If you have ever engaged in intense workouts, you may have noticed that you leave the workout less hungry than you do after moderate workouts. Science confirmed this with a recent study published in the Journal of Endocrine Society. Higher-intensity workouts, specifically high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts, can temporarily suppress appetite and reduce total caloric intake. What’s more, it seems to have a greater effect on women. 

There is a growing body of research that indicates how essential exercise is for weight management. That is not to say that it only helps you burn calories; rather, it appears to influence how much you eat post-workout. But the relationship between exercise and appetite is not straightforward. It often defies the notion that increased activity automatically makes you have a ravenous hunger. Exercise does burn calories, but it also seems to impact the hormones that regulate appetite. 

The new research sheds light on how high-intensity exercise can influence ghrelin levels. Ghrelin is the hormone that stimulates appetite. In this article, we will explore this phenomenon and detail what the researchers observed during the recent study. 

Exercise Intensity Affects Appetite

This recent study investigated the effects of exercise intensity and sex on levels of ghrelin and appetite in untrained humans. It was a small study, consisting of eight males and six females, all of whom completed a maximal graded cycle ergometer lactate threshold (LT)/VO2peak test. 

Participants’ exercise intensity was determined on three randomized control or calorically-matched cycle exercise bouts. The first was no exercise, the second was power output at LT, and the third was power output associated with three-quarters of the difference between LT and VO2peak. 

The participants engaged in three cycling sessions. One session was controlled with no exercise. Another involved participants to cycle at moderate-intensity at their LT. And a third session was high-intensity at 7% of the difference between LT and VO2peak. The researchers looked at appetite using visual analog scales. 

Researchers observed that the females had higher levels of ghrelin and deacylated ghrelin (DAG) at their baseline than male participants. Both male and female participants exhibited reduced DAG levels in higher intensity groups compared to moderate intensity groups. That said, only the females had much higher levels of acylated ghrelin (AG) with high intensity exercise. Finally, hunger scores were higher in the group who performed moderate exercise compared to the no exercise group. 

More Key Findings In The Study

According to the study authors, exercise above the lactate threshold may be required in order to suppress ghrelin. Other key findings are as follows:

• High-intensity suppression: Higher intensity exercise suppressed plasma levels of ghrelin, AG, and DAG in men and women. The significant reduction of AG was only observed in women, though.
• Sex differences: Female participants demonstrated higher baseline levels of total ghrelin and DAG compared to male participants.
• Appetite perception: The feelings of hunger were stronger after moderate-intensity exercise compared to the no exercise control session. 
• Moderate-intensity effects: The moderate-intensity exercise either slightly increased ghrelin levels, or did not change existing levels at all. 

Conclusion

If you want to help suppress ghrelin levels, consider engaging in high-intensity exercise. The findings from this new study reveal that not all exercise yields the same results. High-intensity workouts, such as HIIT workouts, seem to be more effective at suppressing hunger and reducing caloric intake post-workout. Incorporating HIIT workouts into your fitness regimen, then, may help you take control of your hunger and achieve your health and fitness goals.

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The start of 2025 may be three months behind us already, but there is a lot of year left to make your resolutions become reality. Most people don’t feel that way by now, especially if their goal was to lose 20 pounds within the first three months of the year. There is no need to get discouraged because difficult things take time. If weight loss was easy, then everyone would do it without any issues!

Regarding weight loss, a lot of emphasis is placed on diet, and rightly so. If you eat unhealthy foods that make it harder to lose weight, you are only shooting yourself in the foot. For your own health, we encourage eating whole foods that offer a diverse mix of nutritional benefits. Take it one step further and focus on consuming the rainbow, e.g. a lot of different colored fruits and vegetables. 

It’s time to reframe what you know about weight loss, well, to a certain degree. Exercise is truly the non-diet-related factor that can influence how much you eat. Continue reading to learn more. 

How Does Exercise Influence Weight Loss?

