Bloating

BLOATING

Abdominal bloating occurs when the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is filled with air or gas. Most people describe bloating as feeling full, tight, or swollen in the abdomen. The abdomen may also be swollen (distended), hard, and painful.

Bloating is often accompanied by:

• Pain
• Excessive gas (flatulence)
• Frequent burping or belching
• Abdominal rumbling or gurgles

Abdominal bloating can interfere with the ability to work and participate in social or recreational activities. Bloating is common among both adults and children.

CAUSES OF BLOATING

Constipation - A lot of people don't even know they're constipated. While having fewer bowel movements than normal is a symptom of constipation, one may still be constipated even if he/she has regular bowel movements. Other symptoms of constipation include:

• Straining to start or finish a bowel movement
• Stool that looks like rocks and pebbles
• Not feeling empty after a bowel movement

Constipation can contribute to abdominal pain and bloating. The longer the stool sits in the colon, the more time bacteria have, to ferment what is there.

Gas and air - Gas is the most common cause of bloating, especially after eating. Gas builds up in the digestive tract when undigested food gets broken down or when air is swallowed. Everyone swallows air when they eat or drink. But some people can swallow more than others, especially if they are:

• Eating or drinking too fast
• Chewing gum
• Smoking
• Wearing loose dentures

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) - People who have had intestinal surgery and/or IBS with diarrhea are more likely to have SIBO, which can cause bloating. Most healthy people have relatively few bacteria in the small intestine.

Gut sensitivity - People with Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be extremely sensitive to gas. Gas can cause pain, cramping and diarrhea.

Gastro paresis - This condition causes delayed emptying of the stomach, which can cause bloating, nausea and even bowel blockage. Women are the most likely to have gastro paresis. About 40 percent (40%) of people with diabetes will also have it.  

Gynecological conditions - Sometimes problems with the ovaries or uterus may also cause bloating.

Burping and flatulence are two waysxx swallowed air leaves the body. Delayed emptying of the stomach in addition to gas accumulation can also cause bloating and abdominal distension.

Medical causes

Bloating may also be due to medical conditions. These may include:

• Weight gain
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa
• Hormonal flux (especially for women)
• Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs)
• Heartburn
• Mental health factors such as stress, anxiety, depression
• Food intolerance
• Giardiasis (intestinal parasite infection)
• Some medications

These conditions cause factors that contribute to gas and bloating, such as:

• Constipation
• Food and carbohydrate malabsorption
• Gas accumulation
• Altered gut motility
• Impaired gas transit
• Overgrowth or deficiency of bacteria within the GI tract
• Abnormal abdominal reflexes
• Visceral hypersensitivity (feeling of bloating in small or even normal body changes)

SERIOUS CAUSES

Abdominal bloating can also be a symptom of several serious conditions, including:

• Ascites (Pathologic fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity), as a result of cancer, liver disease, kidney failure, or congestive heart failure
• Pancreatic insufficiency, which is impaired digestion because the pancreas cannot produce enough digestive enzymes
• Perforation of the GI tract with escape of gas, normal GI tract bacteria, and other contents into the abdominal cavity

21 common causes of abdominal bloating

Increased intestinal gas happens to be one of the most common reasons for bloating. The foods we eat and how we eat them are the main culprits for increased gaseousness.

Causes of gas include:

• Swallowing air from chewing gum or drinking from a bottle through a straw,
• Lactose intolerance,
• Eating fatty foods Eating too fast,
• Eating too much,
• Celiac disease (gluten intolerance)
• Abdominal adhesions due to prior surgery(s) in the abdominal or pelvic region, for example, hysterectomy
• Eating foods that create gas in the intestinal tract (such beans, vegetables, and foods),high in fiber
• Intestinal disorders, for example, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes including Crohn's disease and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
• Food allergies
• Smoking
• Hiatal hernia
• Indigestion
• Pregnancy
• Menstrual period and/or PMS (premenstrual syndrome)
• Gastro paresis
• Drinking a lot of carbonated beverages
• Constipation
• Liver disease
• Gallstones
• pylori infection (which can lead to stomach ulcers)

SYMPTOMS OF BLOATING

Common symptoms of bloating include discomfort, stomach pain, and gas. One may also experience burping or frequent belching or have abdominal rumbling or gurgling.

