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Women more likely than men to suffer from gastroparesis
August 27th, 2009 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
Women are more likely than men to suffer from gastroparesis, a debilitating condition in which the stomach takes too long to empty its contents, according to the Baltimore Sun. Gastroparesis affects about 25 percent of people with type 1 diabetes and 10 percent of people with type 2 diabetes, as well as people with Parkinson’s disease. But the majority of those with gastroparesis have no underlying condition that seems to cause it.
Gastroparesis can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, early fullness while eating meals and heartburn and can lead to weight loss and poor absorption of nutrients. Some studies have shown that women are as much as seven times more likely to suffer from gastroparesis than men, but the reason is unknown. It is also suspected that more people actually suffer from the condition because symptoms may overlap with other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and GERD.
Some people can manage their symptoms with diet or medication, while others may suffer so severely they may require hospitalization. Patients are usually instructed to avoid high-fiber foods, and others may require switching to a liquid diet to maintain hydration. Medication offers only temporary relief at best. For example, long term use of a popular treatment for gastroparesis, Reglan (metoclopramide), can result in a serious involuntary movement disorder called Tardive Dyskinesia.
The best defense to keep symptoms at bay, says Dr. Linda Lee, board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology and director of the Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine and Digestive Center, is following a low-fiber diet, taking medications in moderation, and addressing anxiety and depression, which can exacerbate symptoms.
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