When you think about exercising for weight loss, you most likely think of burning calories or increasing muscle mass. Interestingly enough, different research studies and reviews concur that exercise may also contribute to weight loss by regulating hunger and feelings of fullness. For example, a 2021 review noted that physical activity could modulate resting satiety and hunger in older adults. A separate 2018 study found that exercise facilitated weight control, partially by regulating appetite. 

Previous research from 2011 found that mixed-intensity aerobic exercise was temporarily able to reduce hunger sensations. Researchers also noted a reduction in acylated ghrelin (the hunger hormone) and relative food intake. Varying the intensity of your exercise, in theory, could be useful in terms of losing weight. 

How To Apply This Research

If you want to get more of a handle on your weight loss this year, make sure to include adequate exercise in your daily life, but don’t forget to vary your movements and workouts. Not only is exercise an effective way to regulate your appetite, but it also helps to keep your body strong. 

Given the available research on this topic, researchers concur that resistance training, low-intensity cardiovascular exercise, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) are great places to start. In addition to exercising for appetite regulation, consider keeping your hunger in check with our Metabolism Booster. This herbal supplement can assist with weight management, thyroid and liver function, and may aid in optimizing digestive health. Promoting healthy metabolic pathways may just help you maintain healthy body composition. 

Here’s What To Know

If you want to make weight loss one of your wellness goals for 2025, balance is everything. That statement can be applied to most things in this life, but it is especially true for weight loss. Strike a balance between exercise and healthy eating habits and you will get closer to your goal each day. Make sure to get enough movement every day because if you are eating right and the pounds are not dropping, lack of exercise may be the culprit. Go ahead and break a sweat to drop those pounds! We believe in you!

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Is there anything better than a good night’s sleep? You wake up in a good mood and when you sit up and get out of bed, it’s as though your body thanks you for that rest. Contrast to the mornings when you wake up after a minimal amount of sleep. You don’t feel like yourself and you usually see dark circles under your eyes. You feel sluggish and would give anything for a few more hours of sleep. 

Growing evidence indicates that sleep is necessary for maintaining long-term health. The body can typically handle a few nights with minimal sleep, but it is not sustainable over time. There will be a price you pay if you continually get insufficient sleep, according to health experts. In this article, we’ll detail some of the health problems linked to sleep deprivation.

Type 2 Diabetes

People who experience minimal sleep or poor quality sleep tend to have poorer blood sugar control, especially in people with diabetes. Additionally, sleep deprivation can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to some studies. In a group of middle-aged Caucasians, researchers observed a strong connection between poor sleep quality and metabolic syndrome, fasting blood duster levels, insulin levels, and insulin resistance, a precursor for type 2 diabetes. 

Kidney Issues

Unfortunately, the link between insufficient sleep and kidney health has not been as firmly established as the link between poor sleep and other health conditions. Researchers note that people with chronic kidney disease tend to have sleep disorders, including restless leg syndrome and insomnia related to their condition. Some evidence shows that poor sleep quality may increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Researchers believe that the link could be related to disruptions to the circadian rhythm. 

Depression And Anxiety

According to research, people who have chronic insomnia have a higher rate of depression and anxiety. An estimated 40% of people with insomnia have clinical depression. The relationship between your mood and sleep is complex and bidirectional. That means that depression or anxiety can negatively impact sleep and lack of sleep can negatively affect your mood. Sleep experts consider insomnia to be an independent risk factor for developing mental health disorders, such as depression. You may need to address your sleep problems and anxiety or depression separately in order to improve your overall health. 

A Less Healthy Gut

The gut microbiome is a complex system of trillions of microorganisms found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Experts believe that the more diverse the microbiome, the better a person’s overall health is. Some studies suggest that altered sleep patterns, such as those consistent with night shift workers, may impact gut health. One study used Mendelian randomization, a method that looks at genetic variation to study the effects of different health variables. This study found that sleep issues may alter the abundance of bacteria in the gut. 

