When Your Stomach Fails to Empty

Gastroparesis is a condition where your stomach essentially goes on strike, leaving food trapped for far longer than normal. It happens because the stomach muscles lose the rhythmic contractions needed to push contents into the intestines.

Usually, your stomach muscles work like a conveyor belt to process food quickly. In this disorder, that mechanical movement slows to a crawl or stops entirely. Because the food sits there for hours, it can cause severe bloating, nausea, and unpredictable blood sugar levels. Interestingly, the polar opposite condition, known as dumping syndrome, causes the stomach to dump contents into the intestines way too fast.