Gastroparesis vs. Acid Reflux: How Can You Differentiate?

Do you feel full after one or two spoonfuls of food? Or do you feel like what you ate days ago hasn’t been digested yet? It might not be just another case of indigestion, but something more severe. You might have a condition called gastroparesis, which many people might not know about.

As August is gastroparesis awareness month, we deem it fit to provide you with vital information on this condition. Gastroparesis is similar to acid reflux because they both cause abdominal distension and make you feel regurgitated and bloated. Although both have overlapping symptoms, it is crucial to understand how to differentiate the two to deal with them adequately.

What Is Gastroparesis?

This condition occurs due to the slow passage of food through your stomach. It is also called delayed gastric emptying due to the paralysis of your stomach muscles, which affects their function of emptying their contents.

Imagine this: dumping different types of refuse at a particular place until it forms a huge waste collection. This is similar to what happens in gastroparesis when food doesn’t empty properly; it accumulates and forms a solid mass of undigested materials in your stomach called bezoar. This solid mass can cause intestinal ulcers and leakage of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract into the abdominal cavity.

What Are the Causes?

Gastroparesis can occur due to the following:

• Diabetes: Apart from occurring due to high blood sugar levels, diabetes also affects the function of an essential nerve called the vagus nerve. This nerve controls the movement of food through the digestive tract. The blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen to nerves can get damaged due to chemical changes induced by high blood sugar levels. This impairs the function of the muscles of the stomach and intestine, leading to gastroparesis.
• Some medications, such as opiates, progesterone, etc.
• Surgery in the stomach
• Viral infections
• Spinal trauma
• Neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease

 Symptoms of Gastroparesis

The symptoms of this condition include:

• Chronic nausea and vomiting
• Early satiety (i.e., a feeling of fullness)
• Upper abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Bloating and belching
• Heartburn

How Is Acid Reflux Different From Gastroparesis?

Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is caused by a weakness or dysfunction of the valve that separates the esophagus and stomach, known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This causes your stomach acid to travel up the esophagus and cause the burning sensation you experience, called heartburn. Gastroparesis, on the other hand, occurs after an injury to the vagus nerve, which stimulates contractions in your stomach and intestine. 

Eating spicy, greasy, or acidic foods can aggravate acid reflux. Gastroparesis is caused by failed stimulation and impaired stomach muscles.

People with acid reflux usually experience pain in the upper gastrointestinal tract. At the same time, gastroparesis tends to come with lower gastrointestinal discomfort due to the slow movement of food through the digestive tract.

Finally, one of the symptoms of gastroparesis is acid reflux, but it is rare to experience all the symptoms of gastroparesis if you only have acid reflux.

Natural Remedies for Acid Reflux and Gastroparesis

The aim of managing gastroparesis is to alleviate the symptoms and identify the underlying causes, like diabetes. Therefore, the following remedies are recommended for both conditions:

• Dietary modification: This includes eating small portions of food at a time, avoiding raw vegetable and alcohol intake, and ensuring foods are well cooked or pureed before consumption. For acid reflux, it is expedient to reduce the intake of spicy and greasy foods and avoid late-night eating.
• Use of dietary supplement: If gastroparesis is due to diabetes, then NATURE’S FIELD DIA-K will significantly help to achieve healthy blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.

Both gastroparesis and acid reflux are uncomfortable to live with, but what sets them apart is what causes the problem. These conditions can cause long-term health problems if not addressed. Fortunately, you do not have to live with either of these conditions as NATURE’S FIELD DIA-K is here to help. Remedies are available to alleviate the symptoms. It is essential to prioritize your digestive wellness, as digestive conditions are the bedrock for many health conditions.