed by overeating. During fasting, the intestinal loops become more mobile. A sudden consumption of a large amount of food provokes strong motility, which can lead to volvulus.
• Increased intra-abdominal pressure during sudden lifting of heavy objects after a recent meal can lead to displacement of different parts of the intestine and volvulus.
• Cicatricial changes and adhesions in the abdominal cavity due to inflammatory reactions or surgical interventions.
• Improper nutrition and food poisoning. Coarse food with high fiber content stimulates intestinal motility, which increases the risk of volvulus. Intestinal infections and poisoning also increase motility, cause nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
• Constipation – regular bowel movement disorders can cause volvulus of the sigmoid colon.

The main symptoms of volvulus include:

• Sharp, acute pain.
• Increased anxiety and agitation.
• Increased intestinal peristalsis.
• Pronounced asymmetry of the abdomen.
• Attacks of nausea and vomiting.
• Gas accumulation and constipation.
• Deterioration of general well-being.
• Development of intoxication.

Without timely medical care, intestinal volvulus threatens serious complications: general intoxication of the body, necrosis of the digestive tract, intra-abdominal infections, purulent processes.

Swelling after overeating

Edema is an excessive accumulation of fluid in the body. It occurs on the face, any part of the body, and internal organs. Regular swelling indicates health problems or eating disorders.

The main causes of edema include:

1. Overeating sweets causes carbohydrate-insulin edema. Increased blood glucose levels trigger the release of insulin, which retains fluid in the body. This is why many people with a sweet tooth look slightly swollen.
2. Low-carbohydrate diets – cause a disruption of the water-salt balance in the body and prolonged digestion of carbohydrate products. This leads to an excessive release of insulin and the hormone aldosterone, which affects the kidneys and increases the reabsorption of sodium in the renal tubules. As a result, this causes water retention in the body.
3. Abuse of salty foods – sodium is found in fast food and other unhealthy store-bought foods. Excess of this substance causes high blood pressure, swelling of the face and lower extremities. Excessive consumption of salty foods causes intense thirst, nervous excitement, neuroses, osteoporosis, rapid fatigue and weakness.
4. Potassium deficiency in the body - an unbalanced diet lacking vegetables, fruits and nuts leads to a lack of potassium. This causes prolonged swelling, increased fatigue, and frequent pressure drops.
5. Dehydration and excessive water consumption. In the first case, eating dry food, frequent consumption of coffee, carbonated drinks and alcohol leads to dehydration. The body begins to retain salt and residual water. In the second case, thoughtless fluid consumption disrupts the normal functioning of the kidneys and causes edema. To minimize the risk of developing edema, it is necessary to drink at least 1.5 liters of purified water at room temperature daily.

All of the above reasons should be considered in a comprehensive manner, as they are closely related at both the behavioral and cellular levels. In order to reduce the risk of edema, it is necessary to limit or completely eliminate the following products:

• Salty, spicy, sweet.
• Dried or cured meat, fish.
• Fatty sauces.
• Various pickles.
• Smoked meats.
• Canned fish.
• Baked goods made from wheat flour.
• Products with high levels of caffeine.
• Fatty fermented milk products.
• Store-bought semi-finished products.
• Chips, nuts, crackers and other snacks, fast food.

To combat swelling, first of all, you should increase the amount of water you drink. At the same time, tea, juices, coffee and other drinks are food, not water. Be sure to add foods to your diet that combat swelling: buckwheat, apples, bell peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, parsley, dried apricots, berries (cranberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries).

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Overeating and Depression

Depression is a mental disorder with the following symptoms:

• Depressed mood.
• Inability to experience happy emotions.
• Pessimistic views on life and others, negative thinking.

Most often, the disease occurs due to prolonged experiences and stress. The psychological state negatively affects the functioning of the entire body. Very often, overeating develops against the background of depression. A food problem can be diagnosed if the following signs are present:

• A person eats more than his body needs.
• The main emphasis in the diet is on sweet, fatty and salty foods.
• Overeating helps to temporarily relieve boredom and sadness.
• Sudden weight gain.
• Alcohol abuse followed by gluttony.
• Lack of noticeable appetite.

Uncontrolled consumption of high-calorie, rich-tasting food is a way to combat stress. External mental pressure, combined with internal factors, negatively affects the nervous system.

