Which eating disorder can damage the heart and diaphragm?

• A. Bulimia nervosa, vomiting type
• B. Anorexia nervosa, work out type
• C. Bulimia nervosa, work out type
• D. Anorexia nervosa, starving type

Answer: (A)

Purging through vomiting in bulimia nervosa creates dangerous electrolyte and acid-base disturbances that can directly stress the heart and weaken the diaphragm. Frequent vomiting leads to loss of potassium and chloride; low potassium (hypokalemia) disrupts cardiac electrical activity and raises the risk of abnormal heart rhythms. The accompanying metabolic alkalosis from vomiting can further affect muscle and nerve function, including the diaphragm. Dehydration and nutritional deficiencies that come with this pattern can also weaken respiratory muscles overall. While other eating disorders can harm the heart through separate pathways (for example, severe malnutrition in anorexia can lead to cardiomyopathy), the vomiting type of bulimia has the most direct link to heart rhythm problems and diaphragmatic muscle impact via electrolyte and acid-base disturbances.