Inanition is a term that refers to the symptoms and effects of starvation. It is a severe form of malnutrition that can lead to permanent organ damage and eventually, death. In this article, we will explore what causes inanition, how it affects the body, and some examples of historical and contemporary cases of inanition.
Contents
What Causes Inanition?
Inanition can arise from a variety of causes, such as:
- Malnutrition: This is the most common cause of inanition, and it occurs when a person does not consume enough calories, protein, or essential nutrients to meet their body’s needs. Malnutrition can be caused by poverty, famine, war, natural disasters, eating disorders, or other medical conditions that affect the appetite or digestion.
- Infections: Some infections can cause inanition by reducing the appetite, increasing the metabolic rate, or impairing the absorption of nutrients. Examples of infections that can cause inanition include tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, typhoid, and cholera.
- Cognitive impairment: Some mental disorders or neurological conditions can cause inanition by affecting the person’s ability to recognize hunger, remember to eat, or prepare food. Examples of cognitive impairment that can cause inanition include dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, schizophrenia, and stroke.
- Dysphagia: This is a condition that causes difficulty in swallowing, which can prevent a person from eating enough food or liquids. Dysphagia can be caused by structural abnormalities, nerve damage, muscle weakness, or tumors in the mouth, throat, or esophagus.
- Abuse or neglect: In some cases, inanition can be caused by intentional or unintentional harm inflicted by others. This can include child abuse, elder abuse, domestic violence, or torture. In these situations, the victim may be deprived of food, water, or medical care, or may be forced to fast or consume harmful substances.
How Does Inanition Affect the Body?
Inanition affects the body in various ways, depending on the duration and severity of the starvation. Some of the effects of inanition include:
- Weight loss and muscle wasting: The body uses its stored fat and muscle tissue as sources of energy when there is not enough food intake. This leads to a loss of body mass and strength, and can impair the function of vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.
- Anemia and low blood sugar: The body needs iron, vitamin B12, and folate to produce red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the tissues. The body also needs glucose to fuel the brain and the nervous system. Inanition can cause a deficiency of these nutrients, resulting in anemia and low blood sugar, which can cause weakness, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, and coma.
- Low blood pressure and organ failure: The body needs water and electrolytes to maintain the fluid balance and the blood pressure. Inanition can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to low blood pressure, shock, and organ failure. The organs that are most affected by inanition are the kidneys, the liver, the heart, and the brain.
- Immune system suppression and increased susceptibility to infections: The body needs protein and micronutrients to produce antibodies and immune cells, which fight against infections and diseases. Inanition can cause a deficiency of these components, resulting in immune system suppression and increased susceptibility to infections. Infections can worsen the condition of inanition by causing further loss of appetite, fever, inflammation, and tissue damage.
- Hormonal imbalance and reproductive dysfunction: The body needs calories and fat to produce hormones, which regulate the metabolism, the growth, and the reproduction. Inanition can cause a deficiency of these substances, resulting in hormonal imbalance and reproductive dysfunction. Some of the effects of hormonal imbalance and reproductive dysfunction include low thyroid function, delayed puberty, amenorrhea, infertility, and osteoporosis.
Examples of Inanition
Inanition has been a cause of death for many people throughout history and in the present day. Some of the examples of inanition are:
- Historical examples: Inanition was a common cause of death during the Great Famine in Ireland (1845-1852), the Holodomor in Ukraine (1932-1933), the Bengal Famine in India (1943), the Holocaust in Nazi Germany (1941-1945), and the Cambodian Genocide (1975-1979). Millions of people died from starvation, disease, and violence during these events.
- Contemporary examples: Inanition is still a cause of death in many parts of the world, especially in regions affected by poverty, war, drought, or political instability. According to the World Health Organization, hunger is the single gravest threat to the world’s public health, and malnutrition is the biggest contributor to child mortality. Some of the countries that face the highest rates of hunger and malnutrition include Yemen, South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria.
- Individual examples: Inanition can also affect individuals who suffer from medical conditions, mental disorders, or personal circumstances that prevent them from eating enough food. Some of the individual examples of inanition include:
- Terri Schiavo: She was a woman who suffered a cardiac arrest in 1990, which caused severe brain damage and left her in a persistent vegetative state. She was kept alive by a feeding tube for 15 years, until a legal battle between her husband and her parents resulted in the removal of the tube in 2005. She died 13 days later from dehydration and inanition.
- Mahatma Gandhi: He was a leader of the Indian independence movement and a practitioner of nonviolence and civil disobedience. He used fasting as a political tool and a spiritual discipline, and went on several hunger strikes to protest against British colonial rule, communal violence, and social injustice. His longest fast lasted 21 days in 1943, and his last fast lasted 5 days in 1948, shortly before he was assassinated.
- Bobby Sands: He was a member of the Irish Republican Army and a prisoner in the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland. He led a hunger strike in 1981 to demand the recognition of the political status of the prisoners. He refused food for 66 days, and died from starvation and pneumonia. Nine other prisoners also died from the hunger strike, which sparked international attention and sympathy for the Irish cause.
Conclusion
Inanition is a term that refers to the symptoms and effects of starvation. It is a severe form of malnutrition that can lead to permanent organ damage and eventually, death. Inanition can arise from a variety of causes, such as malnutrition, infections, cognitive impairment, dysphagia, or abuse or neglect. Inanition affects the body in various ways, such as weight loss and muscle wasting, anemia and low blood sugar, low blood pressure and organ failure, immune system suppression and increased susceptibility to infections, and hormonal imbalance and reproductive dysfunction. Inanition has been a cause of death for many people throughout history and in the present day, and it remains a major global health challenge.
I hope you found this article informative and helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them below. Thank you for reading!
