Gastroparesis: symptoms, causes, to treatment • hello healthy

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Definition

What is gastroparesis?

Gastroparesis is a condition in which the stomach muscles become weak and interfere with the ability to digest food. This condition affects the spontaneous movement of the muscles (motility) normal in your stomach.

Usually, strong muscle contractions automatically push food through your digestive tract. However, if you have gastroparesis, your stomach motility slows down or doesn't work at all. As a result, the emptying process of the stomach becomes obstructed.

Certain medications, such as opioid pain relievers, some antidepressants, and high blood pressure and allergy medications, can block gastric emptying and cause symptoms of gastroparesis. These medications can worsen the condition for people with gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis is a condition that can interfere with normal digestion, causing nausea and vomiting, as well as problems with blood sugar levels and nutrition. The cause of this condition is usually unknown.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, this condition is a complication of diabetes. Some people also develop gastroparesis after going through surgery. Diet changes and medications can help you deal with this condition.

How common is this condition?

Young and middle-aged women are often affected by this disease. This disease can be overcome by reducing risk factors. Please discuss with your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of gastroparesis?

The following signs and symptoms of gastric motility disorders and gastroparesis are

• Abdominal bloating and distension
• Stomach ache
• Hypoglycemia or abnormal blood sugar levels
• Nausea
• Feeling full after a few mouthfuls, and anorexia
• Losing weight due to lack of nutrition

There may be some signs or symptoms not listed above. If you are concerned about the symptoms, please consult your doctor.

When should you see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if your symptoms are persistent and they don't go away. Everyone's body reacts differently. Always discuss with your doctor what is best for your situation.

Cause

What causes gastroparesis?

Gastric motility disorders and gastroparesis are conditions for which the cause is unknown. However, scientists say this disease is caused by injury to the stomach in controlling the nerves.

The vagus nerve helps manage complex processes in your digestive tract, including signaling your stomach muscles to contract and pushing food into the small intestine. The damaged vagus nerve cannot send signals normally to the abdominal muscles.

As a result, food stays in your stomach longer, rather than moving normally to the small intestine for digestion.

These nerves can be damaged possibly because you have diabetes or have had stomach surgery. In addition, the abuse of sleeping pills, calcium inhibitors, chemotherapy drugs, as well as endocrine or immune diseases also causes gastroparesis and gastric motility disorders.

Risk factors

What increases the risk of gastroparesis?

The risk factors for gastric motility disorders and gastroparesis are:

• Diabetes
• Stomach or esophageal surgery
• Infection (often caused by a virus)
• Some drugs that slow down the digestive process, such as sleeping pills
• Some cancer treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy
• Connecting network disruption
• Neurological disease, such as Parkinson's or multiple sclerosis
• Hypothyroidism

Not having risk factors doesn't mean you can't get this disease. These factors are common and are for reference only. You should consult your doctor for more details.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the treatment options for gastroparesis?

Treatment for gastroparesis starts with identifying and addressing the underlying cause. If diabetes is the cause of this condition, your doctor can help you treat it.

Change your diet

Diabetes patients should control their blood sugar levels to reduce symptoms of diseases that cause gastroparesis and gastric motility disorders. You should divide your meals throughout the day and avoid fatty, fibrous, or solid foods to improve digestibility.

Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian to determine which foods are right for you. A nutritionist may tell you about the diet and recommended foods for stomach health, such as the following:

• Eat smaller meals more often
• Chew food completely
• Eat cooked vegetables and fruits
• Avoid fibrous fruits and vegetables, such as oranges and broccoli
• Choose foods that are low in fat, but if you can, stick to small portions of fatty foods
• Eat soup or liquid food to make it easier to chew
• Drink water as much as 1-1.5 liters per day
• Avoid carbonated drinks, alcohol, and cigarettes
• Avoid lying down, just after eating
• Take vitamins regularly

Drugs

If this treatment is ineffective, the doctor will prescribe abdominal muscle medications such as metoclopramide (REGLAN) and erythromycin (Eryc, EES).

If you are nauseous or vomiting, your doctor will prescribe anithemetics such as prochlorperazine (Compro), thiethylperazine and diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Unisom).

Surgical treatment

If the patient cannot absorb any food or drink, the doctor will perform a surgical procedure to place a feeding tube in the intestine. The doctor may also recommend a gastric ventilation tube to help relieve pressure from the stomach contents.

The feeding tube can pass through your nose or mouth, or directly into the small intestine, through the skin. This tube is usually placed temporarily and is only used when gastroparesis is severe or when blood sugar levels cannot be controlled by other means.

What are the most common tests to diagnose this condition?

There are several tests for the diagnosis of gastric motility and gastroparesis:

• Take a contrast of barium in the upper part of the digestive tract and measure how deep the barium passes through the stomach
• Using an endoscope in the upper gastrointestinal tract to see if the gastric mucosa has any abnormalities
• Breathing test
• CT Scan

Home remedies

What lifestyle changes or home remedies help treat gastroparesis?

The following lifestyle and home remedies can help you treat gastroparesis and gastric motility disorders:

• Follow the doctor's instructions, do not use drugs without a prescription or stop without the doctor's permission
• Schedule an examination to control the progress of your symptoms as well as your health condition
• Take control of your blood sugar levels. You will need to replace some diabetes medications or insulin
• Avoid fibrous and fatty foods.

If you have any questions, please consult with your doctor to find out the best solution for you.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.