Digestive Disorders: A Look at Gastroparesis and IBS Symptoms, Identification, and Remedies
Functional indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastroparesis are interrelated gastrointestinal disorders that share overlapping symptoms and interconnected mechanisms. These conditions primarily affect different parts of the digestive system, with functional indigestion impacting the upper abdomen, IBS affecting the lower gut, and gastroparesis affecting the stomach.
Functional indigestion is characterised by discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen, related to delayed stomach emptying or abnormal stomach sensations, without an obvious organic cause. IBS, on the other hand, mainly affects the lower gastrointestinal tract (colon), causing abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits without structural abnormalities. Gastroparesis is a disorder where the stomach's motility is severely delayed, leading to symptoms like fullness, nausea, and vomiting due to impaired gastric emptying.
The interconnections between these conditions are manifold. All three can result from abnormal gut motility. Gastroparesis is a clear example of delayed stomach emptying, while functional indigestion involves impaired upper GI motility or sensitivity. IBS involves abnormal bowel motility and visceral hypersensitivity in the lower gut. Dysfunction in the nervous system controlling gut motility (enteric nervous system) and its communication with the brain (gut-brain axis) plays a central role in all three.
Stress and anxiety impact all these conditions via the gut-brain connection, affecting motility, pain perception, and gut microbiome balance. This axis explains why psychological factors often worsen symptoms of IBS and functional dyspepsia and may contribute to gastroparesis symptoms.
Symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, and feelings of fullness can appear in both functional indigestion and gastroparesis since both involve upper GI tract dysfunction. IBS symptoms may overlap through abdominal pain and bloating though typically involve changes in bowel habits rather than delayed stomach emptying.
Altered gut microbiome and low-grade inflammation are implicated in the pathophysiology of IBS and functional dyspepsia, potentially influencing gastric motility patterns seen in gastroparesis. Microbiome imbalances (dysbiosis) contribute to digestive symptoms and may exacerbate motility disorders.
Gastroparesis and IBS are also linked through the shared association with pelvic and digestive health. While gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia affect upper GI, IBS is commonly linked with pelvic floor dysfunction, which can impact bowel movements and exacerbate symptoms. Comprehensive management often integrates dietary, psychological, and physical therapies addressing these interrelated systems.
People with gastroparesis commonly have an overlap of IBS symptoms and are more likely to have slow transit constipation. However, there is no known prevention for gastroparesis with no known cause. In a 2018 study, around 44.1% of people with gastroparesis-like symptoms (GPLS) may also have IBS.
Treatment for gastroparesis may include altering eating habits, managing blood sugar levels, medications to support the stomach and improve emptying, medications for pain, nausea, and vomiting, oral or nasal feeding tubes, gastric electrical stimulation, intravenous nutrition, and venting gastrostomy in severe cases. Treatment for IBS may include dietary changes, lifestyle changes, medications for constipation, diarrhea, or pain, probiotics, and mental health therapies like relaxation training, hypnotherapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy.
In summary, functional indigestion, IBS, and gastroparesis are linked by overlapping symptoms, disrupted motility patterns, shared involvement of the gut-brain axis, and microbiome imbalances, though each primarily affects different segments of the gastrointestinal tract and may require distinct but sometimes complementary treatments. Mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety and physical or sexual abuse in early life are associated with IBS, while the exact nature of the link between gastroparesis and IBS remains unclear. Preventing or managing diabetes may help to prevent nerve damage which may cause gastroparesis.
- Functional indigestion, IBS, and gastroparesis, though primarily affecting different parts of the digestive system, share a common link through abnormal gut motility.
- As two interrelated conditions, gastroparesis and IBS are often seen together, with people with gastroparesis more likely to have coexisting IBS symptoms.
- The health and wellness of individuals dealing with chronic conditions like functional indigestion, IBS, and gastroparesis can be improved through comprehensive management strategies that address various components, including mental health, dietary, and physical therapies.
- Chronic diseases such as chronic kidney disease and gastroparesis may share some similarities, given that both can be influenced by factors like nerve damage, although the precise connections between them call for further scientific exploration and medical-condition research.
