Anxiety can make you eat more, or lose appetite

These early stage cancers generally are treated with single modality treatments which are either done by surgery/ laser or radiotherapy alone. Today, laser treatment is a new therapy available to treat throat cancer without removing voice box. Based on the subset involved, we could discuss more about the side effects. Generally, one should be able to work and exercise as regularly without much of a weakness. In fact, we have several patients who come for treatment and then head back to work within 30 minutes. With the advent on newer patient- friendly technology, side effects following the treatment have changed dramatically. At this stage, we would stress on the importance of good and healthy nutrition, yoga or meditation which not only promotes healing but improves mental wellbeing. Dr. Vishal Rao - Consultant - Head and Neck Surgeon

There is a close and direct link between stress and appetite. When a person is stressed or anxious, gastric acids are released and if the person is already suffering from gastric trouble, the increased stress can make the condition more severe. While for some, anxiety can make them eat more, for some it could diminish their appetite. For example, when some people are stressed about exams or any upcoming events, they end up eating more. Some, when extremely upset or stressed can go on for many days without having an appetite. Stress also has an indirect effect on the satiety centre of the brain, that actually instructs you about food intake. Dr R Sundararaman, Head of Department, Internal Medicine, SIMS Hospital