Behaviors Food Choices And Activity
Eating behaviors and other habits such as gum chewing, gulping foods and drinking with eating can cause us to swallow air. Bulky foods such as lettuce, cabbage, and dense breads not chewed into small enough pieces increase swallowed air.
Typically, swallowed air contains oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. It tends to not have a foul smell, but it does contribute to the discomfort associated with gas.
People vary widely in how sensitive they are to gas production. Keeping a food record to document incidences of gas in relation to foods eaten can shed light on whether food or behavior may be aggravating the situation.
Dehydration: Your Worst Enemy
As we mentioned previously, dehydration can cause you to retain water, which then triggers bloating.So what, exactly, causes dehydration? You can become dehydrated when you:
- Get too much sun or a lot of exposure to heat.
- Drink too much alcohol.
- Eat salty snacks.
When you’re in the sun too long, your body starts retaining water as a safety measure. Think of it as a form of self-defense, since your body doesnt know when it will have its next intake of fluid. Yet even as your body is conserving water, the retention is what may also cause you to feel bloated.
Its important to note that serious illness can result from being dehydrated. You should get help right away if you have one or more of these symptoms after being in the sun too long or you havent been staying hydrated:
- Intense thirst
- Dry mouth, lips, and eyes
- Urinating no more than four times a day
Here are a few tips on healthy hydration.
Bloated Stomach After Eating Certain Foods Or Meals
Getting bloated stomach after eating certain foods or meals is usually a much easier to handle. The solution is simple: the elimination diet. You stop eating the foods or meals you suspect cause bloating for a few days and see if eliminating these foods reduce your bloating and other digestive issues. Many people are surprised to learn that many foods that are considered very healthy and are widely recommended for good health, are the cause of their bloating issues.
If this is something you want to explore, you may want to check if these common foods and eating habits known to cause bloating apply to you:
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Get A Good Nights Sleep
Sleep and rest are critically under-appreciated when it comes to looking leaner faster. And, by the same token, sleep deprivation can seriously take a toll on your physique. Stress increases cortisol levels, lowers testosterone, and leads to insufficient recovery, Boyce says. All of this gets in the way of your physique goals.
Get around eight hours of sleep a night, and your body will thank you. Boyce also points out that going to bed earlier can prevent you from overeating or snacking at night, when lots of guys often cave to their midnight cravings.
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Bloated Stomach After Eating
Feeling bloated after eating is very common, although the causes of bloated stomach after eating may be completely different and as such the treatment you may need. The first question to ask yourself in order to effectively stop bloating after eating, is whether everytime you eat you feel bloated and uncomfortable, or if you only experience bloated stomach after eating certain foods, meals or in certain scenarios that involve problematic eating habits The latter is very common . Eating fast, eating when you are stressed or while at work, eating while drinking, emotional eating or eating too much are common causes of bloated stomach after eating. Even if you eat healthy foods.
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How I Do I Know If My Wind Burping Flatulence And Bloating Are Normal
The average person breaks wind up to 40 times a day. Anything less than this is normal. Often people believe that they have excessive flatus is because an embarrassing incident like a loud or smelly fart in public has led to the belief that something is wrong. However, if these events are severe, ongoing, troublesome or if you are worried about them you should discuss your concerns with your doctor.
In addition, if you develop burping associated with chest discomfort, especially discomfort associated with exertion, or if you have difficulties in swallowing you should seek medical advice.
If bloating is persistent or associated with weight loss, abdominal pain or diarrhoea you should see your doctor as it can be a symptoms of more serious bowel conditions.
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Causes And Risk Factors
The causes of the structural weaknesses that lead to a hiatal hernia are not clear. One potential cause might be pressure on the diaphragm, the risk of which may be higher in some people due to certain genetic factors.
Several risk factors make a weakening of the hiatus, an opening in the diaphragm through which the food pipe passes, more likely. For example, hiatal hernias are more common among people over 50 years of age and those who have obesity.
Other risk factors include an upward force that occurs due to weightlifting, straining to empty the bowel, or persistent coughing or vomiting. These actions temporarily increase the pressure inside the abdominal cavity.
A hiatal hernia often occurs in women during pregnancy. The growing fetus pushes the abdominal organs upward, sometimes causing them to bulge through the diaphragm where it meets the food pipe.
A congenital anomaly in the diaphragm is another cause, but this type of hiatal hernia is rare.
Injury to the diaphragm, such as trauma from a fall or traffic accident, can also lead to a hiatal hernia. Some surgical procedures involving the food pipe also increase a personâs risk.
