Thursday, March 28, 2024

Why Does My Stomach Feel Bloated And Tight

Stop Wearing Tight Clothing While Eating

SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIES! WHY AM I SICK ALL THE TIME? WHY DOES MY STOMACH FEEL BLOATED AND TIGHT HURT

Its sometimes not about WHAT you eat but HOW you eat. This may seem a little far-fetched but tight clothing can constrict your stomach, making it more difficult for things to pass through, explains The Gut Stuff team. Therefore, loosen your clothes before eating.

Its the same with the position in which youre sitting when you have your meal check your eating position, says the team.

Eating More Calories Than Usual

Lets face it. When youre off your schedule, sometimes the most interesting thing you can do is bake. But consuming excess calories especially those found in cookies, cakes and bread can pack on the pounds and cause your belly to bloat.

If cooking is your jam while sheltering in place, reserve high-calorie recipes for special occasions, or cut it back to one meal a week.

Warning Signs And Symptoms

Weight loss is one of the main warning signs for serious bloating. If you find yourself losing more than a few pounds without changing your diet or starting a new exercise regimen, that should be cause for concern, especially if its 10 percent or more of your body weight. Weight loss can be caused by tumors that press on the intestines, making you feel full after just a small amount of food, or from substances secreted by tumors that suppress your appetite.

Ascites is an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen or pelvis. It can cause bloating, weight gain, and a rapidly expanding waistline. Ascites is usually caused by liver disease, but cancer is the culprit about 10 percent of the time. A large amount of fluid can make you look and feel like youre several months pregnant. The combination of bloating and jaundice, which turns the eyes and skin yellow, can be a sign of cancer thats spread to the liver, although it can also occur with more benign forms of liver disease like hepatitis.

Blood in your stool, vaginal bleeding in between periods, or postmenopausal vaginal bleeding can all be associated with serious bloating. Fortunately, the most common causes of these symptoms arent the most serious, but bleeding should always be evaluated because it can be a sign of cancer, particularly colon or uterine cancer.

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Working With A Doctor

It is important to speak openly and honestly with your physician to express a clear picture of your experiences and symptoms. FGIDs present special challenges when communicating, specifically because of their vague symptoms and sensitive subject matter.

There isnt a diagnostic test for bloating or distension however your doctor may run some tests to rule out underlying problems or associated disorders.

For more information about GI tests and how to prepare for them, see our website www.aboutGIMotility.org or see IFFGD publications #111 or #510.

When To Talk To Your Health Care Provider

Tight stomach: Causes and treatments

Bloating can be normal, but it can also be a sign of serious conditions. Its important to keep track of what foods cause you to feel bloated, but also note if you experience other symptoms that have accompanied bloating.

If you notice a drastic change in weight or changes in your bowel movementssuch as changes in color or consistencyyou need to tell your provider that as well, as they can be signs of an underlying condition, Hoffman said. If you ate too much and are having trouble digesting your food, then you know that was the likely cause of your bloating and cramping, but if its come on suddenly with a healthy diet, you should err on the side of caution and visit your provider.

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Read Also: How You Get Rid Of Gas In Your Stomach

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.

How Is Bloating Treated

Bloating will usually go away by itself if you adjust your diet for a while. Cut down on salty foods, carbohydrates and fizzy drinks. For some people, it can help to avoid foods that contain onion or garlic, wheat, rye, lactose products or stone fruit.

Bloating caused by constipation can be treated by eating more high-fibre foods, increasing the amount of water that you drink, and exercising regularly. Some people may need laxatives to treat constipation.

If you have a medical condition such as coeliac disease, you will need to follow a strict diet to prevent bloating and other symptoms. If you have IBS, following a high-fibre diet and the low FODMAP diet may help. This involves cutting out some dairy products, wheat and other grains, and some fruits and vegetables. Talk to a health professional such as your doctor or a dietitian before starting this diet to make sure it is right for you.

If you have a food intolerance, you may need to try an elimination diet to find out which food or foods are causing your problems. Your doctor or dietitian will advise you.

Some people find that probiotics containing lactobacillus and bifidobacterium can help with bloating by reducing the production of gas in the gut.

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How Much Bloating Is Normal

Bloating is one of the most commonly reported gastrointestinal complaints, according to research published in the journal Gastroenterology & Hepatology. But while bloating is common, only a certain amount is considered normal, or healthy.