Hypertension, Stroke, And Heart Disease

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the smallest changes in sleep have been linked to heart issues. After the clocks change in March, there are 24% more heart attacks for the first three to four days. When the clocks “fall back” in November, the AHA estimates a 21% reduction in heart attacks because people gain an hour of sleep. Sleeping for five hours or less per night on a regular basis has been associated with a two to three times greater risk of coronary artery buildup. That decreases the flow of blood to your heart, so sleep deprivation may increase the risk of coronary artery disease. 

Reduced Immune Function

Sleep experts suggest that insufficient sleep or poor sleep quality can harm immune function. Evidence shows that poor sleep increases your susceptibility to various infections and illnesses. Studies show that people who sleep less than seven hours per night are three times more likely to develop the common cold compared with people who get eight hours or more of sleep per night. 

Additional research states that insufficient sleep can make it more difficult for the body to produce disease-fighting antibodies, specifically after receiving flu, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccines. Participants who only slept four hours per night in the days before and following vaccination developed lower levels of antibodies compared to those who had great sleep. 

Weight Gain

Unfortunately, there is a strong connection between sleep issues and being overweight or having obesity. Failure to get enough sleep every night can cause a hormonal imbalance, and these are the hormones that regulate appetite. Ghrelin makes you feel hungry and leptin helps you feel full. Leptin levels tend to rise during sleep, so the theory is that insufficient sleep causes a decrease in those levels. That makes you feel hungrier, which leads to unnecessary eating. Additionally, sleep disturbances of any kind can increase the production of ghrelin, which increases appetite. Studies suggest that insufficient sleep can make people burn 100 more calories per day. While that sounds wonderful, the extra wake time increases how much people eat or drink by more than 250 calories per day. Over time, that can cause people to gain weight.

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The liver is the largest internal organ in the body and is tasked with several important duties. It works to remove toxins, such as alcohol, from the bloodstream, regulates blood clotting, and aids with bile production. Much like most other organs and systems in the body, the liver is prone to damage based on certain lifestyle habits. The more damaged the liver is, the worse it functions. 

It’s estimated that liver disease affects 4.5 million adults in the United States. Liver disease is a broad term that encompasses different conditions, which impair healthy liver function. Liver conditions include liver cancer, hepatitis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Sometimes, symptoms of an impaired liver happen immediately, but they can also take time to show up. Additionally, they usually don’t show up until there is significant liver damage. 

How do you know when something is wrong with the liver? How do you know what to do to address the problem? Hepatologists want you to know about the five most important warning signs of liver disease, and what to do if you notice them. 

Dark Urine, Even If You Are Hydrated

Usually, dark urine indicates dehydration, and it is quite common to see in the morning or after long periods without fluids. Dark urine is also typical for people with liver conditions. This is due to the buildup of bilirubin, which causes urine to appear dark orange, brown, or amber in color. If you regularly hydrate and still notice issues with urine color, something else is likely afoot, so consult your healthcare provider to determine the cause. 

Swelling In The Legs, Ankles, Or Abdomen

Swelling may not be the first thing you associate with the liver, but swelling in the legs and feet may indicate a problem in the body. This is especially true when you have cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver. Cirrhosis basically slows the flow of blood through the liver and increases pressure in the vein that delivers blood to it. The pressure in the portal vein, as it is called, can lead to fluid buildup in the legs and abdomen. The swelling may also occur if the liver cannot produce enough of certain blood proteins, such as albumin. 

Yellowing Of The Skin Or Eyes

Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, can be a subtle sign of liver disease. Jaundice occurs when there is excess bilirubin, which is a pigment created during the breakdown of red blood cells. The liver typically processes bilirubin and removes it from the body, but too much can cause jaundice and other liver issues. High levels of bilirubin, however, are not always a concern for adults, which is why it is crucial to speak with your healthcare provider if you notice jaundice. 

