Gastroparesis

By Melissa Adams VanHouten

Gastroparesis literally means “paralysis of the stomach.”  It is a motility disorder in which the stomach muscles, controlled by the Vagus Nerve, fail to contract and move food from the stomach into the intestines at the proper rate.  Under normal conditions, the stomach is only a brief stop on the digestive journey, where food is broken down into small pieces by contracting stomach muscles in preparation for further digestion in the intestines. This process is slowed in those with gastroparesis, and food remains in the stomach for abnormally long periods of time.

To read more about Gastroparesis and for helpful resources click here.