bloating

The most common symptom associated with bloating is a sensation that the abdomen is full or distended. Rarely, bloating may be painful or cause shortness of breath.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Pains that are due to bloating will feel sharp and cause the stomach to cramp. These pains may occur anywhere in the body and can change locations quickly.[http://mayoclinic.com/health/gas-and-gas-pains/DS00080/DSECTION=symptoms Gas and Gas Pains] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213105017/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gas-and-gas-pains/DS00080/DSECTION=symptoms |date=2010-02-13 }} Mayo Clinic. Retrieved on 2010-01-26 They are so painful that they are sometimes mistaken for heart pains when they develop on the upper left side of the chest. Pains on the right side are often confused with problems in the appendix or the gallbladder.

One symptom of gas that is not normally associated with it is the hiccup. Hiccups are harmless and will diminish on their own; they also help to release gas that is in the digestive tract before it moves down to the intestines and causes bloating. Important but uncommon causes of abdominal bloating include ascites and tumors.[https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003123.htm Abdominal Bloating] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705115526/https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003123.htm |date=2016-07-05 }} MedLine Plus. Retrieved on 2010-01-26

There are many causes of bloating, including: diet, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, reflux, and constipation.{{cite journal | vauthors = Talley NJ | title = Irritable bowel syndrome | journal = Internal Medicine Journal | volume = 36 | issue = 11 | pages = 724–8 | date = November 2006 | pmid = 17040359 | pmc = 1761148 | doi = 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2006.01217.x }}{{cite web|title=Lactose Intolerance|url=https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/lactose-intolerance/Pages/facts.aspx|website=NIDDK|access-date=25 October 2016|date=June 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025111752/https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/lactose-intolerance/Pages/facts.aspx|archive-date=25 October 2016}}{{cite web |title=Acid Reflux (GER & GERD) in Adults |url=https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-adults/all-content |website=National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) |date=5 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222022538/https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-adults/all-content | archive-date=22 February 2020 | url-status=live | access-date=21 February 2020 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/constipation/|title=Constipation|website=The Lecturio Medical Concept Library|access-date=10 July 2021|archive-date=12 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712015028/https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/constipation/|url-status=live}} Specific medical conditions like Crohn's disease or bowel obstruction can also contribute to the amount of stomach bloating experienced.

Common causes of abdominal bloating are:

