Recent Weight Loss

About the Symptom

It refers to a recent noticeable drop in body weight that occurs.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Recent weight loss

Possible Causes

Generally, Recent weight loss can be related to:

• Pancreatic Cancer

  Pancreatic cancers most commonly arise in the cells that line the ducts of the pancreas. Risk factors include heavy alcohol use resulting in chronic pancreatitis, diabetes, obesity, and smoking, and a family history of pancreatic cancer as well as some inherited syndromes. There are usually no symptoms when the tumor is small but later symptoms include yellowing of the skin (jaundice), mid-back pain, abdominal pain or discomfort, weight loss and fatigue.

• Watery Diarrhea, Hypokalemia, and Achlorhydria (WDHA) Syndrome

  WDHA syndrome, which stands for watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, and achlorhydria, is a rare condition caused by an excess of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) secreted by certain tumors. VIP is both a neuromodulator and a neurotransmitter that dilates blood vessels, regulates smooth muscle activity, cell secretion, and blood flow in the gastrointestinal tract.

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

  Also known as ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease, or motor neuron disease, this progressive, degenerative condition affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It results in loss of muscle control, eventually leading to difficulty eating, breathing, and speaking. The exact cause remains unknown and may be due to genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.

• Anorexia Nervosa / Bulimia Nervosa
• Chronic Pancreatitis
• Liver Cancer
• Polymyositis / Dermatomyositis
• Hyperemesis Gravidarum
• Hyperthyroidism

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Recent weight loss may be related to these serious diseases:

• Leukemia

  Leukemia is a cancer of the body's blood cell-forming tissues. Blood cells circulate in our bloodstream and are created and matured in the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. Leukemia involves white blood cells and lymphatic cells and has several types. The cancerous cells are produced in excess and do not function normally. Leukemias can be aggressive and cause symptoms or chronic and smolder for years.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Have you experienced any recent weight loss?
• "When did you first notice your recent weight loss?"
• How is your recent weight loss now?

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