Bloating
Bloating is when there is a feeling of intense pressure, fullness, and tightness in the stomach or generally in the upper abdomen, even if it is not distended (swollen). Sometimes, the feeling goes away after a short period, like bloating for females caused by menstrual periods and cramps or perimenopause. However, when it does not go away quickly, it is often accompanied by a painful, disturbing, and extremely uncomfortable sensation that could affect daily work or school performance. It is usually caused by a problem in the digestive system or a serious medical condition.
Two of the most common reasons for a bloated stomach are excessive intestinal gas and built-up food contents; it is the gas accumulated when the food eaten is excessive or food intolerance. Other reasons for stomach bloating include the following: constipation (the colon contains backed-up poop and food is stuck in the intestines), bowel obstruction (chronic diseases such as tumors, stenosis, or scars are blocking the small and large intestines and digestive contents cannot pass through), and stomach inflammation (called gastritis) and intestinal inflammation (enteritis). These are caused by bacteria or excessive consumption of alcohol.
