What Leads to Bloated Stomach?

What Leads to Bloated Stomach?

A bloated stomach is first and foremost a feeling of tightness, pressure or fullness in your belly. It may or may not be accompanied by a visibly distended (swollen) abdomen. The feeling can range from mildly uncomfortable to intensely painful. It usually goes away after a while, but for some people, it’s a recurring problem. Digestive issues and hormone fluctuations can cause cyclical bloating. If your bloated stomach doesn’t go away, you should seek medical care to determine the cause.

 

Why is my stomach bloated?
The most common cause of stomach pain and bloating is excess intestinal gas. If you get a bloated stomach after eating, it may be a digestive issue. It might be as simple as eating too much too fast, or you could have a food intolerance or other condition that causes gas and digestive contents to build up. Your menstrual cycle is another common cause of temporary bloating. Sometimes a bloated stomach can indicate a more serious medical condition.

 

What causes bloating in the stomach?
Gas is a natural byproduct of digestion, but too much intestinal gas means your digestion is gone awry. While you can ingest gasses by swallowing air or drinking carbonated beverages, these gasses mostly escape through belching before they reach your intestines. Gasses in your intestines are mostly produced by gut bacteria digesting carbohydrates, in a process called fermentation.

If there’s too much fermentation going on, it’s because too many carbohydrates weren’t naturally absorbed earlier in the digestive process, before reaching those gut bacteria. That could be for several reasons. Maybe you just ate too much too fast for proper digestion. Or you might have a specific food intolerance or gastrointestinal (GI) disease.

 

Bloating happens when the GI tract becomes filled with air or gas. This can be caused by something as simple as the food you eat. Some foods produce more gas than others. It can also be caused by lactose intolerance (problems with dairy). Other simple reasons for bloating include:

Swallowing air (this can happen when you chew gum, smoke, or eat too fast)

  • Constipation
  • Overeating
  • Reflux (GERD)
  • Weight gain#
  • Menstruation (in some women)

 

Other causes could include medical conditions, such as:

  • Infection
  • Inflammation (such as a condition called diverticulitis)
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  • Liver disease (abnormal buildup of fluid in your stomach or pelvis)
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Blockage in your bowel or bladder
  • Cancer (ovarian, uterine, colon, pancreatic, or stomach)
  • Mental health factors, such as anxiety or depression
  • Some medicines

 

How is bloating diagnosed?

Your doctor can generally diagnose the cause of your bloating through a physical exam in the office. They will ask you questions about your symptoms. They will want to know if your bloating is occasional or if it occurs all the time.

Temporary bloating is usually not serious. If it happens all the time, your doctor may order other tests. These could include an imaging test to look inside your abdomen. This could be an X-ray or CT scan.

 

Can bloating be prevented or avoided?

There are many ways to prevent and avoid bloating:

  • Avoid the foods that are known to cause gas. These include cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips, beans, and lentils.
  • Avoid chewing gum.
  • Avoid using straws for drinking.
    Reduce or avoid drinking carbonated drinks (such as soda).
  • Reduce or avoid eating and drinking foods that include fructose or sorbitol. These artificial sweeteners are often found in sugar-free foods.
  • Eat slowly.
  • Eat more foods high in fiber to prevent constipation. If foods alone don’t help, consider taking a fiber supplement.
  • Make Organic Drinks your friend
  • Avoid dairy products if you notice they cause gas and bloating.
  • Quit smoking

 

How to Stop BLOATING Fast / Treatment

For temporary bloating, ask your doctor about over-the-counter medicines that relieve gas and bloating. These could include simethicone or charcoal caps. Probiotics (such as some types of yogurt) and certain herbal ingredients can relieve your discomfort, too. Herbal ingredients include peppermint and chamomile tea, anise, caraway, coriander, fennel, and turmeric.

 

If your bloating is caused by something more serious, your doctor will treat the underlying cause.

 

Living with bloating

Living with bloating can be uncomfortable. You may have stomach pain or just a sense of fullness. When it affects how your clothes fit, it can be frustrating. If your bloating is constant, don’t suffer unnecessarily. See your doctor to determine if the cause of the bloating is something more serious.

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