Causes Of Gastroparesis

October 13, 2023

Gastroparesis is the dysfunction of stomach muscles, and due to this condition, the food you eat will stay in your abdomen for a longer time than necessary rather than entering your small intestine. If the patient is eating a meal, he or she may feel full sooner than expected even after just consuming a small portion. Furthermore, undigested food that stays in the abdomen for a long time can make the person feel nauseous along with the urge to vomit. Gastroparesis can also cause a lack of appetite, which may lead to malnutrition, and patients who aren't eating can expect to lose weight without intention. Additional symptoms include abdominal discomfort, bloating, and heartburn. Sometimes the condition can cause irregular blood sugar levels.

Start reading now to learn about the various causes of this condition.

Damage To Vagus Nerve

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How gastroparesis occurs has yet to be discovered; however, there are several risk factors considered to play a role in the condition's cause, such as vagus nerve damage.

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body and is responsible for many functions. It is especially essential for proper operation of the digestive tract. The nerve is what tells the abdominal muscles to transport food from the abdomen to the small intestine, as the muscles won't operate if the vagus nerve is damaged.

The vagus nerve is vulnerable to damage from diseases such as Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Some autoimmune diseases and virus infections (HIV) are also believed to have a negative impact on the vagus nerve. In some cases, the vague nerve stops working properly due to alcohol abuse, as drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can have some harmful effects on the nervous system. Finally, surgical complications could also affect the vagus nerve.

Speaking of surgery, continue reading to learn more about how it can raise the risk of gastroparesis.

Abdominal Or Esophageal Surgery

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It is suggested gastroparesis could develop following abdominal or esophageal surgery. Out of a study with 146 patients with gastroparesis, surgery was marked as the potential cause for thirteen percent of the patients.

Vagotomy, which is used most often for treating peptic ulcers, is a surgical procedure known to cause gastroparesis. As part of the procedure, the doctor removes some or all of the vagus nerve. At least five percent of people who receive a vagotomy report gastroparesis symptoms.

Nissen fundoplication, used as a treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is another surgical procedure thought to have a role in the development of gastroparesis. One study reported patients who underwent Nissen fundoplication developed symptoms within three months of the operation.

On the other hand, surgery can be useful for treating gastroparesis. You can speak with a doctor about whether or not surgery would be the best option for your condition.

Continue reading to learn the details about the connection between diabetes and gastroparesis.

Diabetes

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Diabetes, which occurs when the blood glucose levels are above normal, is considered to be the most common cause of gastroparesis. Blood glucose levels being extremely high for a long time can interfere with the functioning of the vagus nerve as well as other organs involved in the digestive process. Additionally, a high sugar presence in the blood puts a lot of stress on the blood vessels that transport oxygen to the body's nerves.

A remedy for preventing diabetic gastroparesis is by cutting down on foods high in processed sugar and monitoring blood glucose levels. Keep your diet low in fat and fiber as these elements work against stomach emptying. Eat more soft and easy to chew foods. Eating smaller portions can also help with gastroparesis symptoms. In addition, your doctor could suggest you take more insulin or change when you take it.

Gastroparesis affects just as many patients with Type 1 diabetes as those with Type 2, and some patients who develop gastroparesis are diabetic for more than a decade.

Continue reading to discover how medication can result in this condition.

Medications

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Individuals can come down with gastroparesis by the intake of medications like narcotics, calcium channel blockers, anticholinergics, and antidepressants, which are thought to slow down the movement of food from the stomach. Some of these are used to treat conditions like high blood pressure and for relieving pain.

Interferon alfa, a medicine known to treat several types of cancer along with hepatitis, is one of the many specific medications believed to cause gastroparesis. Lithium, a treatment for bipolar disorder, has been named as a risk factor for gastroparesis. Dopamine receptor agonists, for treating Parkinson's disease, and aluminum hydroxide antacids may play a role as well.

Another medicine shown to stimulate gastroparesis is clonidine. Studies suggest this drug could be useful for treating the condition as well; however, there isn't enough evidence to support this theory. Other medications linked to gastroparesis include anti-diabetic drugs such as pramlintide, liraglutide, and exenatide.

Continue reading to learn about precisely how Parkinson's disease can result in gastroparesis.

Parkinson's Disease

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Gastroparesis may develop as a symptom of Parkinson's disease, which can affect the nervous system, including the vagus nerve. The cause of Parkinson's is still unknown, but a 2017 study by Swedish scientists states the illness can develop in the gut and work its way to the brain through the vagus nerve.

It has been estimated at least seventy percent of patients with Parkinson's suffer from gastroparesis symptoms such as abdominal bloating, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, nausea, and early satiety. It is also suggested symptoms might slow down the absorption of Parkinson's medication like levodopa.

Symptoms may be treated with the use of prokinetic agents. Another way patients can combat symptoms is by making changes to their diet. Furthermore, some sources have reported a surgical procedure called deep brain stimulation (DBS) can improve symptoms of gastroparesis in Parkinson's patients.

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