Gastroparesis is a condition that either reduces or eliminates the stomach’s ability to properly digest food and move it through the digestive tract. Gastroparesis can be caused by such conditions as diabetes, autoimmune conditions, certain medications, and cancers and cancer treatments. Most cases, however, have no identifiable cause.
Risk factors for gastroparesis include diabetes, having surgery to remove part of the stomach, the buildup of scar tissue on the skin or organs, and using medication that blocks certain nerve signals.
There are a variety of symptoms associated with gastroparesis: bloating, vomiting, nausea, heartburn, and weight loss. The most common symptom is that a person feels full shortly after they start eating a meal.
An upper GI endoscopy is performed by a physician to check for abnormalities in the throat and stomach. A gastric emptying study may also be used to determine the length of time it takes for the stomach to become empty.
It is recommended that a person with gastroparesis change his or her eating habits to avoid putting stress on the digestive system.
Smaller, more frequent meals and eating easier-to-digest and softer foods containing low fat and low fiber will also help.
Taking such medicines as erythromycin and metoclopramide can help the stomach contract and perform its proper function of forcing food along the digestive tract.
