Abdominal Bloating
Abdominal bloating typically occurs when your gastrointestinal tract fills with gas or air. Many describe the feeling as swollen, full, or tight. It’s also possible for the abdomen to be hard, painful, and distended. Often, it’s accompanied by flatulence, discomfort, frequent belching or burping, and stomach gurgles and rumbling. While mild in most instances, it can still interfere with social, recreational, and work-related activities.
While gas might be a common trigger for abdominal bloating, it can also be triggered by specific medical conditions. These include IBS, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, heartburn, food intolerances, weight gain, hormonal flux, giardiasis, eating disorders, anxiety, stress, depression, and specific drugs. In addition, conditions like the deficiency or overgrowth of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, gas accumulation, impaired transit for gas, constipation, and visceral hypersensitivity may exacerbate the problem.
In mild situations, feelings of abdominal bloating may be diminished with lifestyle changes, like losing weight, avoiding chewing gum, limiting carbonated drink intake, avoiding foods that may cause gas, and eating slower. However, if they aren’t enough to alleviate the symptoms, it may be caused by a health condition that requires other forms of treatment, and it’s advisable to seek medical attention immediately.
