Body Area Affected | Effects |
---|---|
Digestive system | Decreased production of stomach acid Shrinking of the stomach Frequent, often fatal diarrhea |
Cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels) | Reduced heart size, reduced amount of blood pumped, slow heart rate, and low blood pressure |
Respiratory system | Slow breathing and reduced lung capacity |
Reproductive system | Reduced size of the ovaries and testes Loss of sex drive (libido) Cessation of menstrual periods |
Nervous system | Apathy and irritability In children, sometimes intellectual disability Intellectual Disability Intellectual disability is significantly below average intellectual functioning present from birth or early infancy, causing limitations in the ability to conduct normal activities of daily... read more Impaired mental function, particularly in older adults Numbness or tingling, particularly in the feet and hands |
Muscles | Reduced muscle size and strength, impairing the ability to exercise or work |
Blood | |
Metabolism (processes the body uses to convert food into energy or to synthesize needed substances) | Low body temperature ( hypothermia Hypothermia Hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature) is often regarded as a cold injury, because it can be caused or made worse by exposure to cold surroundings. Being in an environment that is too... read more ) Accumulation of fluid in the arms, legs, and abdomen Disappearance of fat |
Skin and hair | Thin, dry, inelastic skin Dry, sparse hair that falls out easily A tendency to bruise easily |
Immune system | Impaired ability to fight infections and repair wounds |