What is Bloating?

Abdominal Bloating is a symptom usually related to gastrointestinal disorders and diseases of stomach. Usually bloating results in a full and tight abdomen, also interchangeably referred to as Abdominal Distension that happens due to the accumulation of gas or fluid in the abdomen causing the outward expansion of the stomach.

Types of bloat

There are 2 different types of bloat – Stomach Bloat and Facial Bloat, and they are due to entirely different reasons. Facial Bloat is usually due to dehydration, which will discuss in the later articles.

The bloat that we seriously intend to discuss is Stomach Bloat, which is usually due to digestive disorders, accumulation of gas in intestines and problems related to intestines, which causes your stomach to feel tight and distended.

Bloating makes your stomach looks swollen and usually accompanied with cramps, pain, belching, diarrhea, shortness of breath and lower back pain.

Causes of Bloating

Though there are various reasons for bloating, the usual one is gas buildup in intestines, and it is also a sign that your food is not properly digested.

Lactose intolerance

Your body produces an enzyme called lactase to break down milk sugar, if you don’t make enough of it you won’t be able to digest dairy products properly this is a widely know problem.

Food intolerance and Allergies

When you are sensitive to certain foods or having difficulties in digesting some foods it results in bloating, you may even be intolerant to fructose usually found in fruits and many sweetened beverages or allergens that results in bloating.

Pancreatic insufficiency

Though this is rare, it happens when your pancreas is not able to produce normal levels of the digestive enzymes required to break down your food.

Diets high in Fiber and Carbohydrates

Eating a really high fiber vegetarian diet with certain carbohydrate food sources, your body can have a hard time breaking down the type of fiber commonly found in foods like beans cabbage broccoli and cauliflower.

Eating quickly

Not only does eating too quickly causes you to overeat, which will result in bloating on its own but it may cause you to swallow more air much like drinking with a straw.

Constipation

Constipated also leads to bloating so try drinking more water throughout the day and slowly increasing your fiber intake to help with constipation.

Crohn’s disease

Celiac disease or IBS – irritable bowel syndrome can be the reason for bloating and this needs serious medical attention.

Some of the other reasons are peptic ulcers, anorexia, smoking, water retention, overeating, anxiety, trapped air, premenstrual syndrome and menopause.

We will see the remedies and possible solutions to prevent bloating and stomach distention.