Gastroparesis, often called delayed gastric emptying, is a chronic motility disorder that affects the stomach’s ability to move food into the small intestine. The condition involves the stomach muscles slowing down or failing to contract effectively, preventing the normal digestive process. This impairment can lead to debilitating symptoms and complications. This article discusses the organized efforts to bring this disorder to public attention, starting with the designated time for awareness.
Identifying the Gastroparesis Awareness Month
Gastroparesis Awareness Month is observed annually during August. This dedicated time was established by the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) and was first listed on the U.S. National Health Observances Calendar in 2016. The primary goal is to increase public and professional knowledge about this chronic digestive disorder.
The initiative focuses on educating people about the symptoms, causes, and available treatment options. Advocacy groups aim to encourage early diagnosis and improve understanding to help patients and families manage the illness. Awareness efforts also encourage support for research into more effective treatments and a potential cure. The color green is often associated with gastroparesis awareness, and the green ribbon is a common symbol used to represent the cause.
Understanding the Condition
Gastroparesis is defined by the failure of the stomach to empty its contents normally, without physical blockage. This delayed gastric emptying occurs because of damage to the nerves, particularly the vagus nerve, or the smooth muscles of the stomach wall that regulate motility. The resulting weak and slow muscle contractions mean food stays in the stomach for too long.
The most common symptoms include chronic nausea and vomiting of undigested food, often occurring hours after eating. Patients frequently experience early satiety, meaning they feel full quickly after starting a meal. Other common complaints are abdominal pain, bloating, and excessive belching.
Diabetes is the most common known cause of gastroparesis, where prolonged high blood sugar levels can damage the nerves controlling stomach function. This form is known as diabetic gastroparesis. Another cause is post-surgical complication, particularly after operations on the stomach or vagus nerve. For a large number of people, the cause remains unknown, which is referred to as idiopathic gastroparesis.
The condition can lead to serious complications, including severe dehydration from repeated vomiting, malnutrition due to poor nutrient absorption, and erratic blood sugar control, especially in diabetic patients. Undigested food can harden into a solid mass called a bezoar, which can create an obstruction in the stomach. The unpredictability of symptoms and the nutritional challenges can also lead to a significantly reduced quality of life.
Practical Management and Treatment Approaches
Management typically involves a multimodal approach starting with dietary modifications. A foundational strategy is eating smaller, more frequent meals (four to six per day) instead of three large ones. This lessens the volume of food the stomach must process.
Dietary guidance emphasizes low-fat and low-fiber foods, as both fat and insoluble fiber naturally slow down gastric emptying. In severe cases, a liquid or pureed diet may be necessary, as liquids tend to empty from the stomach more easily than solids. Patients are also advised to avoid alcohol, tobacco, and certain medications like opioids and some antidepressants, which can further delay stomach emptying.
Pharmacological treatment focuses on stimulating stomach muscle contractions and controlling symptoms. Prokinetic medications, such as metoclopramide, are used to promote gastric emptying, though they must be used carefully due to potential neurological side effects. Antiemetics, including ondansetron or prochlorperazine, are prescribed to manage severe nausea and vomiting, although they do not improve stomach motility.
For patients who do not respond to medication and dietary changes, advanced interventions may be considered.
Advanced Interventions
Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) involves implanting a device that delivers mild electrical pulses to the stomach muscles to help control symptoms like chronic nausea and vomiting. Pyloroplasty, which involves widening the pylorus valve at the bottom of the stomach, can also be performed, sometimes endoscopically (G-POEM), to facilitate food passage. In cases of severe malnutrition or inability to tolerate oral intake, a venting gastrostomy tube or a jejunostomy tube may be placed for nutritional support.
Ways to Participate in Awareness
Readers can support the cause by participating in educational initiatives throughout August and the rest of the year. Sharing accurate information about the condition with friends and family helps demystify the disorder. Utilizing social media platforms is also effective, often by using hashtags like \#ThisIsGP or \#GPimpact.
Advocacy groups, such as the IFFGD, provide downloadable toolkits, factsheets, and social media graphics. Supporting organizations that fund research and provide patient assistance is another direct way to help the gastroparesis community. Engaging in simple educational efforts, such as posting a flyer in a community center or workplace, can help bring attention to the need for better diagnosis and treatment options.