What To Do When Bloated

Dont Multitask When Eating

Im almost never just eating a mealIm also on my computer or watching television or scrolling through my phone, admits Lindsey Metrus, Byrdies former managing editor. After a lifetime of bloat, she decided to try traditional Chinese medicine to ward off some of her discomfort. It turns out, the distraction was part of the problem. Multitasking with some sort of digital distraction leads to overeating or scarfing down food hurriedly, which translates to poor digestion. Its also one of the main reasons people face spleen qi deficiency, according to Emma Suttie, D.Ac., AP.

Metrus continues, I made it a point to enjoy as many meals as I could peacefully and undistracted, focusing on chewing each piece of food since breaking down foods before they get to the spleen means the spleen has less work to do. Not only will chewing slowly encourage healthier digestion and, in turn, less bloat, but it will also speed up your metabolism .

Bloating : Why You Feel Bloated

Bloating, gassiness, and abdominal discomfort arenât limited to the occasional holiday feast. One in 10 Americans say they suffer from bloating regularly, even when they havenât eaten a large meal. In some cases, bloating can become severe enough that it causes distention, or a perceptible swelling of the abdomen. Bloating and gas are usually tied to what and how you eat, so a few simple changes may help.

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Does Drinking 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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How To Prevent Constipation Bloating

There are several lifestyle changes you can make that can help you prevent constipation-related bloating:

• Slowly increase your fiber intake. Fiber adds bulk to your stool, making it easier to pass. However, if you add too much too quickly, you can experience worsening bloating.
• Increase your water intake. Drinking more water can also add bulk to your stool, reducing constipation.
• Stop smoking. Smoking can increase many gastrointestinal symptoms, including constipation.
• Take part in regular physical activity. This will help keep your bowels moving.

You can also make dietary changes to help reduce bloating.

Causes Of Bloating During Perimenopause And Menopause

Menopause symptoms can begin several years before you reach menopause. This time is known as perimenopause. Menopause is defined as the lack of a menstrual period for 12 concurrent months. This happens because your ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone. After menopause, you can no longer get pregnant.

Most women experience menopause in their early 50s, though you can go through it earlier or later. Once you havent experienced a period for 12 months, youre considered postmenopausal.

Bloating may occur more frequently in perimenopause than during menopause or postmenopause. During perimenopause, your hormones are changing rapidly. That can lead to higher levels of estrogen. Estrogen causes your body to retain water, which can lead to bloating.

Bloating isnt the only symptom experienced by women going through perimenopause and menopause. Fluctuating hormones can also lead to:

• another health condition

Its likely that bloating after menopause is related to one of these factors rather than hormones. Thats because after you go through menopause, your hormones dont fluctuate as much as they did during perimenopause and menopause.

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Best: Yogurt With Probiotics

Probiotics, which are good bacteria in your gut, help regulate digestion and champion the overall health of your digestive tract. You can take probiotic supplements, but you may as well get a breakfast out of it. So eat your bloat away with yogurt that has active cultures. If you want to add some sweetness, use a little honey, jam, or granola.

Can Bloating Be Prevented Or Avoided

There are many ways to prevent and avoid bloating:

• Avoid the foods that are known to cause gas. These include cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips, beans, and lentils.
• Avoid chewing gum.
• Avoid using straws for drinking.
• Reduce or avoid drinking carbonated drinks .
• Reduce or avoid eating and drinking foods that include fructose or sorbitol. These artificial sweeteners are often found in sugar-free foods.
• Eat more foods high in fiber to prevent constipation. If foods alone dont help, consider taking a fiber supplement.
• Avoid dairy products if you notice they cause gas and bloating.

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Medications And Other Therapies

Some medications and other treatments have been found to help ease the symptoms of bloating and distension. Your doctor may talk to you about some of these options, depending on your symptoms and other health related considerations.

Antispasmodics: These can relax the muscles of the bowel and provide relief. Examples include dicyclomine and hyoscyamine in the United States and otilonium bromide or pinaverium bromide available in Latin America and some countries in Europe and Asia and a combination of pinaverium bromide with simethicone in some Latin America countries.

