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Anorexia Nervosa and Heart Failure
Anorexia nervosa (AN) can have a major impact on heart health.
The heart beats both day and night, pushing blood (which contains nutrients and oxygen) throughout your body.1 But the malnutrition and weight loss often tied to anorexia can cause the muscle to grow smaller and weaker, inhibiting its ability to do this vital work.2
Still, heart failure is one of the most manageable forms of heart disease, and it is possible to regain a healthy heart in time.
Signs of Heart Failure Caused by Anorexia
Heart failure may conjure the image of a heart that has stopped working entirely. But the condition actually describes a heart that isn’t pumping as well as it should be.3
Every cell in your body relies on your heart. With each beat, the muscle pushes blood rich in oxygen and nutrients to cells, nourishing them and allowing them to function properly.3
But a weakened heart doesn’t push as effectively. As a result, your cells begin to suffer. The signs can be subtle, but they can feel like:3
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
Even if these effects set in, you may not notice any issues with your heart. The symptoms can more often feel like trouble with everyday activities, like climbing stairs or carrying groceries.
A doctor can help you determine if you’re experiencing signs of heart failure.
How Does Anorexia Cause Heart Failure?
Many aspects of anorexia nervosa can contribute to cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure and other heart conditions. Some of the most common potential connections include:4
- Poor nutrition: A diet low in protein, thiamine, or both could harm your heart.
- Poisoning: Some people with AN use powerful laxatives and emetics to aid vomiting and weight loss. Some products, like ipecac, can damage the heart muscle.
- Stress: Some heart conditions, such as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, can be triggered by emotional or physical stress and have been linked to anorexia nervosa.
- Refeeding syndrome: Anorexia nervosa often causes significant electrolyte imbalances. If you start eating too much again, too quickly, it can further the imbalance and trigger so-called refeeding syndrome. Heart failure can develop as a result.
Most of these issues develop over time. A restricted diet doesn’t immediately lead to heart failure, in most cases. But the longer unhelpful eating patterns persist, the more damage they can do to the heart.
Other Heart Problems Caused by Anorexia
While heart failure presents a significant problem for people who struggle with anorexia, it’s not the only heart issue connected to the condition. Many people with AN also develop heart rhythm abnormalities.
Your heart uses a complicated electrical system to trigger beats. Poor nutrition, including electrolyte imbalances, can disrupt this delicate process.
QT Syndrome
Up to 40% of patients struggling with anorexia nervosa in one study were found to have long QT syndrome. A heart signaling disorder, the condition can cause fast and erratic heartbeats, leading to seizures, fainting, and sudden cardiac death.5
Bradycardia
Anorexia has also been tied to an abnormally slow heartbeat. Called bradycardia, the condition is caused by a shrinking heart muscle, leaving the heart unable to pump blood properly.2
How is Heart Failure Treated?
Heart failure can be dangerous or even deadly, but fortunately, the condition is also treatable.
Working with a doctor to safely regain weight has been shown to improve heart failure symptoms significantly. One study suggested that cardiac issues found in individuals of low weight could be reversed.6
Devices
In the most severe scenarios, devices called defibrillators can be used to revive patients who suffer from arrhythmias. These devices send an electrical shock to your heart, which can restore a normal heartbeat.7 Follow-up treatments in these cases may include a pacemaker to keep your heart beating on time.
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Regardless of the treatment you receive, maintaining a healthy weight is an important aspect of keeping up heart health.
As you continue your recovery journey, it’s important to consult with your doctor or medical team and track your progress toward healing.
FAQs
Can anorexia cause heart problems?
Yes. Anorexia is closely related to several heart problems. Limited food intake can reduce the size and strength of every muscle in your body, including your heart. Electrolyte imbalances from malnutrition can also lead to abnormal heart rhythms.2,8
Can anorexia cause heart failure?
Yes, although it’s not the most common cardiac problem tied to anorexia.
Products like laxatives, which are sometimes used by people who struggle with anorexia nervosa, can further harm your heart by causing electrolyte imbalances.2
Are anorexia and heart attacks connected?
Yes. Anorexia can cause extreme electrolyte imbalances that can lead to cardiac arrest.9
Anorexia can also:9
– Cause the heart muscle to shrink
– Slow the heart rate
– Lower blood pressure
– Cause fluid buildup around the heart
– Create irregular heart rhythms.
These effects can increase the risk of heart failure.9
Is anorexia heart damage permanent?
Not necessarily.
The type of damage caused by heart failure may improve in cases where patients regain—and then maintain—a healthy weight.6 Still, this process can be delicate. It’s important to work with your doctor to regain and maintain weight in a safe and healthy way.
Recovery from Anorexia-Related Heart Damage
Your heart is arguably the most important muscle in your body, and may be put at risk by the unhelpful behaviors related to anorexia nervosa.
If you or a loved one has experienced any signs or symptoms of AN, you should speak with a doctor. Seeking help as soon as possible is important for limiting the potential heart damage caused by the condition.
But it’s important to remember that recovery is always possible, even after some heart damage has appeared. When it comes to seeking treatment for anorexia nervosa, it’s never too late.
Resources
- Heart. (2024). Cleveland Clinic. Accessed January 2026.
- Williamson L. (2024). How eating disorders can damage the heart. American Heart Association. Accessed May 2026.
- What Is Heart Failure? (2017). American Heart Association. Accessed August 2022.
- Sardar MR, Greway A, DeAngelis M, Tysko EO, Lehmann S, Wohlstetter M, & Patel R. (2015). Cardiovascular Impact of Eating Disorders in Adults: A Single Center Experience and Literature Review. Heart views; 16(3):88–92.
- Mont L, Castro J. (2003). Anorexia Nervosa: A Disease with Potentially Lethal Repercussions on the Heart. Revista Espanola de Cardiologica; 56(7):652-653.
- Flamarique I, Vidal B, Plana MT, Andrés-Perpiñá S, Gárriz M, Sánchez P, Pajuelo C, Mont L, Castro-Fornieles J. (2022). Long-Term Cardiac Assessment in a Sample of Adolescent-Onset Anorexia Nervosa. Journal of Eating Disorders; 10(12).
- Heart Treatments. (2022). National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed May 2026.
- Casper RC. (2020). Might Starvation-Induced Adaptations in Muscle Mass, Muscle Morphology and Muscle Function Contribute to the Increased Urge for Movement and to Spontaneous Physical Activity in Anorexia Nervosa? Nutrients; 12(7):2060.
- Eating Disorders and Your Heart. (2025). Northwestern Medicine. Accessed May 2026.
Last Update
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
Reviewed by: Dan Wagener, MA