You Bleed Or Bruise Easily

It is possible for people with liver damage to bruise or bleed easily when injured. The reason this happens is because the liver produces proteins necessary for blood clotting. If the liver is not functioning optimally, then you are at greater risk of bleeding or bruising easily.

Confusion

It is perfectly normal to forget things from time to time. You walk out of the house without your lunch after just packing it, or you can’t find your sunglasses, which you put on your head. You should not ignore major changes in your mental state, though, as they may indicate liver problems or other underlying issues. A person who is generally healthy can develop acute liver failure, which can manifest in mental changes or disorientation, even personality changes. 

What To Do If You Think You Have Liver Damage

Do not dismiss liver issues, so do not dismiss these symptoms if you notice them. It is common for people to experience liver problems if they have type 2 diabetes, drink alcohol heavily or moderately, or share needles. It is also common to experience liver problems if there is a family history of liver disease. Discuss any liver damage symptoms with your doctor to determine the right course of action. Stool changes, appetite changes, and exhaustion are also symptoms of liver problems.

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People who have been diagnosed with clinical depression may experience a variety of cognitive challenges. Some people refer to the combination of these symptoms or changes as brain fog. Although brain fog is not a clinical diagnosis, it is a common group of symptoms that affect the way you remember, think, and concentrate. It’s possible to lose your train of thought mid conversation or execute ordinary tasks without challenge. 

Symptoms Of Brain Fog In Depression

For people with depression, brain fog symptoms are called cognitive dysfunction. Not every person who has depression experiences the same cognitive symptoms, let alone brain fog, with the same intensity. Generally speaking, depression affects the brain differently, and brain fog can manifest in the following ways:

• Challenges with memory: You may experience difficulty remembering what you wanted to do or forget what you were going to do. It may be necessary to write things down to remember them, or perhaps you may find that you lose things or miss important dates regularly.
• Delayed reaction time: It may take you longer to complete tasks and manage time more efficiently with cognitive changes. 
• Difficulty paying attention: It may be more difficult for you to complete a thought, follow conversation, finish tasks at work, or focus on a TV show, book, or movie. 
• Trouble with executive functioning: Your ability to make decisions may be challenging, which can potentially cause you to constantly worry about different outcomes. It may also be harder for you to multitask.

Cognitive challenges are not the only symptoms of depression. Brain fog has other causes and is not solely reserved for people with depression. In order to receive a diagnosis for depression, though, a healthcare professional will try to identify at least five out of nine formal symptoms. 

What Are Formal Symptoms Of Depression?

Although brain fog can be a symptom of depression, it is not categorized as a formal symptom. Formal symptoms of depression include:

• Reduced ability to enjoy special or everyday activities
• Appetite changes (eating less or more than usual)
• Low energy or lack of motivation
• Changes in sleep pattern (sleeping more or fewer hours than usual)
• Cognitive changes (including brain fog)
• Changes in the way you move (such as slower or quicker than usual)
• Thoughts of self-harm and death

If a doctor cannot determine that depression is the cause of brain fog, they may want to explore other options. Thyroid dysfunction, brain injuries, anxiety, and COVID-19 can all cause brain fog. 

How Do You Treat Brain Fog?

If depression is the cause of brain fog, you have to address depression, as treating brain fog does not get to the root of the problem. Additionally, untreated depression will only cause symptoms to worsen or intensify. Most health experts agree that psychotherapy is the first line of treatment for depression. Behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, interpersonal therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy are just a few options to help treat depression.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, according to experts, can be particularly helpful in reducing brain fog in people with depression. Lifestyle modifications may also reduce brain fog and improve other symptoms of depression. Depending on your preferences or needs, these lifestyle modifications may include:

• Limiting your intake of caffeine, sugar, and alcohol
• Engage in daily physical activity, such as walking, yoga, or strength training
• Focus on a nutrient-dense diet
• Try to manage stress by engaging in meditation or deep breathing exercises

Brain fog can be a symptom of depression, manifesting differently for different people. You may experience difficulty remembering things, following instructions, or focusing. Treating your depression first may help get rid of brain fog. Work with healthcare professionals in order to get the help and support you need. Many resources are available, so don’t be afraid to use them.