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Scary Signs You Have Vitamin D Deficiency
Wondering why you cant seem to shake that cold or stomach infection with medication? Chances are an underlying Vitamin D deficiency could be jeopardising your recovery.
Vitamin D is stored and synthesised in the body naturally, activated by the liver and kidney when exposed to the sun . Its key to maintaining calcium and phosphate levels in the body as well as keeping our immune system healthy.
Several factors have contributed to the rising incidence of Vitamin D deficiency. The main one being lack of proper exposure to sunlight because we dont spend enough time outdoors. Our sedentary lifestyle is another problem. Its found that people who are overweight/obese are more prone to Vitamin D deficiency. Since Vitamin D is a fat soluble compound , a high fat deposition in the body creates a greater demand for Vitamin D. Research has also shown people with dark skin pigmentation are more at risk as their skin colour blocks the suns ability to stimulate Vitamin D production. Genetic and other medical conditions such as liver and kidney disease can also cause a shortfall.
A Vitamin D deficiency isnt easy to diagnose, as it doesnt always cause symptoms until levels become very low or have been low for some time. But some of more alarming signs to watch out for include:
What Are Some Other Ways To Avoid Bloat
Eating the right foods is a great way to keep bloat at bay, but its not the only thing that can help.
Eat slowly
For starters, how you eat is just as important as what you eat. When you eat quickly, you swallow more air, which contributes to bloating, explains Cassetty. To combat this, make an effort to eat slowly and chew foods more thoroughly. Remember, its a marathon, not a race.
Limit FODMAPS
Its also important to limit your intake of carbohydrates known as FODMAPS, which arent well digested and get fermented, thereby producing excess gas and bloating. Examples of high-FODMAP foods are dried fruit, cauliflower, kale, and milk. People with IBS are especially vulnerable to bloating when they consume these foods, but some of these carbohydrates can cause bloating even in people who dont have IBS, Cassetty says. Sugar alcohols, for example, which are found in sugar-free candies and gum, are hard for most people to digest.
Limit processed foods
Try to keep your consumption of processed foods to a minimum, and instead focus on whole and minimally processed foods. Its important to eat a range of plant foods, including a half plate of fruits or veggies at all of your meals, Cassetty advises. This strategy helps you reduce your sodium intake and boost your potassium intake, which can help minimize bloating from water retention. Its also a good strategy for increasing your fiber intake.
Keep the fizzy stuff to a minimum
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Foods That Cause Bloating And Gut Discomfort
Your diet is often to blame for belly bloat. That goes for both foods that cause bloating as well as dietary habits and underlying medical conditions.
When your belly is bloated, you haven’t gained weight. Instead, you’ve likely gained water weight or are suffering through digestive issues that cause a distended belly. Unlike fat gain, bloated stomachs are oftentimes temporary.
There are many different reasons why you’re experiencing bloating:
- your diet is high in sodium, which can cause water retention
- you have a sensitivity to certain foods that cause bloating
- you might be experiencing a food intolerance
- you’ve increased the fiber in your diet
We explain more about the dietary causes of bloat below, but let’s start with the 19 most common foods that cause bloating.
When To See A Healthcare Provider
Bloating is rarely a sign of a serious medical problem.
If you notice that you become bloated after eating certain foods, bring it up to your healthcare provider. You may have a food sensitivity or intolerance.
Besides those conditions already mentioned, this includes kidney or heart failureboth of which can cause fluid to accumulate in the abdomen.
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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.
Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth
Symptoms
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
Small intestinal bowel overgrowth is when theres an abnormal increase in the bacteria that live in your small intestine, such as E. coli or Klebsiella.
Several things can lead to SIBO. Surgery of the intestines that changes your anatomy can cause it. Decreased motility of the small intestine caused by IBS, diabetes, or opioid drugs can also cause SIBO. And people who have a weakened immune system have a higher risk of SIBO.
SIBO can interfere with your bodys ability to absorb nutrients from your food, which can lead to vitamin deficiencies.
SIBO can be diagnosed using a non-invasive carbohydrate breath test. Your doctor may also recommend an endoscopy and colonoscopy to rule out other diseases.
Treatment may include dietary changes, nutritional supplements, and antibiotics to control bacterial overgrowth.
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Rule Out Medical Conditions
In some cases, bloating may result from a medical condition. To get rid of this bloating, a person may need help from a doctor to diagnose and manage their condition.
Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis, may cause people to experience bloating. Irritable bowel syndrome , can also cause this symptom.
Gynecological conditions, such as endometriosis and ovarian cysts, can also cause pain, swelling, and feelings of bloating in the abdominal area.
