Bloating is a condition in which your belly feels swollen after eating. It can cause pain and discomfort. Bloating is a common problem after overeating but sometimes it can also be caused by serious medical problems. It affects your working ability and participation in social events.
It occurs when the Gastrointestinal tract is filled with excess gas and people feel full or tight in the abdomen. Your abdomen may also get swollen and you may feel pain accompanied by farting and burping. A report says that around 16 to 30% of people experience Bloating regularly. It can occur at any age.
Table of Contents
Bloating Causes
Bloating happens when the Gastrointestinal tract gets filled with excess air or gas. Everyone swallows air while eating and drinking but some people swallows more amount of air depending on their eating habits like eating too fast, chewing gums, smoking, etc
This can also be caused due to some diseases like Irritable bowel syndrome, infections, inflammatory diseases, Crohn’s disease, giardiasis, constipation, weight gain, heartburn, and lactose intolerance. Cardiac ct is a non-invasive imaging modality that employs X-rays and advanced computer algorithms to generate three-dimensional images of the heart.
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Bloating Symptoms
Some common symptoms of Bloating are stomach pain, discomfort, swelling of the abdomen and you will burp frequently.
Apart from that, some serious symptoms of Bloating are
- Heartburn
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Blood in stool
Diagnosis
Bloating occurs for a temporary period and is not serious but if you have severe and prolonged pain in the abdomen along with heartburn it can be serious. In this case, you need to visit your doctor.
Your doctor will diagnose the cause of Bloating by doing physical examinations and checking your symptoms and order some tests to look inside your abdomen.
It could be an X-ray or CT scan.
Treatment
In most cases, this disease can be reduced by adopting some lifestyle changes and dietary changes.
- Avoid carbonated drinks
- Eat slowly
- Don’t overeat
- Avoid dairy products if you are lactose intolerant
- Avoid foods causing gas like cabbage, lentils, peanuts, beans, etc
- Don’t eat chewing gums
You can also add yogurt to your diet. It has probiotics and helps in relieving Bloating.
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Medications
If lifestyle changes and dietary changes don’t help in Bloating relief you can use over-the-counter medicines like antacid, simethicone that helps to expel excess amounts of gas more quickly. If it persists your doctor will recommend you some antibiotics, antispasmodics, or antidepressants depending upon your condition.
Complications
If you suffer from Bloating more often it can lead to complications like heartburn, weight loss, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Precautions
It causes pain and discomfort in your abdomen and makes you uncomfortable. To prevent this disease you need to be careful about your lifestyle and eating habits. Here are some proven ways to prevent Bloating.
- Don’t eat big meals at a time and eat slowly, before swallowing the food chew properly to avoid swallowing air.
- Avoid dairy products if you are lactose intolerant
- Don’t consume carbonated drinks as they contain carbon dioxide bubbles
- Don’t eat food that causes gas like cabbages, lentils, fatty foods, beans, etc
- Avoid sugar
- Take some over the counter supplemental enzymes that help to break down indigestible carbohydrates
- Take probiotics as they contain bacteria that helps to reduce gas production
- Peppermint oils can also help you to get relief from Bloating as they have antispasmodics properties.