Is Gastroparesis Causing Your Stomach Issues?

Did you know that your digestive process starts even before you take your first bite?

Your stomach begins to produce acid, and the muscles of your digestive tract get ready to work, moving food through your system in a process known as gastrointestinal motility. But for about five million Americans, a condition called gastroparesis disrupts this flow.

We asked Amir Masoud, MD, medical co-director of the Hartford HealthCare Neurogastroenterology & Motility Center, about gastroparesis symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

What is gastroparesis?

Gastroparesis slows or stops the stomach’s ability to empty its contents properly.

The result? A range of symptoms that includes nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, or constipation. The condition complicates nutritional intake and can be especially dangerous for people with diabetes, because blood sugar levels can be affected.

Gastroparesis is more common than you think