Dr. Lee was born in Shanghai, China, and received his college and medical training in the United States. He is fluent in English and three Chinese dialects. He graduated with chemistry departmental honors from Harvey Mudd College. He was appointed president of AOA society at UCLA School of Medicine. He underwent internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship training at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Gastroparesis means paralysis of the muscles of the
stomach. Gastroparesis results in delayed emptying of food from the stomach into the small intestine.
The stomach is a hollow organ composed primarily of
muscle that serves as a storage container for food. Food in the stomach is
ground into tiny pieces by the constant churning that is generated by the
contractions of the stomach's muscles. Once the food has been adequately ground,
it slowly is emptied from the stomach into the intestine in a metered fashion.
Only food ground into small particles can be emptied from the stomach in a
normal fashion, and smaller particles are digested better in the intestine.
Moreover, the metering process
allows the emptied food to be well-mixed with the digestive juices of the
intestine, pancreas, and liver (bile) and to be absorbed well from the
intestine.
When the stomach's muscles are paralyzed, food is not
thoroughly ground and does not empty into the intestine normally. Since the
muscular
mechanisms whereby ground, solid food and liquid food are emptied from the
stomach are different, there may be delayed emptying of solid food (most
common), solid and liquid food (less common), or liquid food alone (least
common).
The primary symptoms of gastroparesis are nausea and
vomiting. Other symptoms of gastroparesis include abdominal pain, bloating,
early satiety (feeling full quickly when eating), and in severe cases, weight
loss due to a reduced intake
of food because of the symptoms. Reduced intake of food and restriction of the
types of food that are eaten can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
The vomiting of gastroparesis usually occurs after
meals; however, with severe gastroparesis, vomiting may occur without eating due
simply to the accumulation of secretions in the stomach. The characteristic
vomiting happens several hours after a meal when the stomach is maximally
distended by the presence of food and secretions stimulated by the meal. Since
the grinding action of the stomach is absent, the vomited food often remains in
larger pieces and is easily recognized. (Contrast
this with the more common type of vomiting in which the food appears as small,
uniform, unidentifiable particles.)
Gas or "intestinal gas" means different things to different people. Everyone has gas and eliminates it by belching or farting (passing it through the rectum).
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a condition in which the acidified liquid
contents of the stomach backs up into the esophagus. The symptoms of uncomplicated GERD are heartburn,
regurgitation, and nausea. Effective treatment is available for most patients with GERD.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
Pancreatitis is a rare disease in which the pancreas becomes inflamed, occurring when digestive enzymes are activated and begin attacking the pancreas causing damage to the gland. There are two types of pancreatitis, acute and chronic. Most commonly caused by alcohol or gallstones, it can lead to bleeding in the gland, serious tissue damage, infection, and cysts. Enzymes and toxins may then enter the bloodstream and seriously injure organs, such as the heart, lungs, and kidney.
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease of the connective tissue. It is characterized by the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the skin and organs of the body, leading to thickness and firmness of involved areas. Scleroderma is also referred to as systemic sclerosis, and the cause is unknown. Treatment of scleroderma is directed toward the individual features that are most troubling to the patient.
Nausea and vomiting are symptoms that may be caused by many conditions. Antiemetics are drugs that treat nausea and vomiting. Though some antiemetics for motion sickness and mild nausea are available over the counter (OTC), most require a medical evaluation and prescription.
Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
The ability to belch is almost universal. Belching, also
known as burping (medically referred to as eructation), is the act of expelling gas from the stomach out through the
mouth. The usual cause of belching is a distended (inflated) stomach caused by
swallowed air. The distention of the stomach causes abdominal discomfort, and the
belching expels the air and relieves the discomfort. The common reasons for
swallowing large amounts of air (aerophagia) are gulping food or drink too
rapidly, anxiety, and carbonated beverages. People are often unaware that they
are swallowing air. "Burping" infants during bottle or
breastfeeding is important in order to expel air in
the stomach that has been swallowed with the formula or milk.
Excessive air in the stomach is not the only cause of belching. For some
people, belching becomes a habit and does not reflect the amount of air in their
stomachs. For others, belching is a response to an...
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