What is Bloating?
Bloating. What's causing it?
Bloating is a feeling of fullness or tightness in the abdomen, often accompanied by gas or abdominal distension. It's a common and uncomfortable condition that many people experience. But what causes it? Well, it can be caused by a variety of factors including diet, digestive issues and even stress.
One of the main culprits of bloating is overeating or eating too quickly, which can lead to the buildup of gas in the digestive tract. Certain foods such as onions, tomatoes, garlic and beans can trigger symptoms in some people. I do need to stress that these trigger foods are not actually bad for you, but in some people, the way these foods are digested and fermented in your intestines stretch the bowel wall in a way that your brain then interprets as bloating.
Other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and lactose intolerance can also contribute to bloating. Diet plays an important role when we're trying to manage bloating symptoms. Having more fiber can alleviate symptoms in some people. Foods that have a lot of fermentable sugars or FODMAPs can trigger symptoms of bloating. In some people, we may recommend a short six-week trial of a low FODMAP diet, then ask you to reintroduce foods one by one to try to identify trigger foods. This is not meant to be a long-term diet, but rather a short trial with reintroduction of potential food triggers.
It is also important to pay attention to how your body reacts to different foods and make adjustments to your diet accordingly. Stress, anxiety and low mood can also have a significant impact on digestive health and contribute to symptoms.
When we're stressed, our bodies release hormones that can affect the digestive system and lead to symptoms such as bloating, gas and abdominal pain. If you think you do have stress, anxiety or low mood, I would recommend practicing mindfulness, undertaking regular exercise and perhaps seeing your doctor for further advice. If your bloating symptoms are persistent, severe or associated with other symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, blood in the stool, iron deficiency or you're otherwise worried it's important to see your doctor. These could be signs of more serious underlying conditions that may require further medical attention.
In these cases, tests may be necessary to determine the cause of bloating and develop an appropriate treatment plan. So, if you are experiencing persistent bloating or digestive issues, we encourage you to seek guidance from your family doctor and if need be a gastroenterologist.
Additional videos on a range of common conditions are available to view on the Gastroenterology Specialist Care YouTube channel.
Note, this video is not a medical consultation. Any medical information is general in nature and is not intended to provide individual clinical advice. You should contact your doctor or other healthcare professional in relation to any concerns they may have, as your own circumstances may be different.
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