Take A Warm Bath Soaking And Relaxing
The heat of the bath can provide relief for a sore abdomen. Relaxation can reduce stress levels, which may allow the GI tract to function more effectively and help reduce bloating.
Quick fixes are not always effective for some causes of bloating. However, people who have frequent bloating may find that certain lifestyle changes can tackle the causes and reduce bloating over time.
People can use these simple steps to try to prevent bloating in the long-term:
Joy Bauer Shares Tips To Beat The Bloat This Summer
Similar to bloating is water retention. This lovely feeling is usually caused by consuming too much salt . High levels of sodium cause your body to hold on to extra unwanted fluid. Not only can bloating and water retention be uncomfortable and less than attractive, it can be downright painful. Here is a guideline to beat the bloat.
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Why Are Fodmaps Difficult To Digest
FODMAPs are fermentable short-chain carbohydrates. Translated, that means two things: They are sugar molecules that are linked together in chains, and they are fermentable by the bacteria in your gut. Molecules in chains need to be broken down into single molecules to be absorbed through your small intestine. But FODMAPs cant be broken down, so they cant be absorbed there. Your small intestine draws in extra water to help move the FODMAPs through to your large intestine. There, the bacteria living in your colon have a field day fermenting them . This produces gasses and fatty acids as byproducts inside your gut.
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Will I Need Surgery For Ascites
Sometimes, diuretics and a low-sodium diet arent enough to improve the ascites. You may need other treatments, including:
- Paracentesis: Your provider inserts a needle into your abdomen to remove the fluid. This procedure can remove a large amount of excess fluid.
- Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt : This procedure is performed to treat fluid build-up in the abdomen. A wire mesh is inserted into a vein in your liver. When inflated, the stent forms a channel to bypass the liver. TIPS may be appropriate if your ascites aren’t responding to other therapies, if you need several paracenteses per month and you’re not a candidate for a liver transplant.
- Liver transplant: In cases of severe cirrhosis, when the liver is failing, a liver transplant may be necessary.
What Is A Bloated Stomach
A bloated stomach is first and foremost a feeling of tightness, pressure or fullness in your belly. It may or may not be accompanied by a visibly distended abdomen. The feeling can range from mildly uncomfortable to intensely painful. It usually goes away after a while, but for some people, its a recurring problem. Digestive issues and hormone fluctuations can cause cyclical bloating. If your bloated stomach doesnt go away, you should seek medical care to determine the cause.
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Excess Gas Can Build Up
Gas is a normal part of digestion, but if it builds up in your intestines, it may cause bloating and pain. Gas happens when food that is not digested is broken down in your colon. This process produces methane and hydrogen, which you pass naturally as gas.
If you do experience bloating due to gas, modifying your food intake may help. Here are some common drinks and foods that can cause bloating:
- Foods high in fiber or fat
- Fried and spicy dishes
- Carbonated drinks, such as soda or beer
- Lactose found in milk, cheese and yogurts
Over-the-counter supplements can even trigger bloating.
Things To Tell Your Doctor:
- Is the symptom located in the upper or lower abdomen?Is it in a concentrated area?
- Is your bloating or distension associated with burping?
- Do you experience nausea or vomiting?
- Is the symptom associated with pain in your abdomen?Upper or lower?
- Does the bloating or distension relate to passing gas or a change in your bowel habits ?
- Are your symptoms related to food? Which ones?
- Do they occur right after eating?
- Do your symptoms increase during the day or improve during night hours?
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Right Side Of The Abdomen
Upper right:
The upper right side of your abdomen contains the gallbladder, liver, and first part of the small intestine.
The gallbladder is a small sac that stores bile made by the liver. The duodenum, known as the first portion of the small intestine, is where food empties from the stomach into the small intestine.
Center right:
The center right side of the abdomen contains the ascending colon and the transverse colon. Food then passes from the ascending colon to the transverse colon.
Lower right:
The cecum of the large intestine with the appendix and the small intestine are in the lower right side of the abdomen. The cecum is the first part of the large intestine that the end of the small intestine connects to.
Some experts believe the appendix plays a role in the immune system. Others think it has no purpose.
If your doctor performs a physical exam and then suspects a medical condition is causing your abdominal bloating or pain, theyll run various medical tests.
The types of tests they order will depend on your medical history and physical exam results.
Some common tests for abdominal problems include the following:
How Can I Prevent Stomach Bloating
If your stomach bloating is caused by diet or alcohol, you can help prevent it by making some lifestyle changes. Some good general guidelines include:
If the cause of your bloated stomach is something more specific, such as specific food intolerance, perimenopause or a medical condition, you might need a little help with diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Some options include:
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Treatment For Upper Abdominal Bloat
Treatment of upper abdominal bloaters includes treating the underlying condition if one is encountered.
- If H. pylorus is present, antibiotics and antacid treatment are recommended for 10-14 days.
- If gastroparesis is present, diet modifications and medication will help increase stomach contractions.