• Overeating
• Gastric distension{{cite book |last1=Brunicardi |first1=Charles |title=Schwartz's Principles of Surgery |date=2015 |publisher=McGraw-Hill |pages=ch 26 |edition=10}}
• Lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance and other food intolerances{{cite web |url=https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/lactose-intolerance/ |title=Lactose Intolerance |website=The Lecturio Medical Concept Library |access-date=27 July 2021 |archive-date=27 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727191853/https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/lactose-intolerance/ |url-status=live }}
• Premenstrual syndrome{{cite web|title=Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) fact sheet|url=http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/premenstrual-syndrome.html|website=Office on Women's Health|access-date=23 June 2015|date=December 23, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628073755/http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/premenstrual-syndrome.html|archive-date=28 June 2015}}{{cite journal |first1=Lori M. |last1=Dickerson |first2=Pamela J. |last2=Mazyck |first3=Melissa H. |last3=Hunter |title=Premenstrual Syndrome |journal=American Family Physician |pmid=12725453 |url=http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030415/1743.html |year=2003 |volume=67 |issue=8 |pages=1743–52 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513045652/http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030415/1743.html |archive-date=2008-05-13 }}
• Food allergy{{cite web|author1=National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases|title=Food Allergy An Overview|url=https://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodAllergy/Documents/foodallergy.pdf|date=July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305145206/http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodallergy/documents/foodallergy.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-05}}
• Aerophagia (air swallowing, a nervous habit){{cite journal |vauthors = Levitt MD, Furne J, Aeolus MR, Suarez FL |title=Evaluation of an extremely flatulent patient: case report and proposed diagnostic and therapeutic approach |journal=Am J Gastroenterol |volume=93 |issue=11 |pages=2276–81 |year=1998 |doi=10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.00635.x |pmid=9820415 |s2cid=20991299 }}
• Irritable bowel syndrome{{cite journal| vauthors=Seo AY, Kim N, Oh DH| title=Abdominal bloating: pathophysiology and treatment. | journal=J Neurogastroenterol Motil | year= 2013 | volume= 19 | issue= 4 | pages= 433–53 | pmid=24199004 | doi=10.5056/jnm.2013.19.4.433 | pmc=3816178 |type=Review }}
• Celiac disease{{cite web|title=Symptoms & Causes of Celiac Disease|url=https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/celiac-disease/symptoms-causes|publisher=NIDDK|date=June 2016|access-date=15 April 2018|archive-date=24 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424175500/https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/celiac-disease/symptoms-causes|url-status=live}}
• Non-celiac gluten sensitivity{{cite journal |author=Czaja-Bulsa G |title=Non coeliac gluten sensitivity – A new disease with gluten intolerance |journal=Clin Nutr |volume=34|issue=2|pages=189–94|date=Apr 2015|pmid=25245857 |doi=10.1016/j.clnu.2014.08.012|type=Review|doi-access=free}}
• Partial bowel obstruction
• Gastric dumping syndrome or rapid gastric emptying
• Gas-producing foods
• Constipation{{cite web |url=https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/constipation/ |title=Constipation |website=The Lecturio Medical Concept Library |access-date=27 July 2021 |archive-date=12 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712015028/https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/constipation/ |url-status=live }}
• Visceral fat
• Splenic-flexure syndrome
• Menstruation, dysmenorrhea
• Polycystic ovary syndrome and ovarian cysts
• Alvarez' syndrome, bloating of unknown or psychogenic origin without excess gas in the digestive tract
• Massive infestation with intestinal parasites (e.g., Ascaris lumbricoides)
• Diverticulosis{{cite journal|last1=Feuerstein|first1=JD|last2=Falchuk|first2=KR|title=Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis|journal=Mayo Clinic Proceedings|date=August 2016|volume=91|issue=8|pages=1094–1104|doi=10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.03.012|pmid=27156370|type=Review|doi-access=free}}
• Certain medications, such as phentermine
• Occurs in some due to salivary hypersecretion and dehydration.
• Ovarian cancer{{cite web|title=Ovarian Cancer Prevention |url=http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/ovarian/Patient/page1/AllPages|website=NCI|access-date=1 July 2014|date=December 6, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706002700/http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/ovarian/Patient/page1/AllPages|archive-date=6 July 2014}}{{cite web | publisher = MGraw-Hill Medical | title = Gynecologic Malignancies, Chapter 117 | access-date = June 24, 2017 | first = Michael | last = Seiden | date = 2015 | url = https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=1130§ionid=79730544 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170910175639/https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=1130§ionid=79730544 | archive-date = September 10, 2017 }}

Important but uncommon causes of abdominal bloating include:

• Large cancerous intra-abdominal tumors of the ovary, liver, uterus and stomach
• Megacolon, an abnormal dilation of the colon caused by some diseases, such as Chagas disease, a parasitic infection{{cite web |url=https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/megacolon/ |title=Megacolon |website=The Lecturio Medical Concept Library |access-date=27 July 2021 |archive-date=27 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727203539/https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/megacolon/ |url-status=live }}
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedures, due to the artificial mouth-to-mouth insufflation of air.{{cite web |url=https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/cardiopulmonary-resuscitation-cpr/ |title=Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) |website=The Lecturio Medical Concept Library |access-date=5 August 2021 |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805024712/https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/cardiopulmonary-resuscitation-cpr/ |url-status=live }}

In animals, causes of abdominal bloating include:

• Gastric dilatation volvulus, a condition of dogs which occurs when gas is trapped inside the stomach and gastric torsion prevents it from escaping[https://www.packofpets.com/dog-health/bloat-in-dogs/ Bloat in Dogs: Causes, Risks and Treatment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131422/https://www.packofpets.com/dog-health/bloat-in-dogs/ |date=2018-02-06 }} Pack of Pets. Retrieved on 2018-02-05
• Ruminal tympany, a condition of ruminant animals which occurs when gas cannot escape from the rumen.

