Starvation
Starvation
Starvation (/stɑːrˈveɪʃən/) is a severe deficiency in caloric energy intake, below the level needed to maintain an organism's life. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition. In humans, prolonged starvation can cause permanent organ damage and eventually, death.
Etymology
The term "starvation" comes from the Old English 'steorfan', meaning 'to die' or 'to perish', which reflects the severe impact this condition can have on an individual's health.
Causes
Starvation can be caused by a variety of factors, including poverty, food insecurity, and political instability. It can also be a result of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, or medical conditions that affect the body's ability to absorb nutrients, such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease.
Symptoms
Symptoms of starvation include fatigue, dizziness, weight loss, muscle weakness, and mental confusion. In severe cases, individuals may experience organ failure, coma, and death.
Treatment
Treatment for starvation typically involves the gradual reintroduction of food, as well as addressing the underlying cause of the starvation. This may involve therapy for eating disorders, or interventions to address food insecurity.
Related Terms
- Malnutrition: A condition that results from eating a diet in which one or more nutrients are either not enough or are too much such that the diet causes health problems.
- Famine: A widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including war, inflation, crop failure, population imbalance, or government policies.
- Hunger: A term which has three meanings (Oxford English Dictionary 1971) the uneasy or painful sensation caused by want of food; craving appetite. Also the exhausted condition caused by want of food.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Starvation
- Wikipedia's article - Starvation
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