Bloating is when a person feels a fullness and tightness in the abdomen. It is often accompanied by a swollen and unsightly belly. Occasionally a person will feel pain and this can be a sharp, cramping feeling. Other symptoms of bloating are gas and needing to release it by either flatulence or hiccups. Hiccups are harmless and will diminish on their own, they also help to release the gas that is in the digestive tract before it moves down to the intestines causing more bloating. Five possible reasons of why a person experiences bloating are:
Overeating
Overeating is probably the most common cause of bloating. It creates a feeling of being stuffed and is due to the excessive amount of food in the belly.
Eating too quickly also causes bloating as the amount of air swallowed causes gas to build up.
Gastric distension
Gastric distension relates to abnormal levels of bacteria in the small intestine and when there is an imbalance of microqogransims it causes a person to bloat.
Food allergy
When a person eats foods that they are intolerant to, it causes excess gas production which makes them bloat. Food intolerance is when a person has difficulty digesting certain foods
Irritable bowel syndrome
IBS is directly linked to the digestive system. A person who has IBS has difficulty digesting certain foods that either pass through the gut too quickly or too slowly.
When the digestive system does not operate smoothly, it causes a person to bloat.
Celiac disease
This is when the body responds to gluten, a protein in wheat, barley and rye, and attacks the lining of the intestine.
This causes diarrhoea, pain in the belly and lots of gas which makes a person bloat.
The first step for bloating management is to find a treatment for the underlying causes by having a detailed medical history and physical examination.
The discomfort can be alleviated by certain drugs and dietary modifications.
Foods that help when you feel bloated:
- Celery
- Asparagus
- Ginger
- Yogurt
- Pineapple
- Papaya
Relaxing the body, hypnotherapy and meditation are other ways to help relieve the feeling of being bloated.