- If impaired stomach accommodation is present, there are prescriptions available that improve the relaxation of the stomach.
For all patients, I recommend smaller and more frequent meals. If the patient frequently drinks coffee, carbonated beverages, and/or alcohol, I will ask them to scale back, says Dr. Gonzales. I regularly see patients with tremendous bloating who consume a few carbonated beverages per day.
Consider If Your Bloating Is Lining Up With Your Menstrual Cycle
If youre someone who has periods, thats another factor to track when youre looking for patterns in your bloating, says Dr. Cohen. A 2014 study in BMC Women’s Health asked 156 women about their gastrointestinal symptoms before and during their periods. The results showed that bloating was the most common GI-related symptom pre-menstruation and the second most common during menstruation. Unlike bloating due to digestive issues, bloating related to your period could happen because of fluid retention rather than gas.
Bloating thats connected to your menstrual cycle is pretty normal. But that doesnt make it much fun. If youve also noticed that certain foods make you feel bloated, consider limiting them in the days leading up to your period . To help reduce water retention, the Mayo Clinic recommends steps like curbing your salt intake if you think sodium may be a factor.
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Talk To A Doctor If You Think A Gastrointestinal Disorder Is Causing Your Bloating And Distension
If your bloating doesnt follow a neat pattern, you cant pinpoint a factor behind it like hormonal changes or lactose intolerance, and you experience additional bothersome symptoms, you could have a gastrointestinal condition like ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease. These both fall under the umbrella of inflammatory bowel disease , which describes conditions that cause inflammation of various parts of the bowel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that ulcerative colitis affects consistent stretches of the large intestine and rectum, while Crohns disease can affect any part of the digestive system, with inflammation usually occurring in patches.
- Unexplained weight loss
People with Crohns or ulcerative colitis can go for long periods of time with no symptoms. But these are serious, chronic conditions that require treatment. Left untreated, ulcerative colitis can lead to rectal bleeding, joint inflammation, and inflammation in deep tissue layers of the large intestine, the NIDDK says, while Crohns can lead to ulcers, intestinal obstructions, fissures, and abscesses.
Most of the time, bloating indicates nothing more than your digestive system doing its job. And now that you know how to determine if its potentially serious, you can tell the difference between when you may need to see a doctorand when its time to change out of your uncomfortable jeans and into your favorite leggings.
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When Should I Be Worried About Abdominal Bloating
See your healthcare provider if your bloated stomach:
- Gets progressively worse.
- Persists for more than a week.
- Is persistently painful.
- Comes with symptoms of illness, such as fever, vomiting or bleeding.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
A bloated stomach is not a pleasant feeling. While its a common experience and usually temporary, you may become weary of the cycle. Spending a little focused attention on the problem to identify the cause can be well worthwhile. Try recording your symptoms and possible triggers in a journal. Note diet, hormonal and stress factors. When in doubt bring your notes to a specialist for professional guidance. The different factors that contribute to bloating can be complex and difficult to parse, but medical testing can help. As always, seek medical attention if your symptoms are persistent or severe.
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Why Is The Left Side Of My Stomach Bloated And Hard
When your stomach swells and feels hard, the explanation might be as simple as overeating or drinking carbonated drinks, which is easy to remedy. Other causes may be more serious, such as an inflammatory bowel disease. Sometimes the accumulated gas from drinking a soda too quickly can result in a hard stomach.
What Does Endo Belly Feel Like
The pain of bloating from endometriosis ranges from uncomfortable to debilitating. It can feel like pressure in the stomach or lower back, and it can cause visible swelling that may make a person look pregnant. Endo belly may make a person feel self-conscious and contribute to poor mental health and lowered self-image. These are some ways MyEndometriosisTeam members describe their experiences with endo belly:
- I look like Im pregnant again. It always comes with pelvic pain and pressure, and I am always bent over in pain. Mine always lasts two days, then goes then back down again.
- I almost look three to four months pregnant. I have skinny legs, so its so noticeable.
- I feel like my weight is all in my big bloated belly and even if I drop it, it still looks swollen, or I look pregnant all the time.
- My pain and endometriosis belly hurt at around the same time as when I would normally get my period when I had one.
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Having An Undiagnosed Condition
There are a few conditions that can cause bloating. Heart and liver disease and venous insufficiency can cause excess fluid in the abdomen or limbs. These conditions come with more prominent and tell-tale symptoms, and your health care provider can help you identify them and other illnesses that can cause bloating.
Chronic conditions can cause swelling and bloating in certain areas, Hoffman said. If you have a history or concern of these conditions, then its best to talk with your primary care provider.
Other gastrointestinal conditions can also cause bloating and stomach ailments. Conditions such as ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease and irritable bowel syndrome can all cause bloating. Acid reflux, and the medications to treat it, can cause bloating and a feeling of increased gas in the abdomen, leading to belching.
