Gastrointestinal Disorders

What is GI Motility?

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility is related to the activities of the digestive system and the passage of its contents through the body. If the muscles or nerves in any part of the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine) fail to function with the required coordination and strength, a person develops symptoms indicating that a motility problem exists.

GI Motility Symptoms

Every part of the GI tract has a particular function to perform in aiding digestion, and these are some indications that a problem may exist:

• The esophagus carries food from to the stomach from the mouth. Heartburn, difficulty in swallowing solids or liquids, regurgitation, and non-cardiac chest pain may be signs of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) achalasia, dysphagia or functional chest pain.
• The stomach prepares food for absorption by the small intestine by grinding it into small particles and mixing it with digestive juices and, when it is functioning properly, it empties its contents at a controlled rate. Rapid gastric emptying ("dumping syndrome"), delayed gastric emptying (gastroparesis), and functional dyspepsia are all indications of a stomach (GI) motility disorder.
• The small intestine's main purpose is to absorb the food we have eaten and move the particles slowly toward the large intestine at set intervals. If an abnormal mobility pattern is present, symptoms of blockage - pain, bloating, vomiting, and nausea - may appear, and they may also vary widely in frequency and severity.
• The large intestine (colon) stores water and absorbs food residue. When it malfunctions, constipation may result, creating a feeling of fullness or bloating, or an ongoing feeling of the need to evacuate. Diarrhea may also be an indication of a GI motility problem, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is present when a patient is alternating between these two extremes.

Treatments

The most useful prescription drugs in the treatment of GI motility disorders include loperamide, neostigmine, metoclopramide, bethanechol, and cisapride, and many over-the-counter remedies are also available. Since they are ineffective in some cases and may cause unwanted side effects, herbal medication is an interesting alternative.