Digestive condition characterized by prolonged involuntary eating and re-chewing of food: Symptoms, remedies, insights, and beyond
Article: Understanding Rumination Disorder
Rumination disorder, also known as rumination syndrome, is a condition that affects individuals, particularly children and adolescents, by causing them to frequently regurgitate food after eating. This disorder, while not fully understood, is recognised as a functional gastrointestinal disorder or possibly a learned behavioral response triggered by physical or psychological conditions.
The symptoms of rumination disorder are diverse and can include frequent regurgitation, nausea, discomfort, bloating, headaches, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, dental damage, weight loss, heartburn, and gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and constipation. It's important to note that the regurgitated food is usually undigested and lacks the sour or bitter taste associated with acid reflux.
The exact cause of rumination disorder is not known, but in children, possible causes may include severe stress, rejection, a previous eating disorder, lack of environmental stimulation, and neglect. In older children, adolescents, and adults, potential causes may include gastroenteritis, a medical procedure, respiratory infection, psychological stress, and an eating disorder history.
Rumination disorder can have a significant impact on a person's social well-being, causing them to avoid eating before or during social events due to concerns about regurgitating food in front of others. It can also lead to complications such as weight loss, dental damage, electrolyte imbalances, and malnutrition.
Fortunately, the outlook for people with rumination disorder is usually very good. Breathing techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing, and behavioral therapy are often effective in treating symptoms of the disorder. However, people with other associated physical or psychological conditions may require additional treatment. In children and adolescents with no developmental conditions, rumination disorder may be more common in females than males.
It's crucial to remember that anyone who experiences symptoms of rumination disorder should speak with a healthcare professional. While waiting for their appointment, a person can track their symptoms in detail, noting the timings of regurgitations after eating, to help the healthcare professional distinguish rumination disorder from other conditions.
Rumination disorder should not be mistaken for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). While both conditions involve regurgitation, the nature of the regurgitation, symptoms, and timing differ significantly. GERD symptoms include heartburn, acid regurgitation, chest pain, cough, and sometimes dental erosion from acid, whereas rumination syndrome lacks acid-related symptoms and involves more behavioral or neuromuscular dysfunction causing the regurgitation.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) list criteria for the diagnosis of rumination disorder, including standard treatment for GERD not improving symptoms, regurgitation happening shortly after eating and not during sleep, and symptoms first beginning more than 6 months ago and having occurred for a total of 3 months or more since then. According to the DSM-5, doctors should only diagnose rumination disorder when a person experiences repeated regurgitation of food for at least 1 month, the regurgitation is not due to a gastrointestinal condition or another eating disorder, and the person does not retch after regurgitation.
In some cases, the drug baclofen may help improve symptoms of rumination disorder, although it has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this use. Treatment for rumination disorder may also include general relaxation, distractions, aversion training, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Rumination disorder can affect people of any sex, age, and cognitive ability. It's important to raise awareness about this condition to ensure early detection and effective treatment for those affected.
[1] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2021). Rumination disorder. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/rumination-disorder [2] American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. [3] National Organization for Rare Disorders. (2021). Rumination disorder. Retrieved from https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/rumination-disorder/
- Rumination disorder, often associated with frequent food regurgitation and discomfort, is a condition that may involve a combination of learned behaviors and gastrointestinal issues, Nebulously linked to both physical and psychological conditions.
- The undigested nature of the regurgitated food in rumination disorder differentiates it from acid reflux, a disorder characterized by heartburn and acid regurgitation.
- With potential causes varying from stress and eating disorders in children, to medical procedures and psychological stress in adults, understanding the science behind rumination disorder can contribute to improving health-and-wellness.
- To manage the impact of rumination disorder on mental-health and fitness-and-exercise, techniques like diaphragmatic breathing, behavioral therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy may prove beneficial.
- Proper nutrition, crucial for maintaining overall health, can be affected by rumination disorder, highlighting the importance of awareness and early detection to support effective treatment, regardless of sex, age, or cognitive ability.