If you eat a huge meal and youre a little bit bloated and gassy, thats normal, says , a dietitian and health coach at Parsley Health in New York City. You may also feel unusually full and tight if you scarf your food down quickly, as this may bring excess air into your stomach. But if youre experiencing it with almost anything you eat, and its hard to identify food triggers, that is a red flag, Cohen says. If you have been experiencing bloat and discomfort for a prolonged period and/or youve had lifelong digestive issues, thats when its time to dig deeper for root causes, she adds.

Treating Heaviness In Stomach

Why Does My Stomach Always Feel Bloated?

Treatment options for stomach heaviness are based on the diagnosis of whats specifically causing it.

The first step your doctor might recommend is changing particular aspects of your lifestyle. This may include the following:

  • Avoid or limit foods that are fatty, highly seasoned, and difficult to digest.
  • Change your eating habits. Eat slower, and eat smaller meals.
  • Increase how often you exercise.
  • Reduce or eliminate caffeine and alcohol.
  • Manage any anxiety and stress.

The next step your doctor might suggest is taking over-the-counter medications. These may include:

  • Antacids: Tums, Rolaids, Mylanta
  • Oral suspension medications: Pepto-Bismol, Carafate
  • Anti-gas and anti-flatulence products: Phazyme, Gas-X, Beano
  • H2 receptor blockers: Cimetidine , famotidine , or nizatidine
  • Proton pump inhibitors:Lansoprazole , omeprazole

Stronger treatments might be called for depending on your diagnosis. Your doctor might prescribe more powerful medications if your stomach heaviness is a symptom of a more serious condition.

As an example, for GERD, your doctor might suggest prescription-strength H2 receptor blockers or proton pump inhibitors. They might also suggest medication such as baclofen to strengthen your lower esophageal sphincter. Your doctor might also suggest surgery, such as fundoplication or the installation of a LINX device.

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Take A Warm Bath Soaking And Relaxing

The heat of the bath can provide relief for a sore abdomen. Relaxation can reduce stress levels, which may allow the GI tract to function more effectively and help reduce bloating.

Quick fixes are not always effective for some causes of bloating. However, people who have frequent bloating may find that certain lifestyle changes can tackle the causes and reduce bloating over time.

People can use these simple steps to try to prevent bloating in the long-term:

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Hard Stomach During Pregnancy

Generally, you expect a hard stomach when youre pregnant. Your hard-feeling stomach is caused by the pressure of your uterus growing and putting pressure on your abdomen.

The hardness of your stomach while pregnant can be more pronounced if you eat a low-fiber diet or drink a lot of carbonated beverages.

If your experience severe pain along with your hard stomach, you should see your OB-GYN or seek immediate medical attention. Sometimes severe pain in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy is an indicator of miscarriage.

Although more common in the third trimester, in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, discomfort can come from labor contractions or Braxton-Hicks contractions. Typically Braxton-Hicks contractions pass. If the contractions dont pass and become more persistent, it might be a sign that youre going into labor.

Excess Gas Can Build Up

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Gas is a normal part of digestion, but if it builds up in your intestines, it may cause bloating and pain. Gas happens when food that is not digested is broken down in your colon. This process produces methane and hydrogen, which you pass naturally as gas.

If you do experience bloating due to gas, modifying your food intake may help. Here are some common drinks and foods that can cause bloating:

  • Foods high in fiber or fat
  • Fried and spicy dishes
  • Carbonated drinks, such as soda or beer
  • Lactose found in milk, cheese and yogurts

Over-the-counter supplements can even trigger bloating.

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Is It Normal To Feel Bloated Every Day

For most people, occasional bloating is common. A gassy feeling of being too full deep inside your abdomen occurs now and then to nearly every person. However, some people have chronic bloating, which is an ongoing and painful nuisance. Ongoing bloating is not normal and may have many causes, so you should call your doctor if you feel bloating every day.

Bloating is a chronic and bothersome condition for a large minority of the population. Anywhere from an estimated 16% to 31% of us have bloating and distension. .

For people with bothersome bloating that is chronic, there can be many causes. For this reason, you should call your doctor if you experience long-term bloating that has become a chronic nuisance. To rule out the multiple causes of bloating, your doctor may perform several tests, including breath tests and abdominal imaging. Treatments for chronic bloating include changes in diet, probiotics, antibiotics, other medicines, biofeedback, and complementary medicine.

Whats The Best Treatment For A Bloated Stomach

Your treatment will depend on whats causing your bloating. There are lots of things you can try at home to get rid of trapped wind including changing your diet to limit foods that cause bloating and exercising more regularly. Read more about how to get rid of trapped wind and natural ways to beat bloating.