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It’s not uncommon to eat late at night. Perhaps you leave a concert or comedy show and have a hankering for some tacos, or you settle for whatever is open. Typically, the food you eat late at night, or even as a midnight snack, is not the healthiest. With new research stating that eating late at night may yield unwanted side effects, you may rethink your late night eating habits. 

Studying The Impact Of Late-Night Eating

Study authors stated that they looked at three key factors associated with obesity risk and weight regulation during the study. These three factors included: 

• Energy expenditure (calories burned)
• Appetite
• Molecular changes in fat tissue

In order to do this, they had 16 overweight or obese participants follow two meal schedules. The first schedule was an “early meal schedule.” The second one was the exact same schedule, only everything was four hours late. People ate at 5 p.m. for the first schedule and 9 p.m. for the second schedule. 

During both sets of meal schedules, participants noted their hunger levels, gave blood samples and had their temperature and energy expenditure measured. Study authors also collected data from some participants’ adipose tissue (body fat). They were also very careful to eliminate any compounding variables with protocol, including what the participants ate and sleep schedules. 

What Did The Research Find?

After reviewing the study findings, the study authors concluded that eating late is linked to obesity risk, especially in people who are already overweight or obese. When participants followed the later meal schedule, they woke up feeling hungrier, were less effective at burning calories, and had adipose tissue that displayed an increase in fat growth. Eating four hours later makes a big difference for hunger levels, the way a person burns calories after eating, and the way a person stores fat. 

Because the research only included overweight or obese participants, the study authors state that further research is necessary. Other studies are required to see if the results would translate to a larger population. Given that eating late at night can disrupt sleep and cause blood sugar spikes, though, it’s worth avoiding if you can help it. 

The Takeaway

If you eat late at night, or find that you frequently eat a snack before bed, you may want to ditch that habit. Ideally, you should have your largest meal during the middle of the day for lunch and eat a lighter dinner. That way, the body has more time to digest the food you eat. Nevertheless, more research is needed to determine exactly what eating late does to the body. This study simply encored the fact that you should avoid large meals and unhealthy options late at night. 

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It is no secret that antidepressants can cause weight gain, which is one reason people want to avoid them. A recent study highlighted exactly which antidepressants are more likely than others to increase body weight. Researchers examined the electronic health records of more than 183,000 people (aged 18 to 80) in the United States taking antidepressants for the first time. The team tracked overall weight for 24 months. 

Researchers compared various drugs to Zoloft, the most readily prescribed antidepressant among study participants. After six months, Zoloft users gained half a pound, and people taking Prozac experienced similar weight gain. Those prescribed Cymbalta, Paxil, and Celexa gained a little more on average. Lexapro users experienced the most weight gain of 1.4 pounds at the six-month mark. That number increased to 3.6 pounds after 24 months. Although people taking Wellbutrin did not experience weight gain at six months, they did gain a pound after 24 months. 

Researchers suggest that people who experience unwanted weight gain as a side effect of taking antidepressant are less likely to continue taking medication. That is why study authors wanted to compare weight gain across first-line antidepressants. Understanding this may help inform clinicians to make the best decisions for the overall health of their patients. 

Why Is Weight Gain A Common Side Effect?

The exact mechanism for weight gain is not fully understood, and it wasn’t explored in the study. Some researchers suspect a few reasons as to why antidepressants may cause some people to gain weight. Health experts believe that it has to do with an increase in serotonin, the chemical that plays a role in overall mood. 

Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, and Celexa all raise serotonin levels. Similarly histamine receptors, such as tricyclic antidepressants, raise serotonin levels. Increasing serotonin can enhance a person’s appetite and cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods. Additionally, some research suggests that certain antidepressants can change metabolism by slowing metabolic rate. They may also influence insulin, make people sluggish and lazy, and promote fat storage. 

It is possible for some people to lose weight once they get off antidepressants, but that isn’t feasible for everyone. Some changes that result from taking antidepressants take a long time to wear off, for example, metabolic changes. The extent of weight loss after you discontinue antidepressants can vary depending on medication use, metabolic changes, and overall lifestyle. 

Balancing Weight Gain With Other Factors

According to health experts, weight gain is a factor to consider when deciding on an antidepressant. Not only can weight gain increase feelings of depression, but it can also exacerbate underlying medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or hypertension. Someone who is depressed may also feel overwhelmed by having to manage weight, in addition to their mental health. For this reason, clinicians need to be careful about addressing these concerns prior to prescribing antidepressants. 

Each class of antidepressants works differently, so medical professionals should consider a person’s symptoms and medical history. People with a history of seizures, eating disorders, or those who abruptly quit alcohol or sedatives should not take Wellbutrin. The reason for that is because it can increase the risk of seizures and cause other symptoms, including anxiety, insomnia, and risk of hypertension.

The good news is that antidepressants aren’t necessary for everyone. There are various actions a person can take to reduce symptoms of depression, with therapy being a great one. The main thing that mental health experts want is for people to take action. If you are struggling with depression, do not avoid mental health treatment options, especially if the fear is weight gain. There are many methods to treat depression, and medication isn’t always the answer. Additionally, it may not be the answer for you. Do your research and talk to your healthcare professionals to see what the right option is for you if you have depression.

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There’s nothing more defeating than stepping on a scale after eating right and doing hard workouts, only to realize that you haven’t lost a single pound. Perhaps you were able to lose weight for a bit, but then you reached a plateau. How do you find the will to continue on your health journey if you don’t see positive results? Well, for starters, there may be other factors that are preventing you from losing weight. 

First of all, any efforts to improve your health are noteworthy. Weight loss requires self-awareness and determination, and there is no need to give up hope if you encounter an obstacle. If you want to continue losing body fat and keep it off, you may just have to take a closer look at other factors that influence your ability to lose weight. What are some common culprits? Skimping on sleep and allowing stress to snowball, or not choosing the most nutrient-dense foods are common culprits. Continue reading to know why certain things prevent weight loss and what you can do to achieve success. 

You Are Stressed

If you don’t keep your stress levels in check, you may not achieve your goal weight. Cortisol, the stress hormone, increases your appetite and can cause you to seek unhealthy comfort foods that are high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats. Stress causes you to eat emotionally, not mindfully. 

Managing stress can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. You can tame your tension with a simple meditation practice, a great audiobook, your favorite music, or even a workout. A small study from 2018 monitored adults who engaged in an eight-week stress-management program. The program involved visualization, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation. The adults who took part in this program lost more weight than adults who did not take part in it.

You Are Not Getting Enough Sleep

Sleep deprivation not only leads to tiredness and crankiness, but also unhealthy cravings. Failure to get sufficient sleep night after night can start to affect your weight. A 2022 study found a link between getting fewer than seven hours of sleep per night and a higher risk of obesity. Sleep deprivation increases appetite-bossing hormones, causing you to crave high-calorie food that leads to weight gain.

It can be difficult to get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night. If you stick to a healthy sleep schedule, you may experience a big difference in your sleep. Overweight adults who increased their sleep from 6.5 hours to 8.5 hours per night ended up eating 270 fewer calories per day than people who didn’t get that amount of sleep, according to a 2022 study.

You Have An Underlying Medical Condition

If you are not losing weight with proper diet and exercise and you have your sleep and stress under control, an underlying health condition may be the culprit. Hypothyroidism, for example, makes it very difficult to shed weight. Cushing syndrome or Prader-Willi syndrome can also prevent weight loss. Certain steroids, antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, antipsychotics, and beta blockers can also make weight loss more difficult. 

