What is weight loss a symptom of?

Some causes of unintentional weight loss include: mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) problems with digestion, such as coeliac disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
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When should you worry about weight loss?

When to Worry About Weight Loss. Your body's weight can fluctuate but when you lose more than 5% of your weight over 6-12 months, that's typically a reason for concern. Pay attention if you experience other symptoms, such as: Fatigue.
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What illness can cause weight loss?

However, unintentional weight loss may be a sign of one of these medical conditions.
  • Muscle loss. Muscle loss, or muscle wasting, can lead to unexpected weight loss. ...
  • Overactive thyroid. ...
  • Rheumatoid arthritis. ...
  • Diabetes. ...
  • Depression. ...
  • Inflammatory bowel disease. ...
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ...
  • Endocarditis.
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What can cause rapid weight loss?

What are the causes of unexplained weight loss?
  • An overactive or underactive thyroid gland. ...
  • Cancer.
  • Crohn's disease (an inflammation of the bowels)
  • Heart failure.
  • Addison's disease, a condition in which the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys, do not produce enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone.
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What tests are done for unexplained weight loss?

Commonly performed tests include:
  • Complete blood count (CBC): A complete blood count can reveal evidence of infections, anemia (which can be caused by many conditions that result in unintended weight loss), and more.
  • Thyroid panel.
  • Liver function tests.
  • Kidney function tests.
  • Blood sugar (glucose)
  • Urinalysis.
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Approach to Unintentional Weight Loss - definition, differential diagnosis and treatment



What cancers cause unexplained weightloss?

According to the American Cancer Society, unexplained weight loss is often the first noticeable symptom of cancers of the esophagus, pancreas, stomach, and lung. Other cancers, such as ovarian cancer, are more likely to cause weight loss when a tumor grows large enough to press on the stomach.
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What is the most common cause of unexplained weight loss?

Potential causes of unexplained weight loss include: Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency) Amyloidosis (buildup of abnormal proteins in your organs) Cancer.
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Can stress cause weight loss?

Stress and weight loss

While many people put on weight during periods of stress, others lose weight. Stress is known to cause a loss of appetite for some people, meaning that they end up eating less food.
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Can stress cause extreme weight loss?

The all-consuming power of stress may leave you unable to think about anything else. This may affect your eating habits. You may not feel hungry or may forget to eat altogether when experiencing stress, leading to weight loss.
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How much weight loss is concerning in a month?

Unexplained Weight Loss

If you lose more than 5% of your weight in 6 to 12 months, tell your doctor, especially if you're an older adult. That would be about 8 pounds if you weigh 150, or 10 pounds if you weigh 200. Sudden weight loss without a reason can be a sign of a health problem.
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Is weight loss common with Covid?

“People who have COVID-19 spend a tremendous amount of energy just trying to keep themselves oxygenated. Because of that, people tend to lose a lot of weight.”
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Can heart problems cause weight loss?

Cardiac cachexia is a condition that can happen to people who have heart failure. It means you lose a serious amount of body fat, muscle, and bone. Doctors often call this “body wasting.”
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Can an autoimmune disease cause weight loss?

In some autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, Crohn's disease or hyperthyroidism, unintended weight loss may occur. For others, excess weight may be an issue. Furthermore, weight gain or loss may be a side effect of the medications.
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Why am I tired all the time and losing weight?

The thyroid produces certain hormones that regulate the body's metabolism, so an excess of these hormones often causes the body to burn more energy than usual. Burning more energy and calories can lead to unintentional or unexplained weight loss. Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism include: fatigue.
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Can depression and anxiety cause weight loss?

Depression can also cause a decrease in appetite that eventually leads to unintentional weight loss. Some people might consider this a positive side effect, but sudden or extreme weight loss can put your health at risk.
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Can long term anxiety cause weight loss?

Weight loss, including sudden weight loss, is a common symptom of anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and others.
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How do I stop losing weight?

Increase your calorie intake.

One way you can stop losing weight is to increase the amount of calories you eat each day. You should consume at least 1200 calories each day. Try tracking your calorie intake each day using a calorie tracker app, and then add a couple hundred calories each day.
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Can benign tumors cause weight loss?

But if they grow large enough to press on bodily structures, they may cause: Bleeding (for example, with a fibroid in the uterus). Headaches, seizures or trouble seeing (for example, with a brain tumor). Loss of appetite or weight loss (for example, a tumor near your stomach or intestines).
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Is weight loss a symptom of brain tumor?

Some of the more common accompanying symptoms of a brain tumor include: unexplained weight loss. double vision, blurred vision, or a loss of vision.
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How much weight loss is abnormal?

But many doctors agree that a medical evaluation is called for if you lose more than 5 percent of your weight in six months to a year, especially if you're an older adult. For example, a 5 percent weight loss in someone who is 160 pounds (72 kilograms) is 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms).
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What autoimmune causes weightloss?

Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

These autoimmune diseases cause inflammation in various parts of the digestive tract. Both commonly cause weight loss and malnutrition.
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Does rheumatoid arthritis cause weight loss?

Answer: Being underweight can certainly be a problem for people with RA. The same pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF, that damage the joint tissue in people with RA can also lead to weight loss, muscle wasting and weakness.
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Can a blocked artery cause weight loss?

Severe visceral artery stenosis, similar to that of the patient described here, can result in significant intestinal angina, sitophobia,9 and chronic weight loss. In persons with these symptoms, chronic visceral artery ischemia should be suspected.
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What are the 4 stages of congestive heart failure?

There are four heart failure stages (Stage A, B, C and D). The stages range from "high risk of developing heart failure" to "advanced heart failure."
...
Stage C
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Feeling tired (fatigue).
  • Less able to exercise.
  • Weak legs.
  • Waking up to urinate.
  • Swollen feet, ankles, lower legs and abdomen (edema).
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Do you lose weight with congestive heart failure?

Patients with heart failure (HF) commonly have unintentional weight loss, depressive symptoms, and elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Each of these variables has been independently associated with shorter cardiac event-free survival.
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