How Does Cirrhosis Cause Ascites
When you have cirrhosis, your liver doesnt function as it should. The decrease in liver function combines with portal hypertension to cause ascites symptoms. Portal hypertension is high pressure in the portal vein that delivers blood to your liver. The high pressure causes fluid to leak out of your veins into your belly and collect there.
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Dr Gonzales: Where You Bloat Tells A Lot About Why
- Posted On: Apr 30, 2019
Do you regularly gain a pant size after lunch? Does constipation usually accompany your bloating? Bloat is a very common complaint in Dr. Chad Gonzaless clinical practice and one thats fascinated him for years. When patients experience bloating, where its felt it is one of his first questions. According to him, where the bloat occurs is valuable information that can help inform a diagnosis.
Next time you feel bloated, pay attention to where you feel it. Heres what your symptoms may be indicating.
How To Stop Bloating After Eating
Bloating remedies can be very helpful as a natural way to relieve bloating. If you cant figure out what is the cause of the bloating in your body however, or if the bloated stomach after eating has been persistent for more than a week, we highly recommend that you should see your doctor, as there may be an underlying medical condition that causes the bloating.
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What Causes Bloating In Upper Abdomen Under Ribs
There are several reasons you may be experiencing bloating in your upper abdomen under your rib cage.
Bloating, or distension, happens when theres too much gas and fluids in your digestive tract.
Upper stomach pain can also occur if youre constipated, have irritable bowel syndrome , diverticulitis, an eating disorder, celiac disease, or intestinal obstruction.
An intestinal obstruction means that food cannot pass through the intestines properly.
If the cause is bloating, you may feel abdominal discomfort such as cramping pains.
You Eat Lots Of Packaged Foods
Once again, the culprit here is sodiumits used as a preservative for tons of processed convenience foods. You know that crackers and chips are sodium bombs, but even healthy-looking items such as soups, salad dressings, cereals, and tomato sauce can have crazy-high amounts of sodium that easily lead you to exceed the 2,300 mg daily recommended limit. Its a good bet that pretty much any product that comes wrapped in a package contains more sodium than youd think, and youre unlikely to even taste the salt, says Brill. Dodge the belly-bloating effects by reading labels and going for packaged foods that contain less than 500 mg per serving. And of course, try to cut back on the processed stuff and fill your plate with naturally low-sodium or sodium-free fresh fruits, grains, and veggies.
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Does Water Help With Bloating
While it may seem counterintuitive, drinking water may help to reduce bloat by ridding the body of excess sodium, Fullenweider says. Another tip: Be sure to drink plenty of water before your meal too. This step offers the same bloat-minimizing effect and can also prevent overeating, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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Abdominal Bloating: Causes Bloating Is A Common Symptom Of Dysbiosis Whether Its A Sign Of An Unhealthy Gut Processed Foods A Lack Of Sleep Dysbiosis And Limited Physical Activity Have Been Directly Linked To Promoting Imbalance And A Lack Of Diversity In Gut Bacteria And Treatment
7 mins readWhat Is Bloating? Causes, sitting for Bloating: Causes and Prevention TipsAside from constipation, but when Im bloated I just dont feel my best, Turns out, or an imbalanced gut microbiome, I just want to get rid of it ASAP, Bloating everyones had the feeling once before, Bloating or fullness, swelling and a lot of gas, it helps to know the cause, Things like a diet high in sugar,Most commonly, Symptoms, gas or solids pool in part of your gut.Feeling bloated can result from an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, which isAuthor: Maureen DonohueSummary for Reason for bloating, and it usually refers to abdominal bloating, Hence, Things like a diet high in sugar, and More
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You Are Drinking Too Much Soda
Those bubbles in soda and other drinks like beer, champagne, or seltzer are filled with gas. When you drink them, they can fill up your digestive system. You may burp some of it away, but once the gas reaches your intestines, it stays until you pass it. And most sodas are full of sugar, which can make you hold on to water and feel bloated.
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Bloated Stomach After Eating
Feeling bloated after eating is very common, although the causes of bloated stomach after eating may be completely different and as such the treatment you may need. The first question to ask yourself in order to effectively stop bloating after eating, is whether everytime you eat you feel bloated and uncomfortable, or if you only experience bloated stomach after eating certain foods, meals or in certain scenarios that involve problematic eating habits The latter is very common . Eating fast, eating when you are stressed or while at work, eating while drinking, emotional eating or eating too much are common causes of bloated stomach after eating. Even if you eat healthy foods.
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What To Do After Overeating: Takeaway
When we give ourselves grace, recognize it isnt something we want to do to ourselves because of how we feel, and learn from it, we liberate ourselves from potentially slipping into the same behavior or habit again in the future. That being said, if you do find yourself overeating or binging often, and restricting or self-condemning often, you may want to consult a coach, therapist, or friend that you can process the behavior with and dig into the origins to understand where this behavior and self-sabotage is coming from. All in all though, overeating once in a while isnt the end of the world, and everyone does it. Be kind to yourself, learn from it, and move on.
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