All the factors mentioned contribute to bloated stomach abdominal pain.

Every person produces gases in their body during the digestion of food, such as methane, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. And some of them are released outside the body, sometimes in small quantities that one does not notice and sometimes in larger quantities that may affect the normal course of life.

Most cases of stomach bloating are due to improper diet.{{MEDCN|date=April 2012}} Gas occurs because of the bacteria in the colon and is a by-product of soluble fiber digestion. Inadequate or irregular intake of fiber and water will cause a person to experience bloating or constipation. The most common natural sources of fiber include fruits and vegetables as well as wheat or oat bran. These fibers are most likely to cause flatulence.[http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=16336 Fiber And Increased Gas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119053007/http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=16336 |date=2010-01-19 }} MedicineNet. Retrieved on 2010-01-19 Fiber is made by plants and is not easily digested by the human gastrointestinal tract. There are two main types of dietary fiber: soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is prebiotic and readily fermented in the colon into gases, while insoluble fiber is metabolically inert and absorbs water as it moves through the digestive system, aiding in defecation. Most types of fiber (insoluble) are attached to body water in the intestine and increase the volume of stools.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Gas in the gastrointestinal tract has only two sources. It is either swallowed air or is produced by bacteria that normally inhabit the intestines, primarily the colon.[https://web.archive.org/web/20210927123424/https://thesananews.com/health-fitness/constipation-make-you-weight-gain-and-bloating/ What Causes Flatulence, bloating] thesananews.com Retrieved on 2021-09-27

Belching or burping is a universal ability that works by removing gas from the stomach through the mouth. The stomach can become bloated when too much air is swallowed during eating and drinking too quickly. As the stomach swells, belching removes the gas and alleviates the pain associated with it. Burping can also be used as a form of relief from abdominal discomfort other than too much gas in the stomach.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Flatulence, or farting, provides relief of much the same kind as burping, but involves the passage of gas from the body via the anus, not the mouth. Bacteria present in the intestinal tract cause gas that is expelled from the anus. They produce the gas as food is digested and moved from the small intestine. This gas builds up and causes swelling or bloating in the abdominal area before it is released.

A common gastrointestinal problem is constipation—infrequent bowel movements, hard stools, or strain during the movements—which causes serious cases of bloating. Since most cases of constipation are temporary, simple lifestyle changes, such as getting more exercise and increasing one's intake of fiber, can contribute to alleviating constipation.[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/constipation/DS00063 Constipation Definition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211102738/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/constipation/DS00063 |date=2010-02-11 }} Mayo Clinic Retrieved on 2010-01-19 Some cases of constipation will continue to worsen and require unconventional methods to release the feces and reduce the amount of stomach bloating. Blood in the stool, intense pain in the abdomen, rectal pain, unexplained weight loss, and continued bloating and constipation not relieved by the above lifestyle changes should be reported to a doctor. Bloating consistently accompanies constipation, and they will not develop without an underlying cause.

Painful burning sensations in the chest that are caused by gastroesophageal reflux is known as heartburn. Reflux is the backflow of gastric acid juices from the stomach into the oesophagus.{{cite web|url=https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease/|title=Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease|website=The Lecturio Medical Concept Library|access-date=23 July 2021|archive-date=24 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224145424/https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease/|url-status=live}} Heartburn has different triggers, including certain foods, medications, obesity, and stress. These triggers are different for each individual. Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD is a chronic condition that can lead to more serious complications like esophageal cancer.{{cite web

| url=https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/esophageal-cancer/

| title=Esophageal Cancer

| website=The Lecturio Medical Concept Library

| date=26 October 2020

| access-date=23 July 2021

| archive-date=22 July 2021

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722074030/https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/esophageal-cancer/

| url-status=live

}} Treatment options are available to treat the symptoms and the condition, but there is no cure for the disease. Symptoms include burping, abdominal and stomach bloating, along with pain and discomfort. Heavy meals, lying down or bending over after eating should be avoided to help prevent reflux from occurring. The stomach bloating experienced with reflux is intense and will remain until the food is digested all the way.