If you are struggling to lose weight and feel that a medical condition may be preventing weight loss, consult your healthcare professional. In other cases, you may need to pay closer attention to your food intake. Most patients with medical conditions are never “stuck” at their current weight; rather, they need to take extra steps to promote weight loss. 

You Are Choosing Less Nutritious Foods

Highly processed foods, such as white bread, packaged snacks, processed meats, and fried foods may satisfy you in the moment, but they can cause you to eat more. A small 2019 study found that people who could eat as much as they wanted on an assigned ultra-processed food diet ended up eating 500 more calories per day on average than people assigned an unprocessed food diet. Processed foods are engineered to make you eat more. That’s why you can eat a bag of chips, not feel full, and still crave more.

Aim to fill your plate with whole, minimally processed foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and lean protein at each meal. These foods fill you up and keep you satisfied for longer, so you won’t be as tempted to eat processed snacks. 

You Are Gaining Muscle

If you notice that you are losing inches but not weight, you may have put on some muscle. That is especially true if you are exercising regularly, incorporating a mix of strength training and cardiovascular workouts. Your body composition is changing, so even though your weight may be the same, you are likely stronger and leaner. 

If you stick to smart eating habits and exercise regularly, your health and fitness are improving, regardless of the number on the scale. Don’t focus on pounds; rather, track your progress in other ways. You can measure your waist size, for instance. A smaller circumference generally indicates fat loss, even if your weight reads the same.

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Some people are of the mind that the appendix is a useless organ. The belief is that it doesn’t offer any real perks to your overall health. Could that be because it is a perplexing organ? It is a thin tube located where the small intestine meets the large intestine. When something goes wrong with the appendix, especially if the pain leads to an appendicitis, the pain can be intense and unbearable, to say the least. 

Why Do You Have An Appendix?

Researchers agree that the entire digestive system plays an integral role in immune and brain function. That’s all well and good, but what does that have to do with the appendix? Well, the belief is that the appendix is a place for the body to store certain types of gut bacteria that could be changed during an intestinal illness or overuse of antibiotics. Theoretically, good bacteria hide in the appendix and then help repopulate the rest of the colon with healthy bacteria, should things ever go out of whack. 

Although the theory (above) sounds nice, it is unproven, as are most theories about the appendix. If there is a blockage in the appendix, or it swells up or gets infected, then you have appendicitis. This is most common among people between the ages of 10 and 30, with 8.6% of men and 6.7% of women being diagnosed at some point in their lifetime. 

Because of medical advancements and healthcare, appendicitis is no longer life-threatening. That said, about 50% of people with appendicitis do not have the regular symptoms indicative of the illness. Those symptoms include specific abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting, all of which are seen in pregnant women, children, and elderly seniors. Physicians warn that people should also be mindful of the uncommon symptoms of appendicitis, which are detailed below. 

Loss Of Appetite

If you don’t have the same desire to eat as you used to, then you are likely experiencing loss of appetite. Believe it or not, loss of appetite is an early sign of appendicitis, according to health experts. 

Constipation or Diarrhea 

Are both of these symptoms common among other digestive disorders? Absolutely, which makes it difficult to discern whether constipation or diarrhea indicates appendicitis. Doctors suggest that patients experiencing appendicitis may experience constipation or diarrhea. Although these are unexpected symptoms, you do want to pay attention to them to cover all your bases. 

Pain In The Lower Right Abdomen

The appendix is located in the lower right portion of the abdomen, so it stands to reason that appendicitis pain will be concentrated in that same area. Most people tend to feel the pain near the belly button, but it moves to the lower right abdomen. Once it moves to that area, the pain becomes sharp and severe, almost crippling. It’s time to get to a hospital at that point because the pain will only increase, along with the risk of death. The pain can also radiate toward the hip. 

