Poor understanding of gastroparesis can affect patients

August has been marked as Gastroparesis Awareness Month with the goal of raising awareness of this condition in order to improve patient care, according to an International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders press release.

Also referred to as delayed gastric emptying, gastroparesis remains poorly understood despite increasing incidence, the release said. It occurs in people of all ages and while the most common known cause of gastroparesis is long-standing diabetes, its cause is often unknown and typically is deemed idiopathic. Gastroparesis also can occur as a complication of other disease, surgery or medication, the release said.

“Gastroparesis can have a significant impact on a person’s daily life,” Nancy Norton, president and founder of the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, said in the release. Symptoms, which usually occur during or after eating, include nausea, vomiting, dry heaves, stomach fullness after eating normal portions and inability to finish a meal. Bloating, stomach discomfort or pain, weight loss from decreased appetite and heartburn also can occur, according to the release. Complications can include severe dehydration, obstruction and malnutrition.

“Symptoms can be disabling and for some people even life-threatening,” Norton said, because they “can be similar to those that occur in other conditions. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis from a doctor so that effective treatment can begin.”

Common treatments for gastroparesis are long-term dietary interventions and medications, and more serious therapies include tube feeding or surgery, according to the release.