Heart disease is the most common medical cause of death in people with severe anorexia. In long-term, severe anorexia, heart disease is very likely to occur. The effects of eating disorders on the heart are numerous and difficult to reverse.
Cardiovascular risk factors with eating disorder include:
- Dangerous heart rhythms may show up even in teenagers with anorexia.
- Bradycardia is a slowness of the heartbeat, usually at a rate under 60 beats per minute (normal resting rate is 60 - 100 beats per minute).
- Blood flow is reduced
- Blood pressure may drop
- The heart muscles starve, losing size
- Cholesterol levels tend to rise
- Heart attack
- Atherosclerosis
- Arrhythmias in the heart
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Angina
- Arteriosclerosis
For those with eating disorders, the only way to lower one’s cardiovascular risk is to receive prompt, professional treatment. Often, a residential program is required.

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