Lower Back Pain

It is normal to feel as though the pain in the lower right abdomen is not going away. In addition to radiating toward the hip, appendicitis pain can also extend to the lower right side of the back. That pain can mimic the pain related to chronic lower back pain or sciatic pain. Some people may even experience hamstring pain or pain near the rectum. If this pain is not normal for you and you did not strain your back, pay attention to these signs. 

If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms and you believe you have appendicitis, seek medical attention. High fever and severe abdominal pain may require emergency attention. Clinicians can evaluate your situation and conduct an exam and bloodwork to determine what medical attention you need.

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If you are an older adult, you are well aware that your appetite isn’t what it used to be. Perhaps you’ve traded a plate of pancakes, eggs, bacon, and toast for a small bowl of oatmeal. Tackling the grandiose meals of your youth seems like an impossible feat in your older age. Why exactly is this and what happened to your body?

Older adults usually cut back on portions and reach for foods that are easier to digest. Eating smaller portions isn’t necessarily a bad thing if the meals provide ample nutrition. A problem can arise if loss of appetite stems from an underlying health issue. If you don’t address this issue, you may experience weight loss, which can increase the risk of osteoporosis, anemia, trouble balancing, or other illnesses. 

Dietitians state that, while proper nutrition is vital for everyone, it is especially important for older adults. Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet can help older adults retain energy and reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases. If you or someone you know has recently lost an interest in food more so than before, the following reasons may provide more explanation. 

Dental Issues

You can have problems with your teeth and gums from childhood into old age. The problem is that dental issues become more common as you get older. If you have problems with your teeth and gums, eating is less enjoyable, so you may eat less. Tooth loss, poor-fitting dentures, and other problems make it harder to chew. Untreated cavities or gum disease may cause pain while chewing.

Colds Or Infections

The immune system naturally declines with age, which makes older adults more susceptible to colds and infections. If you are sick, you may only have an appetite for some toast or a few bites of soup. Other food options that have more sustenance may not appeal to you. If the illness or infection causes dehydration, you are less likely to eat food, according to health experts.

Age-Related Physical Changes

As covered so far, your appetite can shrink as you get older. One cause that health experts attribute this to is your sense of taste and smell diminish with age, making food less appealing. If you are less active than you used to be, you may not require as much energy to fuel the body as you did as a young person, according to a 2020 review. The less fuel you need, the less likely you are to eat large amounts of food.

Changing Social Circumstances

What exactly do social circumstances have to do with your appetite, you ask? Well, your living situation may change and fewer people may live in your household. That means that you don’t cook for large groups of family any longer because you may live alone and eat by yourself. The unfortunate reality is that older people are twice as likely to have poor appetite when living alone. As your social circumstances change and increase loneliness, you may lose your appetite even more. One of the most common symptoms of depression is loss of appetite, so make sure to care for your mental health if this factors into your appetite. 

Cognitive Decline

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are common age-related cognitive disorders. In addition to loss of memory and forgetfulness, cognitive decline increases the risk for depression which often leads to weight loss due to lack of interest in food. Studies note that eating regular meals also proves to be challenging for people with Alzheimer’s disease. This may stem from overstimulation or too many food choices. They may also have trouble focusing on the food if there are other distractions present. Lastly, a person with Alzheimer’s may forget to eat or stop eating if the condition is more severe. 

Medications And Chronic Diseases

Chronic health issues can accompany old age if you do not take care of the body. As an older person, the risk of chronic pain, heart failure, kidney failure, liver disease, cancer, and more increases. All of those can decrease your appetite, and some conditions (such as arthritis) may affect your ability to hold utensils, which makes it harder to eat. Medications that doctors prescribe for some of these conditions also affect appetite. Additionally, medications can alter your taste preferences, cause dry mouth, or make you less hungry, according to health experts.

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