Gastroparesis affects approximately five million people worldwide.
Gastroparesis is a condition where food moves through your stomach slower than normal and takes longer to digest. Sometimes, food sits in the stomach for days, even weeks. The cause of gastroparesis is not always clear, but it is believed that there might be damage to a nerve that controls stomach muscles.
Who is at risk of gastroparesis?
- People with diabetes
- People who have had abdominal or esophageal surgery
- People who have suffered an infection, or a virus
- Certain medications can slow the rate of stomach emptying, such as narcotic pain medications
- People with scleroderma (a connective tissue disease)
- People with nervous system diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis
- People with hypothyroidism (low thyroid)
- Women are more likely to develop gastroparesis than men
The Driscoll Family Digestive Health Centre at UHN is home to two motility clinics. The team, under the direction of Dr. Louis Liu, provides expert care in diagnosing and treating gastroparesis.