Risk factors

Factors that can increase your risk of gastroparesis:

• Diabetes
• Abdominal or esophageal surgery
• Infection, usually from a virus
• Certain medications that slow the rate of stomach emptying, such as narcotic pain medications
• Scleroderma — a connective tissue disease
• Nervous system diseases, such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis
• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

Women are more likely to develop gastroparesis than are men.