Causes of a Bloated Stomach – Stomach bloating is a condition that is often experienced by someone, so maybe you have felt it too. Yes, the symptoms of a bloated stomach generally cause a feeling of pressure or fullness in the stomach, and one of the causes is digestive disorders.
Often, this condition goes away on its own after a while. However, it can also occur repeatedly. Therefore, to carry out proper treatment, you must know the cause. As anticipation builds, let’s look at the explanation below.
Definition of Bloating Stomach
A bloated stomach is a condition in which the stomach experiences a buildup of gas, causing discomfort.
Normally, when you are eating, drinking, or swallowing saliva, there will be little air that enters the body, especially in the digestive system. However, when the amount of air is too much, it will cause a buildup of gas in the stomach.
Well, that condition often makes the stomach bloated and feels uncomfortable. When there is too much gas in the body, the body will do various things to get rid of it. You can pass gas until you vomit.
Bloated stomach is a condition that affects people of all ages. Most of these cases are harmless and will get better on their own.
Symptoms of Bloated Stomach
A bloated stomach is a condition that can occur suddenly, usually triggered by food or environmental influences. The most common signs of a bloated stomach include discomfort, tightness, and a feeling of fullness in the stomach.
Other symptoms that are usually experienced when a person is a bloated stomach are as follows:
- The stomach looks enlarged and feels full
- There is a sound like rumbling in the stomach
- Burp frequently
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- The frequency of passing gas increases
When experiencing a bloated stomach, you may also feel other symptoms not mentioned above.
And if you feel that these symptoms are not getting better to the point of causing concern, for example, if accompanied by being unable to defecate, then immediately consult a doctor.
Causes of Bloated Stomach
A bloated stomach is usually caused by a poor digestion process.
A bloated stomach is a condition that occurs when the digestive system is unable to break down certain food components. Some foods are harder for the body to digest. such as gluten and sugar in dairy or fruit products.
The digestive system itself contains nitrogen and oxygen gases. Well, when the process of digestion of food takes place, hydrogen gas, carbon dioxide, and methane will be formed. At that time, when the digestive process is not smooth, there will be a buildup of gas, which causes a bloated stomach.
In addition, trigger factors or causes of a bloated stomach can be eating habits or health problems.
Eating Habit
Eating habits that can trigger a bloated stomach are as follows:
- Eat too fast
- Often eat fatty foods
- Eat while talking
- Overeating (eating in excessive portions)
Health Problems
A bloated stomach can also be a symptom of several health problems, including:
1. Ulcer (Dyspepsia)
Dyspepsia, or what is known as an ulcer, is a condition of pain in the stomach, especially the upper part (solar plexus). Gastritis can cause nausea, vomiting, and a bloated stomach. Apart from that, it is also accompanied by a burning sensation in the stomach, fullness, and frequent belching.
2. Hormones
Hormonal changes that occur when a woman is about to have or is having her period can also cause a bloated stomach.
3. Enzyme Deficiency
Another health condition that can trigger a bloated stomach is a deficiency or disruption of digestive enzymes. The function of enzymes is to break down food into small particles so that the nutrients in it are easily absorbed by the body. If the production of these enzymes is hampered, then the body will experience problems in the digestive tract, causing a bloated stomach.
In addition, a bloated stomach can also be caused by a bacterial or viral infection in the digestive tract.
One of them is the H. pylori bacteria, which can cause stomach ulcers/inflammation and produce excess gas in the digestive tract.
4. Colon Irritation
Colon irritation, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), is a condition that is closely related to a bloated stomach. IBS can be triggered by several things, such as food allergies, stress, or bacterial infection.
Bloated Stomach Diagnosis
When you feel the symptoms of a bloated stomach and see a doctor, the doctor will do several tests to diagnose the disease that causes a bloated stomach.
First of all, the doctor will start a physical examination with several questions. Furthermore, if needed, the doctor can perform imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scans. A bloated stomach is a condition that makes the body feel uncomfortable, but it is not a disease. So, doctors usually carry out supporting examinations to detect whether there are other health problems.
How to Overcome Bloated Stomach
The following steps can be taken to relieve a bloated stomach:
- Drink herbal teas, such as chamomile, peppermint, turmeric, or ginger. These herbal ingredients can help the digestive system process gas.
- Antacids, which are bloated stomach medications that contain the active ingredient simethicone, are useful for removing gas.
- Regular exercise can also help fight a bloated stomach.
- Using probiotics serves to complement or rebalance the bacteria in the intestine. The content of probiotics can help digest food and absorb excess gas.
- Taking magnesium supplements is useful for neutralizing stomach acid.
How to Prevent Bloated Stomach
To avoid discomfort due to a bloated stomach, you can take the following preventive measures:
- Exercise regularly
- Drink enough water
- Eat foods that contain fiber
- Limiting food portions
- Manage stress well
- Eat and drink slowly
That’s an explanation of some of the causes and how to deal with a bloated stomach.
Even though it can heal by itself, if it doesn’t get better in the long term, then you should have it checked by a doctor.
