Costco Flyer - 08/01-08/31/2023 (Page 86)

stomach troubles understanding how to manage gastroparesis by lawrence varga and joseph hanna lawrence varga tant vice president of costco pharmacy joseph hanna costco pharmacy contributed to this column aybe it's the oddest-sounding condition you've never heard gastroparesis awareness while estimates say the condition may affect only about 5 million people world- moving through to the intestines can really reduce a person's quality of life almost one-third of people experiencing little and abdominal pain what causes gastroparesis? while there might not be a known the vagus nerve that controls the sto- mach muscles is damaged in some way this can happen as a result of diabetes or low thyroid levels can also be a factor more women than men are affected how it affects sufferers vomiting can cause a person to an appetite can lead to malnutrition irregular digestion can result in blood of undigested food that has hardened may be life-threatening diagnosis only be definitively diagnosed and tho- roughly investigated through a series of invasive tests ordered by a doctor or gas- endoscopy involves inserting a tube with involve the use of ultrasound or radioac- tive material to measure how quickly food moves through the stomach what to do? you need to chew your food thoroughly eat more frequent smaller meals that include cooked fruits and vegetables plenty of water and gentle exercise such as walking after a meal can also help medications that help the stomach mus- prescribed in addition to these measures most important thing to remember life can improve pharmacies in costco's quebec locations are independently owned and operated by pharmacists