People with these symptoms should discuss them with a doctor, who will also want to know about any relevant family medical history and other medical conditions. The doctor may order diagnostic tests to look for any problems. These may include an X-ray, ultrasound, colonoscopy, or blood tests.
Diagnosing Abdominal Swelling And Bloating
Abdominal swelling and bloating have so many causes, and the diagnosis often has to be speedy to ensure immediate treatment for certain serious causessuch as bowel obstruction and appendicitis.
The first step your healthcare providers will take in assessing your abdominal bloating and swelling is history and physical examination. You will be asked about the duration, pattern, and location, as well as any associated symptoms you are experiencing, and whether anything makes it better or worse.
Your physical examination includes an assessment of whether you are in distress, your temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and breathing rate.
Often, abdominal bloating is non-specific in location, and pain can radiate from its source to another area. Your provider will examine you to determine whether you have a specific location of pain or swelling. For example, a sense of bloating in the upper abdominal area could be associated with a peptic ulcer, while swelling in the lower abdomen on one side is more likely to be associated with an ovarian cyst.
Diagnostic tests can include:
- Complete blood count : This blood test can detect low red blood cells, a sign of bleeding, or high white blood cells, a sign of infection or cancer.
- Urine test: This test can detect signs of a UTI.
- Stool analysis: A stool sample can be assessed for evidence of an infection.
- Imaging tests: An abdominal or pelvic computerized tomography scan or ultrasound can detect fluid, tumors. obstruction, and more.
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What Causes Wind In The Stomach
We all carry a certain amount of gas in our digestive system.
Chewing food, gulping down a drink and talking can all cause you to swallow air. Certain activities can further elevate this such as chewing gum, drinking fizzy drinks and smoking.9
In addition, sometimes your body produces more than normal amounts of gas. This happens for various reasons and contributes to feeling bloated.
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Distention Of The Stomach Caused By Overeating Or Gas
Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, where he is also a professor. He was the founding editor and co-editor in chief of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
Bloating is stomach distention due to pressure inside the organ. This uncomfortable feeling of fullness or tightness can make your stomach appear larger.
Bloating may be caused by how and what you eat, abnormal reactions to food, or certain medical conditions. How you relieve bloating depends on what’s causing it.
This article looks at the causes and symptoms of bloating plus how to treat and prevent it, and when it’s concerning enough to call your healthcare provider.
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When Bloating Is A Sign Of Something More Serious
Each of the previous reasons for bloating can be overcome through diet, exercise, and mindful living. Although not as common, bloating may be an indication of a more serious condition that requires medical attention. The following are three conditions and what to look for.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a disorder that causes a change in bowel habits such as constipation, diarrhea, or both. These changes can cause stomach pain. If you are diagnosed with IBS, youre not alone according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, 10-15 percent of Americans have IBS. If you notice these symptoms or think you have IBS, see your doctor.
Crohns Disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can cause bloating. It is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and/or fever. If you experience a combination of these symptoms, visit your doctor to get tested for Crohns disease.
Cancer.Dont panic! Most of the time bloating is a result of something very treatable. However, in rare cases, it can be a sign of a more serious illness such as cancer. If your bloating is combined with symptoms such as blood in the stool and weight loss, you may want to see your doctor who can check you for pancreatic or stomach cancer .
Why Bloating Happens And How To Prevent It
Today, people of all shapes and sizes will stare down at their waistbands, dumbfounded by a button so easily clasped just the other day. Bloating happens even to the leanest of people, but there are steps you can take to reduce bloating before it starts. Follow these tips to keep those skinny jeans front and center in your wardrobe.
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What Are Peptic Ulcers
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract caused by stomach acid. Peptic ulcers typically result from inflammation caused by infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori or medicines, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs .
Peptic ulcers can form in the stomach or the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.
The stomach produces acid, but its walls are typically coated with a layer of mucus that protects them from erosion. However, those medicines or an H. pylori infection can impair the mucus barrier of protection in the stomach, Dr. Yalamanchili says. This can eventually lead to a sore developing in the lining of the stomach or duodenum. Its not uncommon for gastric and duodenal ulcers to occur at the same time.
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Why Is My Stomach Bloated
The most common cause of stomach pain and bloating is excess intestinal gas. If you get a bloated stomach after eating, it may be a digestive issue. It might be as simple as eating too much too fast, or you could have a food intolerance or other condition that causes gas and digestive contents to build up. Your menstrual cycle is another common cause of temporary bloating. Sometimes a bloated stomach can indicate a more serious medical condition.
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