Gastroparesis is a condition in which there is abnormal contraction of the stomach muscles. The muscles of the stomach typically contract in series to propel food forward out of the stomach and through the digestive tract. You can sometimes alleviate the symptoms of gastroparesis by putting a simple exercise regime into your daily routine. Not only is exercise good at reducing symptoms but it also gets other parts of your body in shape and improves your health, overall.
Difficulty Exercising
Gastroparesis may affect your ability to achieve a good exercise capacity. Gastroparesis alters the timing of the arrival of nutrients to the bloodstream. The delay in nutrients arriving to the bloodstream is due to your stomach muscles functioning poorly or not at all. Ultimately, delayed emptying of your stomach can cause problems such as pain, nausea, vomiting, abnormal blood sugar levels and nutrition deficits.
Exercise Helps Gastroparesis
Exercise is a natural way to accelerate your heart rate and breathing, which in turn stimulates contractions of the digestive tract. These increased contractions help with digestion and prevent development of gastrointestinal symptoms. Improving digestion gets more nutrients into the bloodstream and improves your body's health overall.
Suggested Exercises
Exercise, when timed correctly, can be of some benefit to patients with gastroparesis. A light exercise regimen, such as a walk or low-impact bike riding one to two hours after eating can help facilitate stomach emptying and lessen the adverse effects of gastroparesis. Alternative exercises are stomach strengthening pilates and yoga routines. It is important to avoid exercising too soon after eating and participating in high-impact exercise, as both can actually make symptoms worse.
Conclusion
Gastroparesis is a fairly common condition, which can benefit from diet and exercise in addition to medical management. The important point is to choose the right activity at the right time to best decrease symptoms. Always consult your physician before beginning any new exercise regimen.
