{"id":11496,"date":"2024-08-01T21:04:47","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T21:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/?p=11496"},"modified":"2024-08-01T23:10:45","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T23:10:45","slug":"gastroparesis-awareness-month-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/gastroparesis-awareness-month-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Gastroparesis Awareness Month"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-Gastroparesis.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11497 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-Gastroparesis-300x188.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"188\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-Gastroparesis-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-Gastroparesis-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-Gastroparesis-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-Gastroparesis-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-Gastroparesis-2048x1280.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-Gastroparesis-480x300.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month. Gastroparesis is a condition that affects the normal spontaneous movement of the muscles or motility in your stomach.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are many signs and symptoms of gastroparesis which include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vomiting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nausea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Abdominal bloating<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A feeling of fullness after eating a few bites<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vomiting undigested food that was eaten a few hours earlier<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Acid reflux<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Changes in blood sugar levels<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lack of appetite<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Weight loss and malnutrition<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many people with gastroparesis don\u2019t have any noticeable signs or symptoms of the condition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The cause of gastroparesis is unclear, however, some cases have been caused by damage to the vagus nerve which controls the stomach muscles. The vagus nerve helps manage the complex processes in the digestive tract like signaling the muscles in your stomach to contract and push food into the small intestine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The vagus nerve can also be damaged by diseases such as diabetes, as well as complications from stomach, or abdominal surgeries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Other factors that can increase your risk of gastroparesis include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Esophageal surgery<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Infection, usually from a virus<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Certain medications that slow the rate of stomach emptying, such as narcotic pain medications<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Scleroderma- a connective tissue disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nervous system diseases, such as Parkinson\u2019s disease or MS<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An underactive thyroid<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Women are more likely to develop gastroparesis than men. The condition can lead to several complications, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Severe dehydration<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Malnutrition<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Undigested food that hardens and remains in your stomach<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unpredictable blood sugar changes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Decreased quality of life<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Doctors use several tests to help diagnose gastroparesis so they can rule out conditions that cause similar symptoms. These tests include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gastric emptying tests<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Scintigraphy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Breath tests<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ultrasound<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The treatment for gastroparesis begins with identifying and treating the underlying condition. For example, if diabetes is the cause of your gastroparesis, your doctor can work with you to help control it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Other treatments may include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Changes to your diet\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Eating smaller meals more frequently<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chewing food thoroughly<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Eating well-cooked fruits and vegetables instead of raw<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avoiding fibrous fruits and vegetables<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Choosing mostly low-fat foods<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Eating soups and pureed foods if liquids are easier to swallow<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drinking about 34-51 ounces of water a day<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avoiding carbonated drinks, alcohol, and smoking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Waiting for at least two hours to lie down after a meal<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Taking a daily multivitamin<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Medications<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To stimulate the stomach muscles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To control nausea and vomiting<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Surgical treatment<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you are suffering from symptoms of gastroparesis, schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center by calling (718) 206-6742.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.  Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page.   You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter.<strong>  PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.<\/strong> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month. Gastroparesis is a condition that affects the normal spontaneous movement of the muscles or motility in your stomach. There are many signs and symptoms of gastroparesis which include: Vomiting Nausea Abdominal bloating A feeling of &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/gastroparesis-awareness-month-2\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[191,5,1],"tags":[224,1785,2082],"class_list":["post-11496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-digestive-disorder","category-general-health","category-health","tag-digestive-disorders","tag-gastroparesis","tag-gastroparesis-awareness-month"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11496"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11496\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11499,"href":"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11496\/revisions\/11499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jamaicahospital.org\/newsletter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}