9 Possible Causes For Gas And Bloating | Women's Health slideshows | Family Health center

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Is Often Associated With Bloating

If you keep bloating on and off and have also been experiencing symptoms like pain in abdomen, constipation and bouts of diarrhea, there is a high probability that you may be suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Almost 80% to 90% of IBS patients complain of bloating. This is because the intestinal contractions are stronger and last longer in these patients. This forces the food through the intestines rapidly resulting in gas, bloating and diarrhea. Experts suggest that cutting out cereal fibers by avoiding breads, oats, muesli, cakes, breakfast cereals except Rice Krispies and digestive biscuits may provide relief from gas and bloating in 30% to 40% of IBS patients.

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Photo courtesy of Bruce by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/superfantastic/2783783131/
www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/bloated-stomach-5-common-causes-1196763
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome/DS00106/DSECTION=causes

Flatulence Is Often Associated With Bloating

According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, one normally produces 1 to 4 pints of gas daily. It is normal to pass gas through belching or flatulence up to 14 times a day. However, excessive gas and flatulence may lead to bloating. One of the commonest reasons of excess gas is swallowing too much air while eating or drinking. Consuming too much of fizzy drinks or eating food containing complex carbohydrates, like beans, pulses, broccoli, cabbages and Brussel sprouts can lead to gas formation. Patients suffering from Crohn’s disease also frequently complain of flatulence. This is because of undigested food reaching the colon. The undigested food releases small amounts of sulfur gas while passing through the gut. Eating slowly, avoiding fizzy drinks and taking probiotics may provide some relief.

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www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/bloated-stomach-5-common-causes-1196763

Coeliac Disease Is A Common Cause Of Bloating

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease in which body resists any food substance that contains gluten. When the patient eats food containing gluten, like pasta or bread, his body fights against it and in the process, the surface of the small intestine is damaged. This effects the digestion of the food. The undigested food ferments leading to production of gas and bloating. According to National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence guidelines, any person complaining of persistent bloating and other IBS like symptoms should be tested for the presence of coeliac disease. Patients suffering from coeliac disease are advised to strictly avoid any food item that contains gluten e.g. wheat, barley and rye.

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Photo courtesy of Ariel Waldman by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/ariels_photos/4328144339/
www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/bloated-stomach-5-common-causes-1196763
http://www.healthfitonline.com/resources/articles/celiac.html

Ovarian Cancer Can Cause Bloating

Although it is difficult to diagnose ovarian cancer on the basis of symptoms alone since they are so vague, one common symptom of the disease is bloating of the abdomen. The bloating associated with ovarian cancer is persistent in nature unlike other diseases where bloating tends to come and go. Moreover, in ovarian cancer, you not only perceive tightness in the abdominal region, you can actually see abdominal distention. The bloating in ovarian cancer is due to collection of ascetic fluid in the abdominal cavity. Bloating may also result because of cancerous tissue sitting on the surface of the intestines. According to physicians, if a woman experiences persistent bloating for a minimum of two weeks and does not get any relief even after taking over the counter antacids and diuretics, she should consult a doctor.

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Photo courtesy of woman-hub.com by Picasa : picasaweb.google.com/lh/view?q=ovarian&uname=109008901828086469253&psc=G&filter=1#5857821673148870546
www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/bloated-stomach-5-common-causes-1196763
http://voices.yahoo.com/why-does-ovarian-cancer-cause-bloating-6650138.html?cat=70

Acid Reflux Or Dyspepsia Can Lead To Gas And Bloating

If you feel bloated in the upper abdomen or burp excessively after having your meals, chances are that you are suffering from acid reflux or dyspepsia. Acid reflux, also known as heartburn, is a condition where the acid from the stomach regurgitates into the esophagus or the food pipe. The acid causes a burning sensation. When the body tries to push this acid back into the stomach, some amount of air is also swallowed in the process. Frequent swallowing of air due to acid reflux can lead to gas in the stomach and bloating. Bloating leads to an increase in pressure inside the stomach. This, in turn, causes the acid in the stomach, to rise into the esophagus. Thus, we see, that bloating and acid reflux are conditions that usually co-exist.

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Photo courtesy of Helga Weber by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/helga/3313843254/
health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2012/11/21/a-taxonomy-of-tummy-bloating
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-connection-between-acid-reflux-and-bloating.htm

Constipation Can Be The Cause Behind Bloating And Gas

If a person complains of bloating which gets relieved after passing stools, then it can be concluded that constipation was the cause of his bloating. When the bowel is not emptied regularly, the waste leftovers from the process of digestion build up in the colon. The constipated bowel acts as a perfect breeding ground for certain bacteria which ferment the leftover waste material. This leads to production of gas. As this gas is unable to escape, it leads to bloating and discomfort. To get relief from this kind of bloating, it is advised to increase the intake of dietary fiber. Consuming insoluble fiber present in bran, skin of fruits and vegetables, and seeds, can speed up the emptying of the bowels while limiting the amount of gas formed.

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Anxiety And The Problem Of Gas And Bloating Often Coexist

When a person suffers from an anxiety attack, he may unintentionally swallow a lot of air along with saliva. Or he may hyperventilate, with air entering the wrong tube. The air that enters the body in this manner, exerts pressure leading to bloating. Stress and anxiety may also hamper the normal digestive processes going on in to body. Stress affects the speed of digestion- either the process is hastened or it slows down. Either way, the food is not digested properly. Bacteria present in the gut act on the partially digested food and produce excess gas. This gas can lead to bloating. Conditions like the irritable bowel syndrome can also be aggravated by stress and anxiety. They, in turn, can lead to production of gas and bloating.

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Photo courtesy of Son of Groucho by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/sonofgroucho/7658824292/
www.livestrong.com/article/164778-what-causes-gas-bloating/
http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/symptoms/gas-problems

Eating Too Much And Too Fast Can Lead To Bloating After Meals

If you eat too much food too fast, you run the risk of developing a bloated stomach after meal. If you eat too fast, you are likely to swallow air along with the food. It is believed that satiety signals take almost 20 minutes to reach the brain. It is only when these signals reach the brain that the appetite is dampened. Now if you eat too much too fast, imagine the amount of air you would be swallowing. All this air can lead to the problem of bloating. Moreover, if you eat too fast, chances are that you may not chew your food completely. For the complete digestion of food, chewing it properly plays an important role. If the food is swallowed without being properly chewed, it may be acted upon by the bacteria in the gut, leading to production of gas and bloating.

Sources & Links

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Photo courtesy of Thirteen Of Clubs by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/thirteenofclubs/4552286306/
www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/diarrhea-10/bloated-bloating

Eating Rich And Fatty Food Can Leave You Feeling Bloated

Eating rich and fatty food can make you feel uneasy and stuffed. This is because fats are the last food components to leave your stomach- much after the carbohydrates and proteins. Fats take the longest to get digested. The delayed stomach emptying can leave you feeling bloated. Moreover, fatty foods slow down the process of digestion. Since gases are being constantly produced till the time digestion takes place, the slowed digestive process leads to building up of gases which, in turn, produces bloating. Intake of rich, fatty foods can also lead to flaring up of conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. These conditions can also lead to gas and bloating.