Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders

Gastrointestinal, or GI motility disorders, are a group of conditions characterized by irregular movements within the GI tract, resulting from damage to gut muscles or nerves, which disrupts food transit from the mouth to the anus.

Nerve or muscle damage can be congenital or develop due to conditions like diabetes or as a side effect of medications.

Achalasia, for example, arises when the lower esophageal sphincter fails to relax, resulting in difficulties in swallowing and food regurgitation.

GERD, characterized by the retrograde flow of stomach acid into the esophagus, manifests symptoms like heartburn and discomfort.

Gastroparesis slows abdominal muscle movement, causing delayed stomach emptying into the small intestine.

Constipation results from impaired colonic motility, leading to infrequent bowel movements and difficulty passing stool.

IBS, a functional GI condition, leads to altered bowel habits and abdominal pain. 

Lastly, functional dyspepsia affects the upper digestive tract, leading to epigastric pain, early satiety, and postprandial fullness.