There are some childhood habits which go on for life long and long period of time. This might or might not cause any complication on health, but one habit which can take a toll is about eating chalk. This is a very common issue in children and even adults tend to eat chalk sometimes. It is not any food which can is delicious in taste but it does cause a type of addiction. So is eating chalk really a health problem. Let us discuss about effects of eating chalk regularly and know some problems related to craving of chalk.
Is Eating Chalk a Real Addiction?
Eating chalk can be become a addiction at times and especially it is very prevalent in children. According to Dr. Sumeet Nigam, General Physician from Sahara Hospital, Lucknow, if the person find compulsion of eating chalk on a daily basis or in every few hours, then it could be a medical condition called pica. It can cause digestive issues and serious concerning problems in the future.
Why Do People Like Eating Chalk?
Dr. Sumeet says that there could be multiple reasons for people liking chalk. But in particular eating chalk is related to having disorder called pica, in which non-food products are liked more by people. In this disorder, the linking for raw starch, ice, chalk and similar items increase significantly and become an addiction.
Pica is an eating disorder that is linked to obsessive compulsive behaviour in people. It can also be prevalent in conditions such as malnutrition and during pregnancy. Those people who have this chalk eating disorder have lower red blood cell count that can reduce over time. Addiction related to eating chalk can be also leads to lower levels of zinc in the body.
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Effects of Eating Chalk on Children
Children have higher tendency to induce liking of chalk. They also eat other non-food items more often. This is not considered atypical behaviour when it comes to children because at developmental stage, children try to eat as many things which they find interesting.
Pica is considered for diagnosis in the early ages because it can determined by how long someone is eating chalk for. There are some questions that could possibly determine pica disorder in kids.
- How long the child has been eating chalk for
- Frequency of eating chalk or urge to eat chalk
- How many chalk or quantity of consumption of chalk
- Other habit or non-food items the child has
- Pattern of eating chalk if there is some
1. Food poisoning
Higher frequency of eating chalk is related to food poisoning risk. Children tend to eat chalk more often and can fall for certain diseases related to food poisoning as well. Conditions such as anaemia and other problems could pose a risk of diseases such as OCD in the future as well. Those children who eat chalk are also in habit of eating dirt, and non-food items such as paper, ink as well.
2. Tooth damage or cavities
Even though chalk might not affect you in small amount, it can be problematic to your teeth and gums. This is because chalk has components that stick in the gaps between teeth and eradicate the teeth causing cavities. Eating chalk can also disrupt your system and internal organs of the body. Children to tend to have pica disorder of eating chalks tend to have cavities at early age.
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3. Digestive Problems
Since it is not an edible product, it does causes damage to the digestive system leading to problems on a big scale. This can be possible because digestive issues become common in the times where chalk gets accumulated in digestive organs and disrupt the system. It obstructs the digestive process and leads to problems in digestion. If pica is not controlled it time, it can damage your organs and cause permanent inflammation of tissues.
Risks of Eating Chalk
Eating chalk in excessive amount or for a long period of time can cause harmful effects to your health. These effects can lead to risk of diseases and health issues such as-
- Constipation
- Obstruction in bowel movements
- Cavities and tooth damage
- Lead poisoning
- Infection of parasites
- Difficulty in digesting food
- Loss of appetite
- Imbalance of nutrition, especially for pregnant women
How can disorder of eating chalk be treated?
Eating chalk can cause problems mentioned above, so it is also important to control the following health problems and its symptoms before going to the main issue.
A blood test is often taken to determine the loss of nutrients and nutritional deficiency in the body. According to the deficiency, supplements are given. This can also control the behaviour problems of eating chalk regularly. Other supplements of medicines are given to control the craving of chalk. It can also include condition treating conditions such as obsessive compulsive disorder in adults. According to the underlying condition and severity, therapy and medication is provided.
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