To treat the painful condition, you need to see a psychologist. The specialist will establish the true causes of the depressive state and help overcome them. The doctor will also adjust the diet to restore healthy eating behavior.

Acne from overeating

The condition of the skin is directly related to the foods we eat. Acne, pimples and other dermatological problems can occur due to regular overeating. The diseased condition is associated with the following factors:

• Products with a high glycemic index (GI).

The higher the GI, the higher the blood sugar and insulin levels. Overeating sweets, carbonated drinks, and fast food leads to acne. The problem arises if the main part of the diet is white bread, pasta, or potatoes.

To improve the condition of the skin, it is necessary to choose products with a low glycemic index, eat small portions so as not to cause jumps in blood glucose. Vegetables and other plant-based products should be the basis of a healthy diet.

• Dairy products.

They contain substances that increase testosterone levels. This hormone stimulates increased activity of the sebaceous glands, creating an ideal basis for acne.

Since you can't completely give up milk, it is a source of components useful for the body, it is necessary to limit its consumption. You should also increase the consumption of other products with calcium (cabbage, sardines, leafy greens) and try other types of milk, for example, goat's milk.

• Fatty foods.

If there are too many omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the diet, this affects inflammatory processes in the body and can cause acne. To improve the condition of the skin, it is necessary to balance the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

• Gluten.

This substance is a protein found in grains and products prepared from them. Gluten intolerance (celiac disease) leads to skin rashes and the development of herpetiform dermatitis.

In addition to the above factors, acne may be caused by food allergies. In this case, it is necessary to determine which foods could cause an allergic reaction, reduce their consumption or completely exclude them from the diet.

Tachycardia and arrhythmia from overeating

Increased heartbeat, or tachycardia after overeating, is a symptom that is familiar to many. The unpleasant condition most often develops in people who have gastrointestinal diseases or cardiovascular pathologies.

The main causes of tachycardia after eating:

• Eating high-calorie foods.
• Abuse of salty, spicy and hot dishes.
• Lowering blood pressure.
• Indigestion.
• Obesity.

The painful condition causes mild nausea, dizziness, abdominal discomfort and shortness of breath. As the food is digested, the pulse returns to normal.

Another problem that can be caused by regular bouts of overeating is arrhythmia. It is a whole series of disturbances in the work of the heart: rhythm, contractions, impulses. With arrhythmia, heart contractions can go both higher and lower than the norm of 60-100 beats per minute.

The main dietary causes of arrhythmia:

• Fatty and spicy foods – make the heart work harder because they cause a rush of blood to the stomach to digest the excess food. Because of this, the heart muscle does not have enough blood. The painful condition is significantly aggravated if a person lies down to rest after eating.
• Overeating – a full stomach compresses the diaphragm and makes breathing difficult. Lack of oxygen disrupts the heart rhythm.
• Poor nutrition – causes excess weight and clogged blood vessels, which leads to heart problems.
• Inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract.

Arrhythmia can occur simultaneously with tachycardia. In this case, nausea, dizziness, difficulty breathing, muscle weakness and other pathological symptoms appear. To eliminate the unpleasant condition, it is necessary to normalize nutrition and consult a cardiologist to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Can overeating cause high blood pressure?

Many overweight people suffer from frequent pressure drops, but do not associate their painful condition with gluttony. Unhealthy eating habits contribute to increased blood pressure, which in turn is a sign of more serious pathologies.

Most often, patients encounter the following symptom complex:

• Pain in the temples and occipital region.
• Pulsation in the crown area.
• Impaired coordination and orientation in space.
• Tinnitus.
• Increased sweating and chills.
• Deterioration of general well-being.
• Loss of strength.
• Shortness of breath and tremors of the limbs.
• Sleep disorders.

High blood pressure leads to accelerated blood circulation, which has a negative effect on the walls of blood vessels and the general blood supply system. The diseased condition leads to hypertension, which has several degrees with different intensities of pathological symptoms.

