Bloating and Excessive Gas
Bloating is a common issue faced by healthy adults. It is caused by air or gas filling the GI system and frequently manifests as a feeling of fullness, pressure, or tightness in the stomach. Bloating can cause anything from mild discomfort to excruciating pain. The feeling of being bloated may pass quickly or not for several hours. Those who encounter digestion issues and hormonal changes may frequently feel bloated.
Excessive intestinal gas usually leads to bloating, and it is typically caused by the metabolism of carbohydrates by gut bacteria in a process called fermentation. The body naturally produces intestinal gas as a result of this process. Too much intestinal gas could indicate a problem with your digestion. Gas that you inhale or consume through carbonated drinks is usually expelled through burping before it reaches your intestines. However, when a large amount of carbohydrates are not properly absorbed during digestion, excessive fermentation occurs, resulting in an increase in intestinal gas.
Conditions associated with bloating and excessive gas
Indigestion can occur when food is consumed too quickly or in excessive amounts, of if an individual ingests a meal that he is intolerant to, or if he has a digestive disorder.
Carbohydrate Malabsorption
Fructose and lactose are carbohydrates that are hard to digest and can cause bloating and gas. A specialist can conduct tests to determine which carbohydrates the patient might be sensitive to. By avoiding or reducing consumption of these carbohydrates, less bloating will be experienced.
Functional Digestive Disorders
Functional digestive disorders include Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Functional Dyspepsia. In Singapore, almost one in 10 people have IBS. Some common signs of these conditions include diarrhea or constipation, nausea or vomiting, and bloating in the abdomen.
Bowel Obstruction
Tumors, scar tissue, strictures, stenosis, or hernias can all clog large and small bowels. The obstruction prevents feces movement and causes air to build up.
Visceral Hypersensitivity
Individuals who have visceral hypersensitivity are those who feel bloated even when their gas levels are acceptable. IBS and abnormalities of the gut-to-brain neural pathways are frequently connected with this illness. In some instances, patients experience an unfavorable reaction that causes their abdominal muscles to protrude outwardly when they have normal levels of gas.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine happens when a particular population or subtype of bacteria predominates and displaces the normal intestinal flora. This overgrowth can in turn lead to build up of gases.
Weight Gain
You might feel especially bloated after eating a standard meal if you had a recent weight gain at the belly area, because belly weight causes less space for digestion and water retention.
Hormones
Bloating is a common symptom among menstruating women. Feminine hormones can increase your sensitivity to the sense of bloating as well as create bloating.
Bloating should subside on its own, but if it lasts longer than a week or is consistently painful, you should consult a doctor. If the bloating worsens over time and symptoms like fever, vomiting, or bleeding occurs, you should contact your doctor immediately.
Bloating is difficult to cure treat because no single method has been shown to be successful. gastroscopy or colonoscopy procedure might be necessary to determine the root cause of your bloating or any underlying conditions.
Probiotics can help improve intestinal microbial balance in your gut and minimise discomfort. By taking probiotics, the excess gas in your body could be regulated and the balance of bacteria in your gut can be restored. Simethicone, an anti-foaming agent, is another medicine that
You may go on an elimination diet to determine which foods are the cause of your bloating. You should experience a proportionately decreased feeling of gassiness and bloating if you avoid ingesting these meals in excess. Complex carbs can also be broken down with the help of some drugs. Reducing your consumption of fiber, especially bran fiber, which is sometimes the cause of abdominal bloating, may help. Moving can also help to reduce bloat, particularly after a meal. This facilitates digestion and lessen bloating.