Probiotics: These dietary supplements contain live bacteria that help balance out the existing bacteria of the intestines. Some that include a relatively low level of probiotic bacteria are available over the counter or in yogurt varieties. Other options include Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome in general, and Bifidobacterium animalis DN-0173 10 for patients with IBS with constipation .

Rifaximin: This antibiotic is only slightly absorbed and can be used for short periods of time. Usually it is used to lessen bloating in people with IBS whose symptoms do not include constipation, or in those with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Other options: Medications that increase fluid content in stools, lubiprostone or linaclotide for example, may also be used.

How To Get Rid Of Bloating: 8 Steps

By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN

May 26, 2022

Stomach bloating is so common these days that its been called an epidemic. If you frequently deal with distention, digestive discomfort and a bloated stomach, you probably want to know: Why do I feel bloated all the time?

With most peoples poor diets, high levels of stress, need for daily medications and exposure to various pollutants, its no wonder they suffer some sort of bloating more days than not.

While a bloated stomach is certainly uncomfortable even embarrassing when it comes along with gas or the need to run to the bathroom it might be an even bigger deal than you think. Below well look closer at reasons you may deal with an inflated belly, plus discuss bloated stomach remedies, such as foods to focus on and those to avoid.

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How Long Does A Bloated Stomach Last

If your bloating is due to something you ate or drank or to hormone fluctuations, it should begin to ease within a few hours to days. If you are constipated, it wont go down until you start pooping. Water, exercise and herbal teas can help encourage all of these things along. If it doesnt go away or gets worse, seek medical attention.

Have Better Eating Habits

Youre more likely to suffer from bloating if you have developed poor eating habits like not chewing properly or eating too fast, says Claire. We have to be super mindful of this try resting your cutlery between mouthfuls and chewing food until its semi-liquid, advises The Gut Stuff team.

Try to balance your blood sugars at every meal by making sure you eat protein and fats with your carbs, adds Claire. You might also consider taking a digestive aid. A magnesium supplement can also help, especially if youre constipated, she says.

Walking for a few minutes after meals helps a lot of people, recommends Dr Chophada.

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Bloat Vs Gastric Dilatation

Bloat in dogs becomes life-threatening when it becomes gastric dilation-volvulus . Bloat GDV happens when a dogs stomach has rotated or twisted.

The gastric dilation pushes on large arteries and veins in the area, and this impacts the blood supply the stomach needs. The stomach is then unable to function properly and toxic substances build up. This causes stomach tissue to begin dying off.

In addition, gastric dilation causes further pressure on nearby organs and blood supply is decreased or cut off to them as well. The constricted blood vessels are unable to circulate blood supply throughout the body. When blood flow to the pancreas stops, this organ releases toxic hormones into the body that can easily cause heart failure.

As this process continues, its critical to realize that your dog can quickly go into shock. Thats when youll have a very grave medical emergency on your hands, and any delay in getting vet assistance can definitely compromise their survival.

Keep in mind that while your dogs risk of developing gastric dilation-volvulus from bloating are uncertain, the consequences of this condition should never be taken lightly.

Best: Peppermint And Chamomile Teas

If you’re feeling puffy after dinner, you can sip on a hot cup of peppermint or chamomile tea. Both kinds relax GI muscles, per an April 2020 Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies article, to help dissipate the gas that causes your stomach to bloat. Aside from improving digestion, chamomile can also soothe and relax, which can help ease any sort of stomach discomfort.

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When Does Period Bloating Occur

Youll likely experience bloating well before the start of your period. Bloating is considered a very common symptom of PMS. Symptoms of PMS can begin a week or two before your period starts. You may bloat every month, once in a while, or not at all. Relief from bloating may occur immediately after you start your period or a few days into it.

You may have other PMS symptoms. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists state that up to 85 percent of women report physical symptoms related to their period. Besides bloating, other common symptoms include:

You should talk to your doctor if your bloating:

• does not go away after your period
• is severe enough to affect your daily activities

Severe bloating may be a sign of a medical condition or may need to be treated differently.

Eating More Calories Than Usual

Lets face it. When youre off your schedule, sometimes the most interesting thing you can do is bake. But consuming excess calories especially those found in cookies, cakes and bread can pack on the pounds and cause your belly to bloat.