Severe bloating may occur with other serious symptoms, such as:

• Diarrhea
• Blood in the stool
• Vaginal bleeding
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Heartburn that is getting worse
• Noticeable weight loss
• Fever (due to an infection)

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

Consult a doctor if bloating is accompanied by any of the following:

• Worsening heartburn
• Unexplained weight loss
• Vomiting
• Severe or prolonged abdominal pain
• Blood in the stools, or dark, tarry looking stools
• High fevers
• Diarrhea

CONSEQUENCES OF BLOATING

The feeling of Discomfort:-

The state of being bloated or having excessive bloating can make one feel extremely uncomfortable. Gas accumulation in the body may make a person full in the upper abdomen, which can lead to discomfort.

Diarrhea or Constipation:-

Excessive gas accumulation and bloating is not only uncomfortable, it can also lead to other health problems such as constipation and/or diarrhea. These two factors contribute to bad smelling gas, which can be the source of discomfort.

Stomach Pain:-

Sometimes bloating in the stomach or abdominal area may also lead to stomach pain, which is actually due to the feeling of being full. Due to diarrhea and constipation, the stomach may also feel further aggravated and this may add to the pain.

Fitting of Clothing may Change:-

Bloated stomachs may also change the way we wear clothes. Is it possible that a new jeans is feeling tight, or perhaps the shirt fits more snugly around the stomach? Both of these situations are a result of bloating, which can be quite frustrating.

Increased Smelly Flatulence:-

If bloating is a result of excessive gas in the body, the body will naturally try to get rid of it through excessively smelly farts. This could lead to embarrassing situations.

DIAGNOSIS OF BLOATING?

The doctor can diagnose the cause of bloating through a physical exam in the office. He or she will ask questions about the symptoms. They will want to know if the bloating is occasional or if it occurs all the time. Temporary bloating is usually not serious. The doctor may order other tests if bloating happens all the time. These could include an imaging test to look inside the abdomen (e.g. an X-ray or CT scan).

TREATMENT

For temporary bloating, the doctor may prescribe over-the-counter medicines that relieve gas and bloating. These could include charcoal caps or simethicone. Certain herbal ingredients can relieve the discomfort too. These herbal ingredients include peppermint and chamomile tea.

PREVENTION AND RELIEF

Lifestyle changes

In many cases, the symptoms of abdominal bloating can be diminished or even prevented by adopting a few simple lifestyle changes such as losing weight.

To reduce swallowing too much air:

• Limit the intake of carbonated drinks.
• Avoid chewing gum. Chewing gum can cause the swallowing of extra air, which in turn can lead to bloating.
• Use lactose-free dairy products (especially if one is lactose intolerant).
• Eat slowly and avoid drinking through a straw
• Avoid foods that cause gas, such vegetables in the cabbage family, dried beans and lentils.

Massages

Abdominal massages may also help reduce abdominal bloating. The results of one study showed that 15-minute abdominal massages improved depression, anxiety, well-being, and perceived abdominal bloating symptoms.

Medications

If the doctor finds a medical cause for the bloating, they may recommend medical treatments which may require antibiotics, antispasmodics, or antidepressants, but it also depends on the patient's condition

PREVENTING AND AVOIDING BLOATING

• Reduce or avoid drinking carbonated drinks
• Avoid the foods that are known to cause gas. (E.g. cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and beans) etc.
• Eat slowly
• Avoid chewing gum.
• Quit smoking.
• Avoid using straws for drinking.
• Reduce or avoid eating and drinking foods and drinks that include fructose or sorbitol (artificial sweeteners are often found in “sugar-free” foods).
• Eat foods high-fiber to prevent constipation. Or consider taking a fiber supplement.
• Avoid dairy products if they cause gas and bloating.