Let's look at the main eating habits that contribute to increased blood pressure:

• Spicy, fried, fatty and smoked foods retain fluid in the body, but increase the feeling of thirst, causing swelling throughout the body.
• Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, which dilates blood vessels and causes them to spasm. This causes pressure surges and increases blood density.
• A cup of coffee or strong tea increases the heart rate. Both drinks contain caffeine, which first constricts and then dilates the blood vessels of the brain.
• High-calorie foods are slow and difficult to digest. The prolonged breakdown of fats and carbohydrates affects blood density and heart rate.
• A deficiency of foods with a high fiber content leads to dehydration of the body and disruption of intestinal peristalsis.
• Fats of vegetable and animal origin, artificial oils increase the concentration of blood lipids, which disrupts its normal circulation.
• Fried meat, sausages, overripe bananas and avocados contain protein, which leads to an increase in amines and increased blood pressure.
• Excessive consumption of foods with fast carbohydrates: sweets, baked goods, carbonated and sweet drinks cause changes in hormonal levels.
• Late meals and hunger for more than 6 hours also affect the increase in blood pressure.

When normalizing blood pressure and correcting eating behavior, fractional nutrition is recommended, that is, 5-6 meals in small portions. This regimen restores the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Thanks to this, the body will have time to digest all the food without additional stress. When choosing products, you should give preference to food with a minimum amount of cholesterol. You should also monitor the timely emptying of the intestines, since stagnation leads to intoxication and an increase in blood pressure.

In particularly severe cases, when it is not possible to normalize blood pressure by changing eating habits, medication is needed. Patients undergo comprehensive diagnostics and are prescribed antihypertensive drugs.

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Blood condition from overeating

Excessive consumption of sweets and other products with high levels of sugar and bad cholesterol has a negative effect on the blood. Overeating leads to increased glucose levels, which is dangerous for the development of diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

Human blood also contains uric acid. It is the end product of the transformation reactions of purine bases synthesized by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. Increased concentration of this substance has a negative effect on the functioning of internal organs.

Heavy food overloads the digestive system, which causes enzyme deficiency. The blood becomes saturated with waste and the uric acid level increases. This causes blood pressure to increase, increasing the risk of thrombophlebitis and stones.

Shortness of breath when overeating

Overeating causes many unpleasant symptoms, including breathing problems. After eating, the digestive system begins to work actively:

• The mucous membranes of the stomach, intestines and pancreas will secrete enzymes that are necessary for the digestion of food and the absorption of its beneficial components into the bloodstream.
• In order for the digestion process to be as efficient as possible, the body redistributes blood flow.
• The intestines begin to receive more oxygen, and the rest of the organs less.

If the body is healthy, no disorders occur. If there are any disorders, oxygen starvation increases in the internal organs. To eliminate it, the lungs begin to work at an increased rate, causing shortness of breath.

Heavy breathing can be caused by eating too quickly and not chewing food well. Other possible causes of the painful condition are food allergies, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and arrhythmia. If shortness of breath occurs constantly, you should consult a doctor.

Stomach rupture from overeating

The stomach is a muscular organ with increased elasticity. It processes solid food with gastric juice to turn it into a semi-liquid gruel. Eating too much food or liquid causes it to expand so that it can accommodate all the food.

As it is digested, some of the food moves to the next stage of digestion in the duodenum. The stomach contracts and returns to its normal size. In its normal state, its volume is 1.5-3 liters and approximately 15-18 cm in length. When full, it doubles in size. Irreversible stretching of the organ occurs in the following cases:

• Large portions of food.
• Excess fluid.
• Frequent overeating.
• Slow absorption of food products.

Regular stretching leads to prolapse of the organ and weight gain. As for the rupture of the stomach from overeating, without its mechanical trauma, this is simply impossible. Excess food is accompanied by gas formation and increased pressure. Due to this, the stomach begins to push excess food into the esophagus, causing vomiting and emptying itself.

Pancreatitis from overeating

Inflammatory disease of the pancreas occurs due to various reasons, but the main factor that provokes the development of pancreatitis is overeating. Abuse of food leads to a disruption in the outflow of digestive juice and enzymes that are released by the gland into the small intestine. The disease can be caused by an unbalanced diet, alcohol and even the environmental situation in the place of residence.

