Connor Elliott and Clark Hammer Tuesday, March 27, 2018 SNC2D Period B Gastroparesis Connor Elliott and Clark Hammer Tuesday, March 27, 2018 SNC2D Period B
What is gastroparesis? -Gastroparesis is a disease affecting the stomach more specifically the muscles in the stomach. -It can also affect the nerves which are controlling the muscles in the stomach. -Gastroparesis causes your stomach to poorly breakdown food resulting in insufficient moving of food from the stomach to the intestine.
What causes gastroparesis? -The cause of gastroparesis is not always known. -One of the most common causes is damage to nerve controlling the stomach muscles. This nerve is known as the vagus nerve. -The job of the vagus nerve is to do the complex processes in your digestive tract, one of these function is to contract the stomach pushing the broken down food into the intestine. -A disease such as diabetes can damage the nerve. Surgery to the stomach or small intestine can also damage the vagus nerve. -Other risk factors include: Infection, usually a virus, medications slowing the rate of stomach emptying, such as narcotic pain medications, Scleroderma (connective tissue disease), Nervous system diseases, such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis, Hypothyroidism (a low thyroid disease)
Who is at risk for gastroparesis? People with diabetes or people with acid reflux have been discovered to be the most at risk for gastroparesis
History of Gastroparesis Since gastroparesis is a relatively unknown and rare disease, there aren't any official records of it being discovered.
Symptoms of Gastroparesis -A main symptoms is abdominal pain caused by slow emptying of the stomach. -Other symptoms of gastroparesis include: nausea, vomiting and always feeling full. -The symptoms range from mild to severe depending on how severe the disorder is.
How does gastroparesis affect the body? -The body system in which it affects is the digestive system. -The organs in the digestive system which are affected include: Salivary glands, Pharynx, Esophagus, Stomach, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Rectum, Accessory digestive organs: liver, gallbladder and, pancreas. -They have been cases where stomach acid is regurgitated resulting in damage to the teeth. -Due to the pain gastroparesis has an indirect affect on other parts of the body ex. Lack of exorcise or poor nutrition as a result of the condition.
How does gastroparesis affect a persons daily life? -Constant pain and fullness can lead to less activity. It could also wear on you emotionally and mentally. -Travel can become difficult. -Can result in loss of appetite. -If teeth are damaged it affects your physical appearance potentially resulting in a lack of confidence and could affect your social life. -Time must be used for treatment and could affect your free time or your job. -Diet and lifestyle must be adjusted.
Treating gastroparesis -First they must determine if there is another condition causing it and if there is than they must determine what the disease is. -After the cause is determined your doctor will decide how to diminish the issue. -Often diet and life style changes must be made. -Different medications are recommended, medications to stimulate the stomach muscles and/or medications to control nausea and vomiting. -A feeding tube, IV or gastric venting tube may be used as well.
Works Cited Digestive Health Team. “Gastroparesis: Know the Risk Factors for This Mysterious Stomach Condition.” Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic, Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic, 21 Feb. 2018, health.clevelandclinic.org/gastroparesis-know-the-risk-factors-for-this-mysterious-stomach-condition/. “Gastroparesis Center by MedicineNet.com.” MedicineNet, 26 Mar. 2018, www.medicinenet.com/gastroparesis/index.htm. “Gastroparesis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 Mar. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastroparesis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355787. “What Is Gastroparesis?” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-disorders-gastroparesis#1.