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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Moderate Gastroparesis: The emptying of the stomach is further delayed, and symptoms become more noticeable, affecting eating patterns and causing discomfort. Severe Gastroparesis: The stomach's emptying is significantly impaired, and symptoms become more severe, leading to significant weight loss, malnutrition, and a substantial impact on quality of life.“It would be considered more severe if someone is dehydrated and unable to eat versus somebody with a milder form of the disease who just has occasional symptoms,” Dr. Gluckman explains.Does Gastroparesis Go Away? Can It Be Cured?Gastroparesis is a chronic condition, and in most cases, it does not go away or have a definitive cure. However, its symptoms can be managed, and the progression of the condition can be slowed with appropriate treatment. The goal of treatment is to alleviate symptoms, improve stomach emptying, and enhance the patient's quality of life.“Of course, there are exceptions,” Dr. Gluckman is quick to note. “For instance, if a patient is on a medication which is associated with gastroparesis, they can stop or change medications and their gastroparesis will likely go away.”Gastroparesis Life Expectancy - Is Gastroparesis Fatal? “It should never affect a person's life expectancy, and it should never be fatal,” Dr. Gluckman insists.However, if left unmanaged, he admits that severe gastroparesis can lead to complications that may be serious or even life-threatening: “If somebody leaves the condition totally untreated for years and years, there is that potential that they could become severely dehydrated and malnourished.”Still, he considers this outcome quite improbable: “In theory, somebody could die from gastroparesis but it’s very unlikely they would get that severely ill without seeking medical care.”What Causes Gastroparesis? The exact cause of gastroparesis is not always clear, and it can result from a variety of factors. Some common causes and risk factors include:Diabetes: Gastroparesis is often linked to diabetes, especially when blood sugar levels are poorly controlled. Why? High blood glucose levels can damage the vagus nerve, which controls the muscles responsible for stomach emptying.Infections: Viral infections, such as herpes simplex or Epstein-Barr virus, can sometimes trigger the condition. Some instances have even been linked to the recent pandemic: “We’ve started seeing some cases of post-Covid gastroparesis,” Dr. Gluckman reveals.Surgery: Certain abdominal surgeries, such as those involving the stomach or esophagus, can increase the risk of developing gastroparesis by damaging the vagus nerve.Medications: Some medications, such as opioid pain medicines and anticholinergic drugs, can slow down stomach emptying. “With these newer weight loss medicines—like semaglutide—many patients are developing gastroparesis as a side effect,” Dr. Gluckman also notes. “We think part of the way people lose weight on these drugs is they feel very full. Because if the food doesn't leave their stomach they don't want to eat.”Neurological Disorders: Conditions like Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis can affect the nerves that control stomach motility.Autoimmune Diseases: Certain autoimmune conditions can affect the nerves and muscles in the gastrointestinal tract.Idiopathic: In some cases, the exact cause of gastroparesis remains unknown, and it is referred to as idiopathic gastroparesis. And this is
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