14 Possible Causes of Polyphagia

An increased appetite or excessive hunger can be a sign of several different diseases. The medical term for this is polyphagia. Polyphagia is known to be one of the three main signs that a person may have developed diabetes.

Typically, an increase in appetite is a normal response to something normal such as strenuous activity or intensive exercise.

However, an intense increase in appetite or hunger that does not go away no matter how much you eat can be a sign that there is a more severe issue going on within the body.

If you have noticed that you have had an increase in appetite that is not the result of being physically active, it is a good idea to discuss this symptom with your doctor.

Here are 8 possible causes of polyphagia to consider as well as when you should seek medical advice for them. 

1. Stress

When a person is exposed to an increased amount of stress, the stress hormone known as cortisol is released into the body. Cortisol helps to prepare the body to deal with whatever is causing the stress by signaling for the release of glucose into the bloodstream.

If the extra source of energy is not used by the body through physical activity, the body will then flood the bloodstream with insulin in order to remove the extra glucose from the blood. This can result in a person experiencing low blood sugar, which then results in a person feeling hungry.

When this occurs often enough it is referred to as polyphagia. One of the best ways to alleviate polyphagia is to make sure that you find ways to reduce stress. Exercise, personal care, and meditation are all great ways to alleviate stress and reduce the risk of developing polyphagia.