Unexpected Weight Loss Workup

One of your limbs may even look smaller than the other.
Unexpected weight loss workup. Eg cardiac cachexia from heart failure pulmonary cachexia e g. The differential diagnosis of unintended weight loss in the elderly can be extensive. This term excludes weight loss as an expected consequence of treatment eg weight loss from diuretic therapy in patients with heart failure or as a result of a known illness.
Unexplained weight loss in the ambulatory elderly. Sometimes a specific cause isn t found. A reasonable starting point to initiate a workup is unintentional weight loss of 5 or more of the patient s usual body weight within the preceding 6 to 12 months.
This is especially important if you have other symptoms too. Men with unexpected wl are three times as likely as men without unexpected wl to have a diagnosis of cancer within. For this reason it is important to seek medical attention if you or a family member have weight loss that cannot be explained.
1 if measured weights are not available the physician may use indirect means of assessment e g patient s self reported estimate of weight loss change in clothing size a. Muscle loss or muscle wasting can lead to unexpected weight loss the major symptom is muscle weakness. Who is at.
Unintentional weight loss definition. When should i see a doctor about unexplained weight loss. J am geriatr soc.
Usually an unrecognized cancer will have other symptoms or abnormalities of laboratory tests in addition to unexplained weight loss. Weight loss of 10 pounds or more or five percent of body weight over a period of 6 to 12 months is considered unexplained unexplained weight loss can be a symptom of a serious condition or illness. Your body is made of fat mass and.