Bloating

Bloating is the common term for gas and liquid that build up in the stomach and intestines which is often accompanied by abdominal pain -- either mild and dull or sharp and intense. The pain associated with it may be relieved by passing gas or having a bowel movement.

Fatty foods are often times the culprit behind bloating as fat delays stomach emptying and can then increase the sensation of fullness.

Other common causes for abdominal bloating are: overeating (gastric distension), lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance as well as other food intolerances, food allergy, a nervous habit of swallowing air or what is called aerophagia, irritable bowel syndrome, partial bowel obstruction, gastric dumping syndrome or rapid gastric emptying, gas-producing foods, constipation, visceral fat, splenic-flexure syndrome, menstruation, dysmenorrhea and premenstrual stress syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome and ovarian cysts, alvarez' syndrome, hysterical or neurotic abdominal bloating without excess of gas in the digestive tract, Massive infestation of intestinal parasites, such as worms (e.g, Ascaris lumbricoides), diverticulosis.

Stress or anxiety can also be related to bloating. Also, another important, but uncommon causes of abdominal bloating, include large intra-abdominal tumors, such as those arising from ovarian, liver, uterus and stomach cancer; and megacolon, an abnormal dilation of the colon, due to some diseases, such as Chagas disease which is a parasitic infection. Gaseous bloating may also be a consequence of a procedure called cardiopulmonary resuscitation, due to the artificial mouth-to-mouth insufflations of air.

In order to reduce bloating, reducing the amount of fatty foods and gas-producing items that is taken can help a lot and these foods include: broccoli, baked beans, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carbonated drinks, chewing gum, hard candy, lettuce and fruits such as apples, peaches and pears.

Gas symptoms by itself are not worrisome or indicative of any underlying serious condition. Though a visit to the doctor is helpful if the symptoms are indeed very bothersome and there are other associated symptoms that may benefit from further testing and or treatment. Symptoms that should be evaluated further by a doctor include abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, weight loss, bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract and sometimes heartburn.

Currently, there are very few clinical tests (other than the history obtained from the patient and a physical examination) that are used to further assess and diagnose gas symptoms. In some cases, endoscopy (where a small lighted flexible tube is inserted through the mouth into the esophagus and stomach) may be helpful if ulcer disease or reflux disease is suspected, or sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy (a similar tube is inserted into the rectum and colon) if there are also associated changes in the bowel patterns.

An x-ray of the abdomen may be performed as well if blockage of the intestines needs to be excluded. Sometimes lactose intolerance should be assessed by a trial of a lactose free diet for about two weeks, or with a special blood or breath test. There are also simple blood tests available that can be done to screen celiac disease (gluten sensitivity) if there are other features to suggest this disorder.

Understanding Bloating Recommended Resources:

University of Maryland Medical Center

Penn State Hershey Milton S.Hershey Medical Center