If cooking is your jam while sheltering in place, reserve high-calorie recipes for special occasions, or cut it back to one meal a week.

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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?

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:

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Get More Active Every Day

Exercise helps your body move stool and gas out of the colon and may make bowel movements more regular. Exercise also releases extra sodium from the body through sweating, which can help to relieve water retention.

It is vital to drink plenty of water before and after exercising to stay hydrated, as dehydration can make constipation worse.

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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When Should You Seek Medical Care For Bloating

Most of the time, bloating will clear up within a few hours. If it lasts more than a day or two, talk to your doctor. You should also seek medical care if you have symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, weight loss or fever along with bloating.

A gastroenterologist can evaluate these symptoms and look for malabsorption , overgrowth of bacteria or a gastrointestinal disorder, Dr. Panah said. Conditions like these need medical treatment.

Home Remedies For Bloating

Home Remedies

That feeling when your jeans just dont fit like they did last weekwomen know it well. Being more prone to bloating than men, women are likely to experience several of these days each month around the time Mother Nature arrives for her monthly visit. Although bloating is normal, the feeling is still unpleasant. Thankfully, there are some easy at-home remedies for reducing bloating.

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How Can Bloating Be Prevented

To deal with bloating, you may consider discussing your diet and eating habits with your doctor or a registered dietitian. If you can identify the food or eating behavior that causes belly bloat, you can effectively prevent future bloating. To help prevent bloating:

• Avoid eating super large meals in one sitting.
• Eat slowly while seated.
• Avoid foods that tend to make you gassy.
• Be mindful of how much fiber you eat.
• Avoid bubbly beverages.

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Steer Clear Of Sugar Alcohols

Sugar alcohols are a type of carb found naturally in certain fruits and vegetables. Theyre used as a low calorie sweetener in many processed foods.

Because theyre not fully digested by the body, they can cause digestive issues like gas, diarrhea, bloating, and stomach pain among some people .

Sugar alcohols are found in many processed foods like gum, granola bars, sugar-free candies, and soft drinks under names like xylitol, sorbitol, and maltitol. Thus, reducing your intake of these foods may minimize digestive side effects like bloating.

summary

Sugar alcohols are not fully digested by your body and can cause digestive issues like bloating among some people. Avoiding foods with these ingredients may reduce these issues.

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Be Aware Of Food Intolerance And Allergies

Bloating is a typical symptom of a food intolerance or allergy. Intolerances and allergies can cause excessive gas production or gas to become trapped in the gastrointestinal tract. The foods most likely to cause this are wheat or gluten.

No reliable tests exist to identify a specific food intolerance or allergy, so the best way to identify them is through trial and error. It can help to keep a food diary to track which foods are causing symptoms, such as bloating.

Try Out Compression Socks

Compression socks are tight stockings that apply gentle pressure to your legs and ankles. They work to boost circulation to the legs as well as promote lymphatic drainage and prevent blood from pooling in the veins. People tend to wear compression socks on long flights to help with blood flow. They’re also a lifesaver when it comes to reducing leg swelling and inflammation, not to mention a potential natural remedy for varicose veins.

It’s important to mention that some people may be more sensitive than others when it comes to retaining water. When it comes down to it, the exact reason you’re retaining water applies to you individually. What works for someone else might not be helpful to you, so use caution when it comes to hastily taking on a new trend, and consult a physician first.

• What foods make you bloat?

  Water retention is often caused by eating too much salt, processed foods, and not drinking enough water. Corn, lentils, dairy, garlic, onions, soda, and non-nutritive sweeteners can also cause bloating. Even chewing gum can be a source of bloat, as it causes consumption of air.

• What should I eat when bloated?

  Eating foods like celery, fennel, asparagus, lemon, and ginger can help relieve bloating.

• How long can bloat last?

  After a meal, bloating can last for two hours or more. Eating the above foods can help speed up the process.

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What To Take For Bloating

When women are passing through the menopausal transition, various symptoms may evolve that they never had prior issues with due to drastic hormonal fluctuations, including symptoms affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Discover more about what to take for bloating to finally liberate your guts and allow for enjoyable, well-digested eating.

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