Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a condition in which the muscles of the stomach and intestine won’t work properly and thus leads to delayed emptying of the stomach. In normal case the stomach contracts and thus pushes the food particles to move down in to the intestine for further digestion. This process of contraction and further movement of food through intestine is controlled by vagus nerve. When this vagus nerve gets damaged then it may impair the normal functioning of the stomach and intestine and then food moves very slowly and at times does not move through the digestive system. Gastroparesis is common in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Causes of Gastroparesis
The major reason for gastroparesis is diabetes. The high level of sugar in blood may cause chemical changes to the nerves and thus vagus nerve get damaged. Diabetes also cause damage to the blood vessels that carry nutrients and oxygen to the nerves and this in turn end up with nerve damage. Any viral infection that affects the nerve may also cause gastroparesis. Certain medications like narcotics, anticholinergics that slows down the intestinal contractions may also cause this disease. Some disorders like smooth muscle disorders, metabolic disorders, nervous system disorders, gastroesophageal reflux, bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa etc may also cause gastroparesis. Deficiency of minerals like potassium may also results in gastroparesis. Any stomach surgery may also increase your risk for getting this disease. Smoking, drinking alcohol, intake of caffeinated products etc may also increase your risks for gastroparesis.
Symptoms of Gastroparesis
The food when remains in the stomach for a long time leads to the fermentation of the food and thus results in the development of bacteria inside the stomach. These accumulated foods may get hardened in to a solid mass and thus leads to obstruction in stomach, nausea, vomiting etc. People who have gastroparesis may have heartburn and pain in upper abdominal region. This may also leads to a feeling of fullness while starting your meals itself. There may also be lack of appetite and weight loss. Deficiency of nutrients are also common among these patients due to the poor absorption of nutrients from the digestive system.
You may get relief from these symptoms by altering your food habits. So talk to your doctor about the discomfort
