Recently, a news report about a woman who ‘ate her hair for 20 years and had a 2-pound hairball removed from her stomach’ has drawn widespread attention. According to reports, the woman began chewing and swallowing her own hair during adolescence—a habit she maintained for nearly two decades without detection or intervention. She recently sought medical help due to severe abdominal pain and digestive issues. Endoscopy and imaging revealed a massive trichobezoar (a hairball) weighing approximately 1 kilogram in her stomach. Surgeons successfully removed it, and fortunately, no serious complications occurred.Medically, this condition—chronic ingestion of hair leading to a gastric mass—is known as trichophagia, often co-occurring with trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling). It is classified as an obsessive-compulsive related disorder. Patients typically pull out and swallow their hair during periods of anxiety, stress, or low mood, and it predominantly affects adolescent females. Without timely intervention, such hairballs can lead to gastric ulcers, bowel obstruction, or even life-threatening perforation.Experts urge that if unusual behaviors like repetitive hair-pulling or hair-eating are observed in children or others, professional psychological or psychiatric help should be sought promptly. Treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy and medication. Additionally, raising public awareness about these mental health conditions can reduce stigma and foster greater understanding and support for affected individuals.
近日，一则关于‘女子吃头发20年，胃内取出2斤毛发’的新闻引发广泛关注。据报道，该女子自青少年时期起便有咀嚼并吞食自己头发的习惯，持续近20年未被察觉或干预。近期因严重腹痛、消化不良等症状就医，经胃镜和影像学检查发现，其胃内已形成一个巨大的毛石（trichobezoar），重达约1公斤。医生通过手术成功将其取出，所幸未造成更严重的并发症。医学上，这种长期摄入毛发导致胃内形成团块的行为被称为‘拔毛食毛症’（trichophagia），常与‘拔毛癖’（trichotillomania）共存，属于一种强迫相关障碍。患者往往在焦虑、压力或情绪低落时出现拔扯并吞食毛发的行为，且多见于青少年女性。若不及时干预，毛石可能引发胃溃疡、肠梗阻甚至穿孔等危及生命的后果。专家提醒，若发现孩子或身边人有反复拔发、吃发等异常行为，应尽早寻求心理科或精神科专业帮助，通过认知行为疗法、药物治疗等方式进行干预。同时，公众也应提高对此类心理行为障碍的认知，减少误解与污名化，为患者提供理解与支持。
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