Postmortem bloating occurs in cadavers, due to the formation of gases by bacterial action and putrefaction of the internal tissues of the abdomen and the inside of the intestines.{{cite journal |vauthors=Shedge R, Krishan K, Warrier V, et al |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539741/| title=Postmortem Changes|website=National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine |year=2022 |pmid=30969563|access-date= 23 July 2021}}

Conditions that are related to bloating include constipation, lactose intolerance, and acid reflux disease. All of these conditions share the same symptoms and can share the same causative agents. These causes include unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, low amount of exercise, and overall health. Each of these conditions can be experienced as a symptom of the others and is also a cause for each of them. In most cases where one of the conditions is present, there is at least one if not two of the others. Treatment for each condition is performed using the same medications and recommended dietary changes like increased fiber intake and reduced fat intake. If the conditions develop into diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or chronic constipation, additional medications will be required. Bloating and flatulence are sometimes related to constipation, and treating the underlying condition may be helpful.[http://www.gi.org/patients/gihealth/belching.asp Belching Bloating and Flatulence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501211238/http://www.gi.org/patients/gihealth/belching.asp |date=2010-05-01 }} American College of Gastroenterology. Retrieved on 2010-01-26

Promising evidence on the potential efficacy of the low-FODMAP diet in functional abdominal bloating is provided by the reduction of the bloating which has been observed in some studies on patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Regarding the gluten-free diet, there is insufficient scientific evidence to recommend it to reduce bloating and abdominal distension.Pessarelli, T., Sorge, A., Elli, L., & Costantino, A. The Gluten-free Diet and the Low-FODMAP Diet in the Management of Functional Abdominal Bloating and Distension. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2680.

As regards the FODMAP diet, this should be provided by experts in nutrition to reduce the risks associated with elimination diets.Pessarelli, T., Sorge, A., Elli, L., & Costantino, A. The Gluten-free Diet and the Low-FODMAP Diet in the Management of Functional Abdominal Bloating and Distension. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2680.

There are many over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can be used to treat bloating.

Food enzymes can be found in some products that will help break down the sugars found in grains, vegetables and dairy products. They can be taken before food is consumed or added to the food that causes the gas and bloating.{{cite journal |last1=Hasler |first1=WL. |title=Gas and Bloating. |journal=Gastroenterology & Hepatology |date=2006 |volume=2 |issue=9 |pages=654–662 |pmid=28316536 |pmc=5350578}} The most common treatment is antacids. These medications have no effect on the gas that is present in the intestines but enable gas build-up to be belched away more easily, reducing the amount of bloating that develops. Another treatment is simethicone, an oral anti-foaming agent that helps the body to expel the gas more quickly.

Combinations of prokinetics, such as domperidone + metoclopramide + diphenhydramine (the latter for the prevention of extrapyramidal reactions, especially acute dystonic reactions) + proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), have dramatic effects on bloaters and belchers especially.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

• Tympany

Notes

{{Reflist|33em}}

Bibliography

• Partly based on [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003123.htm Abdominal bloating]. MedlinePlus (US public domain Medical Encyclopedia). Update Date: 10 November 2004. Updated by: Christian Stone, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Ahmed Shazly.
• Van Vorous, Heather. Eating for IBS. 2000. {{ISBN|1-56924-600-9}}. Excerpted with author's permission at [http://www.HelpForIBS.com/ Help for Irritable Bowel Syndrome] (see IBS Diet Section)
• (2021, January 16) [https://back-muscles.com/lower-back-pain-and-bloated-tummy-causes-and-best-treatments Lower back pain and bloated tummy]: causes and best treatments - [https://back-muscles.com/ Everything to Know about Back Muscles].
• [https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/bloating-causes-and-prevention-tips]: Bloating: Causes and Prevention Tips

- [https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/bloating-causes-and-prevention-tips].

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{{Digestive system and abdomen symptoms and signs}}

Category:Symptoms and signs: Digestive system and abdomen

Category:Oncology

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