Bloating is not uncommon and it is usually associated with poor digestion, a bad diet, and an overgrowth of unwanted bacteria in the gut. However, constant bloating can be a sign of some serious underlying health issues.
Dr Amol Dahale, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune told Financial Express.com that constant bloating is a strong indicator of stomach paralysis also known as Gastroparesis.
“The stomach is a simple organ that performs complicated functions of mixing up food with acid and forming the chyme upon which pancreatic enzymes act. Along with this, additional and unique functions of the stomach include accommodation and emptying of stomach contents into the intestines. Gastroparesis by default means stomach paralysis and it causes faulty accommodation and emptying of the stomach, resulting in bloating, a sense of early satiety and vomiting. Mostly, this is retention vomiting which involves vomiting out of stale food. This essentially leads to weight loss and regurgitation,” Dr. Dahale said.
He also highlighted that the key factors triggering this condition include diabetes with a rate of 30 percent of gastroparesis patients having this as the underlying disease, along with certain types of medicinal drugs and neuropathy issues.
“If one experiences any of the symptoms, early diagnosis and treatment is highly recommended. Treating underlying disease leads to improvement of this condition. In a few patients, it’s viral where it is transient,” he added.
He also highlighted that there are a lot of new therapies available for gastroparesis like Gastric pacemaker placement, gastric pyloromyotomy and pyloric dilation.
Meanwhile, Dr. Bhavesh Patel, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Bhailal Amin General Hospital revealed that gastroparesis results from the poor contraction of gastric muscle resulting from damage to nerve supply resulting in delayed emptying of gastric content into duodenum (small intestine).
The most common cause is uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus that damages the nerve to the stomach, Dr. Patel revealed.
What are the symptoms of stomach paralysis?
Some of the symptoms are feeling of abdominal fullness and bloating, particularly after eating, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and severe cases resulting in nutrient deficiency.
Dr. Patel also told Financial Express.com that stomach paralysis needs to be differentiated from common GI conditions like functional dyspepsia, Reflux disease and other conditions associated with structural obstruction to the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine like Gastric outlet obstruction, stomach cancer, pyloric stenosis and gastric volvulus.
“Differentiation requires detailed clinical history and tests like Upper GI endoscopy, Gastric emptying study and manometry. In case of persistent troublesome Symptoms consult your physician or Gastroenterologist,” he added.
He also people suffering from the condition should maintain strict control of diabetes, dietary modifications like small frequent meals, and prokinetic drugs that increase gastric contractility and propels food forward into the small intestine.
“Avoid raw – uncooked fruits or vegetables and also avoid diet rich in fiber and fat,” he added.