What’s Causing My Abdominal Bloating, and How Do I Treat It?: When the gastrointestinal (GI) system is bloated with air or gas, abdominal bloating ensues. The majority of people describe bloating as a sensation of being full, constricted, or swollen in the abdomen.
Additionally, your abdomen may be bloated (distended), firm, and uncomfortable. Bloating is frequently accompanied by the following:
- Pain
- exorbitant gas (flatulence)
- burping or belching frequently
- stomach rumblings or gurgles
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Bloating in the abdomen might impair your capacity to work and engage in social or recreational activities. Adults and toddlers alike suffer from bloating.
Why are you bloated?
Gases and atmospheric air
Bloating is most frequently caused by gas, particularly after eating. When undigested food is broken down or when you ingest air, gas accumulates in the digestive tract. When we eat or drink, we all swallow air. However, some individuals can swallow more than others, particularly if they are:
- eating or drinking excessively quickly
- chewing gum
- smoking
- wearing ill-fitting dentures
Burping and flatulence are two mechanisms through which swallowed air is expelled from the body. In addition to a gas collection, delayed stomach emptying (slow gas transit) can result in bloating and abdominal distension.
Medical reasons
Other possible causes of bloating include medical disorders. These include the following:
- IBS is an acronym for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- other functional gastrointestinal illnesses, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease (FGIDs)
- heartburn
- intolerance to food
- rise in weight
- hormonal fluctuation (especially for women)
- giardiasis giardiasis (intestinal parasite infection)
- Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are two eating disorders.
- elements affecting mental health, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, as
- well as certain drugs
These conditions contribute to gas and bloating by causing the following:
- Bacterial overgrowth or deficiency inside the GI tract
- gas buildup
- decreased gut motility
- impaired gas production
- aberrant abdominal reflexes in transit
- hypersensitivity of the viscera (feeling of bloating in small or even normal body changes)
- Food and carbohydrate
- malnutrition
- constipation
Severe causes
Additionally, abdominal bloating can be a symptom of a number of serious illnesses, including the following:
- Ascites: is an abnormal collection of fluid in the abdominal cavity caused by cancer (e.g., ovarian cancer), liver illness, kidney failure, or congestive heart failure.
- celiac disease or gluten sensitivity that is Not celiac
- pancreatic insufficiency, which is characterized by decreased digestion as a result of the pancreas’s inability to produce sufficient digestive enzymes
Perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in the escape of gas, - normal gastrointestinal microorganisms, and other substances into the abdominal cavity.
Treatments for bloating prevention or relief
Changes in lifestyle
Often, belly-bloating symptoms can be alleviated or even prevented by making a few easy lifestyle changes, such as decreasing weight if you are overweight.
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To avoid swallowing much air, you can:
- Abstain from chewing gum. Chewing gum can cause you to swallow more air than usual, which can result in bloating.
- Consume fewer carbonated beverages.
- Avoid foods that produce gas, such as cabbage family vegetables, dried beans, and lentils.
- Consume gently and refrain from drinking with a straw.
- Make lactose-free dairy products a part of your diet (if you are lactose intolerant).
Additionally, probiotics may aid in the repopulation of healthy gut bacteria. The evidence on probiotics’ efficacy is conflicting. According to one review, probiotics have a moderate effect, with 70% agreement on their ability to relieve bloating.
Medications
Consult your physician if lifestyle modifications and dietary therapies do not alleviate abdominal bloating. If your doctor determines that your bloating is caused by a medical condition, they may offer medical therapy.
Antibiotics, antispasmodics, or antidepressants may be required for treatment, although this also depends on the severity of your problem.
When to consult a physician
Consult your physician if you experience any of the following symptoms in addition to bloating:
- stomach discomfort that is severe or persistent
- stools with blood in them or feces that are black and viscous in appearance
elevated fevers - diarrhea\sworsening heartburn
vomiting - weight loss that is unexplained
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