There are a number of symptoms, the appearance of which indicates the development of the disease:

• Pancreatic colic is a girdle-like pain in the upper abdomen that radiates to the shoulder blades, ribs and collarbone.
• Vomiting - multiple bouts of vomiting with abdominal cramps.
• Flatulence – increased gas formation manifests itself as bloating in the upper abdomen. When trying to palpate the abdomen, severe pain occurs.
• Elevated body temperature.
• Change in skin color – pallor, yellowness, bluish coloration of the skin and mucous membranes.
• Respiratory problems – shortness of breath and a feeling of tightness in the chest appear. The painful condition is accompanied by increased sweating and a yellow coating on the tongue.

The above symptoms require urgent medical attention. If you let the disease run its course and continue to binge eat, it can lead to the following consequences: necrosis of pancreatic tissue and abscesses, false cysts, diabetes. There are also complications with the respiratory system. In particularly severe cases, there is a risk of death.

Consequences of overeating after gastric resection

Gastric resection is a surgical procedure in which from ¼ to 2/3 of the organ is removed. Most often, the operation is performed for gastrointestinal diseases and as an extreme method of combating severe obesity. The peculiarity of resection is that it affects the digestive system. To normalize all processes in the body, the patient is prescribed a strict diet with a limited amount of food.

Excessive consumption of various delicacies after resection threatens serious problems, since the reduced stomach simply cannot cope with digesting large volumes of food:

• Undigested food goes straight into the intestines, where it begins to ferment and rot.
• The unpleasant condition causes flatulence, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting is also possible.
• Some people report increased weakness and drowsiness.

In order to minimize the risk of developing digestive problems after resection, it is necessary to eat small portions. Food should be light and easily digestible. Products with a high carbohydrate content, i.e. sweets, flour and confectionery products, are prohibited. The daily diet should contain a sufficient amount of proteins and fats. Food should be thoroughly chopped or ground to reduce the risk of painful sensations after eating.

Insomnia from overeating

Improper nutrition and food abuse are one of the causes of sleep disorders. Insomnia can be caused by a hearty dinner. Spicy, sour, smoked and salty foods contain theramine. This amino acid affects the production of norepinephrine, which helps transmit nerve impulses. Therefore, such food excites the brain, increases blood supply and leads to overexcitation.

Insomnia can also be triggered by a coffee drink, which has pronounced psychostimulating properties. Coffee disrupts the normal production of the sleep hormone melatonin. The drink also has a strong diuretic effect, which also negatively affects falling asleep.

Lack of sleep leads to various disorders, including eating behavior. Regular lack of sleep leads to nighttime gluttony with all the ensuing complications. In order for sleep to be deep and undisturbed, the last meal should be 3 hours before rest. If there are signs of insomnia, you can drink a glass of warm milk with a spoonful of honey.

Do people die from overeating?

Medicine and science know of cases of so-called death from food. The lethal outcome can have different causes, but the main one is cardiac arrest due to overeating. This happens due to a sudden attack of gluttony.

The digestive system is overloaded, the body throws all its efforts into improving the blood supply to the stomach and intestines so that they can cope with a large volume of food. Because of this, the brain and heart do not receive enough oxygen and blood. If the body is not ready for such a redistribution, this leads to oxygen starvation, pronounced painful symptoms from the heart and sudden death.

Death from overeating can be associated with the abuse of expired, poisoned or poor quality food. In this case, severe intoxication of the body leads to the failure of all organs and systems, causing death.

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Coma from overeating

The concept of food coma implies a feeling of weakness and drowsiness after overeating. This condition most often occurs due to the consumption of large amounts of carbohydrates:

• The pancreas begins to produce insulin, which distributes amino acids and other useful substances throughout the muscle tissue.
• The remaining amino acid tryptophan is transformed into serotonin, which in turn is converted into the sleep hormone melatonin.

In this case, to prevent coma from overeating, it is necessary to reduce food portions and replace fatty, fried and unhealthy foods with lighter products.

Also, coma from overeating can be caused by acute hypoglycemia. Excessive consumption of sweets or other harmful products leads to blood sugar surges. The acute condition causes reactions of the nervous system:

• Convulsions appear that resemble an epileptic seizure.
• High blood pressure.
• Increased sweating.
• Dilated pupils.

After this, muscle tone drops sharply, blood pressure decreases, and heart rhythm disturbances occur. To exit the comatose state, the patient must ingest carbohydrates in fast and slow-digesting forms, such as sugar and bread.

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