Gastroparesis organization raises awareness through video
December 9th, 2009 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
The Gastroparesis Awareness Campaign Organization has released a video to help raise awareness of the seriousness of the condition in which the stomach takes too long to digest food. The video, called The Faces of Gastroparesis 2009, can be seen on YouTube, and here:
People of all ages, shapes and sizes suffer from gastroparesis. The National Institutes of Health estimates as many as 10 million people are living with gastroparesis. Because of the lack of medical education and improper diagnosis, many more may be suffering in silence. Symptoms include abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting and can result in dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and malnutrition.
Treatments include medication, such as Reglan (metoclopramide), and surgery. Those with gastroparesis suffered yet another blow this year when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning on Reglan after numerous cases of a serious movement disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia were reported in patients who took Reglan. Long-term users were as much as 20 percent at risk of developing the condition.
Because treatments offer only temporary benefits to patients, activists groups such as the Gastroparesis Awareness Campaign Organization are working to raise awareness in hopes of finding better, safer treatments and, eventually, a cure.