 Q:What Causes Poor Appetite?
A. Poor appetite results in a decreased desire to eat and is commonly seen in the elderly. It is not known why this occurs but may be due in part to negative emotions such as depression, anxiety, and sadness. Different types of cancers and the treatments themselves such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can also cause appetite loss. Chronic conditions such as heart or kidney failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be accompanied by poor appetite due to difficulty breathing, weakness or general malaise. Appetite loss is also commonly associated with narcotic medications like codeine and morphine.
Q: Can drugs cause appetite loss?
A: Yes, certain drugs that may inhibit appetite are:
| Amphetamines | Codeine | | Antibiotics | Cocaine | | Heroin | Radiation Therapy | | Chemotherapy drugs | Ephedrine |
Q: What are common diseases that cause appetite loss?
A: There are many diseases that can effect appetite, here are a few.Cancers
| HIV/AIDS | | COPD | Hepatitis | Congestive Heart Failure
| Hypothyroidism | | Gastrointestinal Infections | Kidney Failure | | Gall Bladder Disease | Liver Failure |
Q: What are some more common causes of appetite loss?
A: Here are a few of the most common causes of poor appetite.
| Aging | Nausea | | Difficulty Swallowing | Depression, Grief, or Sadness | | Loss of Taste or Smell | Physical Pain |
Q: What are the potential complications from appetite loss?
A: Because poor appetite may be due to serious disease, failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications. Once the underlying cause can be diagnosed, it is important for you to follow a treatment plan that you and your health care professional have established to reduce the risk of potential complications, which include:
| Loss of strength | Spread of infection | | Malnutrition | Vitamin deficiencies | | Spread of Cancer | Muscle Wasting Syndrome |
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