 First
off, the practitioner must be attuned to the idea that nutritional factors
play a role in practically every disease.
- Causative or at least contributing, or
- Affecting the rate and/or quality of
recovery
No, it doesn't take a wizard to figure out
what's going on. But if nutrition isn't on your radar screen,
you'll never make the right diagnosis or come up with the optimal treatment plan.
Keep in mind that even affluent societies are not immune to
undernutrition. Here are some circumstances to keep in mind.
- Vulnerable populations.
Homeless people; the aged and children, pregnancy.
- Chronic alcoholism.
Vitamin and caloric deficiency. Liver and pancreatic disease leads to
inability to absorb fats, and by extension fat soluble vitamins.
- Acute and chronic illness.
Basal metabolic rate accelerates with many illnesses (in burn patients
it may actually double). Failure to appreciate the increased nutritional
need may compromise recovery.
- Self-imposed dietary restrictions.
Body image is preeminent for some people. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia
and other less overt eating disorders affect many people.
- Less common causes.
Malabsorption syndromes, genetic defects and drugs that may block the
uptake of a particular nutrient.
So, how do we
evaluate a patient suspected of having a
problem with adequate nutrition? |
