The cessation of menses, or loss of your period which is known as amenorrhea, is the sign that medical attention is required. Because the body is literally starving, vital organs shift into "slow gear.". Loss of the period is a relatively early sign of major health issues and can accompany a reduction in breathing rate, pulse, blood pressure and thyroid function. Nails and hair become brittle; the skin dries, yellows and becomes covered with soft hair called lanugo. Dehydration is common, along with anemia, cardiac arrhythmia, and the loss of cardiac muscle.