IBS and constipation can also also be treated at home, as long as you or a doctor are sure theres nothing else that could be causing your symptoms. For example, IBS usually gets better if you manage your stress levels and get more exercise. You can also keep a food and symptoms diary to try and work out what is triggering your IBS and then exclude those foods or drinks. This is helpful with food intolerances too.

If you have indigestion, diet changes also work well, as well as stopping smoking, not eating too close to bedtime and losing weight. Read more about ways to get rid of indigestion.

But if youre finding that even with these changes, your bloated stomach isnt getting better, you may need treatment advice from a pharmacist or a doctor. This could include medications to reduce the acid in your stomach known as antacid medicines or laxatives to help with constipation.

For more serious causes like ascites or cancers, youll likely need treatment in hospital. This may involve surgery or medication like chemotherapy.

Read more about how to get rid of bloating.

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Bloating Is Painful While Belly Fat Is Painless

Due to the excess accumulation of fluid and gas in the abdomen, bloating is often accompanied by physical discomfort. Belly fat, on the other hand, is painless.

Although there are a few things you can do to shed off excess fat and reduce loose skin, such as proper nutrition and exercise, in certain cases, you may need to undergo a body contouring procedure.

When To See A Doctor About Bloating

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You can usually manage bloating with self-care. But you should see a doctor as soon as possible if you have bloating and:

  • its very bad
  • you feel full quickly or dont feel like eating
  • you need to pee more often or need to pee urgently
  • youre having abnormal vaginal bleeding, or vaginal bleeding after youve been through the menopause
  • you suddenly cant pee or havent peed all day
  • youre vomiting and it looks like blood, coffee grounds or its bright green, or you cant keep any fluids down
  • have very bad tummy pain
  • you havent had a poo or farted all day
  • you have a lot of blood in your poo or your pee
  • your poo looks like tar

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Get More Active Every Day

Exercise helps your body move stool and gas out of the colon and may make bowel movements more regular. Exercise also releases extra sodium from the body through sweating, which can help to relieve water retention.

It is vital to drink plenty of water before and after exercising to stay hydrated, as dehydration can make constipation worse.

Remedies For Belly Fat

While a simple diet change helps get rid of bloat, belly fat takes a bit more work. Try for at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Following a healthy diet filled with lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and lots of water can also help shed those pounds. It is important to remember that everyone gains and loses weight differently, so be sure talk to your doctor about what fits best for you.

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Remedies For Stomach Bloat

Sometimes a simple diet change might be all you need. Sticking to foods that are high in protein or complex carbohydrates can help. Drink plenty of water and stay away from carbonated drinks. Making your meals last longer can help keep you from overeating so be sure to try eating slower and chewing your food more.

Another remedy is to try, in place of three meals a day, eating more frequent, smaller meals. This prevents the bloating that typically follows large meals.

Having A Food Intolerance

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Typically, if someone is feels bloated, it is because of their food or water intake, but even if you havent eaten too much, you may have eaten the wrong thing. Certain food intolerances or sensitives to spicy or acidic foods can cause the gastrointestinal tract to have a more difficult time than usual.

An undiagnosed intolerance to foods can cause a lot of bloating, Hoffman said. The body is trying to break down the foods for the body to use, and a lot of gas can be the result of that work.

If you experience a lot of bloating, try keeping a food journal to track what you eat, when you notice bloating and the amount of discomfort you experience.

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Bladder Infections And Bloat

Spasms and back pain, as well as a feeling of tightness in the upper stomach can be caused by a bladder infection.

The most common cause of abdominal pain and bloating is excess intestinal gas. If you have to bloat after eating, it may be a digestive problem. Stress, eating habits, and lifestyle factors can make your stomach feel full and tight.

Conditions that affect digestion and hormones can also cause this feeling, and depending on the cause, it can also cause bloating. Depending on the cause, the bloating may be accompanied by discomfort, rumbling or rumbling in the abdomen, nausea, or flatulence .

The bloating will continue until the food in the crowded stomach is digested or the gas accumulated in the body is expelled. Digestive problems and hormonal fluctuations can cause periodic swelling.

Bloating is a condition where the abdomen feels full and tight, usually due to gas. Bloating is flatulence in the abdomen that can make your stomach look larger than usual. Although this may make your abdomen look bigger than usual and your clothes fit your waist, the bloating is not caused by excess belly fat.

If your bloating is triggered by poor eating habits or excessive alcohol consumption, you can avoid it by amending your lifestyle. You can avoid bloating by avoiding foods or eating habits that cause it.

Healthy, high-fiber foods can help you feel full , but if you are not used to eating them, they can also cause gas and bloating.

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