People living with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) often experience loss of appetite, leading to unintentional weight loss, greater fatigue and even malnutrition.
As amyloid fibrils deposit in the gastrointestinal tract, they affect the digestive system, the stomach and intestines.
What is ATTR-CM?
Transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a rare progressive disease of the heart muscle that leads to congestive heart failure. It occurs when the transthyretin protein produced by the liver is unstable. Symptoms include fatigue; shortness of breath; irregular heart rate or palpitations; swelling of the legs, ankles and stomach; brain fog; wheezing; and dizziness. It often goes underdiagnosed because of a lack of awareness and knowledge of the disease. There is currently no cure for ATTR-CM.
A nutritious diet is essential to maintain physical and mental strength and boost immunity to effectively manage the daily effects of ATTR-CM.
Read more about ATTR-CM signs and symptoms
How does ATTR-CM causes loss of appetite?
In ATTR-CM, the faulty transthyretin (TTR) protein misfolds and clumps together before being deposited throughout the body.
Amyloid deposits in the gastrointestinal tract can cause symptoms including nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, reflux, bleeding and weight loss.
The buildup of amyloid fibrils in the stomach and intestines can impair digestion and give a feeling of fullness, as the stomach isn’t emptying as it should.
General abdominal discomfort from bloating, swelling and fluid retention can also affect appetite. So too can cardiac-related ATTR-CM symptoms such as fatigue, headache, coughing, wheezing, heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, nausea and low energy.
A loss of appetite may also be a side effect of heart failure medicine such as beta-blockers or diuretics that suppress appetite.
How to manage loss of appetite with ATTR-CM
You may need to make some changes to your usual diet to manage loss of appetite. Ask your health care team to refer you to a dietitian for advice on preparing nutritious, easy-to-digest meals.
In the meantime, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
- Eat smaller portions to allow your stomach time to digest and stop you from feeling too full.
- Exercise regularly to help digestion and build appetite. Low-impact physical activity will boost your circulation and help increase your metabolism.
- Choose foods you like to eat and boost their flavor with spices and herbs.
- Target high-protein foods and leafy greens for vitamins, nutrition and energy.
- Don’t drink liquids during meals as this can fill you up quickly.
- Ask your doctor if a change to your medication may help bring back your appetite.
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