August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month
Are you affected by or do you know anyone affected by Gastroparesis? Learn more and help raise awareness this month.
Gastroparesis Awareness Month was created by IFFGD, the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, which is a registered nonprofit education and research organization. Its mission is to broaden understanding of GI disorders, support and encourage research, and improve digestive health in adults and children. This month’s goal is to improve understanding of gastroparesis to help patients and families manage the condition, and encourage preventive strategies.
What is gastroparesis?
Support for Gastroparesis (GP) patients and their loved ones is crucial, as it is a condition that’s hard to diagnose, is idiopathic so the cause is unclear, and is incurable, making it a chronic illness. This illness affects five million individuals in the United States.
Also called delayed gastric emptying, GP slows or stops the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine, even though there is no blockage in the stomach or intestines. The burns from symptoms can be debilitating and life-threatening. Long-standing diabetes is the most common known cause of gastroparesis.
How does gastroparesis affect your life?
GP patients were surveyed on the current state of their health in 2019 by the IFFGD. When asked to rate it on a scale of 0 being the worst possible health (or as bad as death) to 100 being a normal healthy life, 75% said their current state of health was 50 or below.
Symptoms show up inconsistently in individuals. They usually occur during or after a meal, and could appear but suddenly or gradually.
Symptoms of gastroparesis include:
Nausea and/or vomiting
Dry heaves
Early fullness and the inability to finish a meal
Stomach pain and discomfort
Stomach fullness after a normal-sized meal
Should you adopt a gastroparesis friendly diet?
Since diet and nutrition can play a significant role for people with gastroparesis, monitoring what you eat is essential for managing your systems. In the video below, Madelynn Strong, a clinical dietitian at Mayo Clinic, recommends some strategies and foods that may help speed up gastric emptying. To learn more, visit https://mayocl.in/2Nz8cIz