A 19-year-old male student in Ho Chi Minh City was recently rushed to the hospital in a critical condition of severe malnutrition, persistent vomiting, and rapid weight loss due to an addiction to his phone and excessive gaming, which took a heavy toll on his digestive system and overall health.
Severe Malnutrition from Sleep Deprivation and Irregular Eating
The patient was admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology at Thong Nhat Hospital, presenting with symptoms of vomiting after meals and a drastic weight loss of 12kg within just six months. According to his family, the young man had a habit of staying up late to play games and continuously using his phone, which led to missed meals, sleep disturbances, and irregular eating patterns.
After a thorough examination, the doctors diagnosed the patient with severe gastritis and duodenitis, resulting in gastric outlet obstruction – a condition where the passage between the stomach and the small intestine is blocked. This obstruction prevents food from being digested normally, leading to vomiting, food retention, and severe malnutrition. The near absence of subcutaneous fat was a telling sign of the body’s deterioration due to an unhealthy lifestyle.
Life-Saving Surgery and the Risk of “Refeeding Syndrome”
The patient’s condition was primarily attributed to an unhealthy lifestyle, particularly his prolonged disrupted sleep patterns. He underwent a surgical procedure called gastrojejunostomy to create a new digestive pathway, allowing food to bypass the stomach and directly enter the small intestine.
While the surgery itself was not complex, it required meticulous preparation due to the patient’s severely debilitated state. Prior to the operation, he received intravenous nutrition and support from the Nutrition Department to improve his overall health.
Notably, the medical team cautioned about the potential risk of “re-feeding syndrome,” a life-threatening metabolic disturbance that can occur when severely malnourished individuals suddenly receive nutrition. This syndrome can lead to dangerous electrolyte imbalances in the blood and requires careful management.
Ringing the Alarm on Gastric Ulcers in Young People
According to statistics from Thong Nhat Hospital in 2024, they treated 12 cases of gastric perforation in individuals aged 18 to 25, a concerning trend as this age group is typically considered to have stable gastric health.
Medical experts warn that the incidence of gastritis and duodenitis in young people is rising rapidly, largely due to unhealthy lifestyle habits such as:
- Regular sleep deprivation
- Phone and gaming addiction
- Irregular meal times
- Overuse of electronic devices and lack of physical activity
Without timely intervention, these digestive issues can lead to serious complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, gastric perforation, gastric outlet obstruction, and even gastric cancer.
Doctor’s Advice: Embrace a Healthy Lifestyle
- Proper and timely nutrition
- Adequate sleep and reduced late nights
- Limited screen time
- Regular physical activity and exercise
Making these lifestyle changes not only helps prevent gastric issues but also promotes long-term mental and physical well-being. Let’s not sacrifice our health and well-being for temporary entertainment provided by phones and video games.
