Why Is My Stomach Extended

What Should I Do Before Starting The Low

Consult a reliable healthcare provider. Whether youve already been diagnosed with a gastrointestinal disease or you are just beginning to explore possible causes and cures for your symptoms, a registered dietitian or GI specialist can help set you in the right direction. They may have alternative ideas to test before you try the diet. They can also help guide you through the nuances of the diet, provide shopping and menu guides and troubleshoot when questions or problems arise. Theres a lot to keep track of with this diet, including different quantities and portion sizes for different foods. Its easier to follow successfully if you have a guide who knows the way around.

Plan ahead. This is a temporary diet, but its a significant investment of time and trouble in the meantime. Make sure you reserve a chunk of time to complete it when it wont conflict with other important events or obligations. You cant cheat on an elimination diet the whole experiment collapses if you do. Make an intentional commitment to yourself to complete the process before you start. Be deliberate about setting the stage. Clear your fridge and pantry of high-FODMAP foods and prepare some menu plans in advance. Make sure you have ingredients for a few simple standby meals that you know you can prepare and enjoy easily.

Gastric Issues Make Your Stomach Hard And Swollen

Yes, maybe you are suffering from acidity. This causes the formation of gas in the body. This most probably can be related to a health condition. The causes of a hard and swollen stomach, in this case, include irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, and hemorrhoids. Book doctors appointment if you think you have gas often.

What If It Doesnt Work For Me

Its an experiment, and it may not work. But if you follow the diet under expert guidance, its safe to try. Your healthcare provider will keep an eye on your general nutrition and any deficiencies or weight loss that may occur. Theyll tell you when its time to stop and try something else. The low-FODMAP diet has a high predicted success rate for people with IBS, but up to 25% may not benefit. For all other conditions, research is more limited, but theres reason to believe it may help with symptom management in cases of SIBO, IBD and functional dyspepsia. If it doesnt, your journey isnt over there are other kinds of elimination diets, tests and therapies to try.

A note from Cleveland ClinicThe low-FODMAP diet is a specific approach to identifying and reducing foods that may be irritating your gut and causing you gastrointestinal distress. If you have chronic symptoms or food sensitivities, you might benefit from following the systematic elimination process. Although its strict in the short term, this is not a lifestyle diet. The intent is to isolate your food triggers and then reintroduce as many foods as possible. Many of the foods identified as FODMAPs represent a normally healthy diet. They include nutritious vegetables, fruits and whole grains. These arent bad foods but eliminating the ones that trouble you can help you enjoy the ones that dont.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 02/24/2022.

References

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Possible Causes Of Bloating In Upper Abdomen

Abdominal bloating is a health condition in which the upper abdomen is gaseous, may be visibly swollen or distended, and feels uncomfortably full. Its a common complaint among both children and adults, and the symptoms can be difficult to live with. Moreover, it can also be accompanied by burping or belching, pain, excessive gas or flatulence,swallowing of air, and abdominal rumbling.

Things To Tell Your Doctor:

• Is the symptom located in the upper or lower abdomen?Is it in a concentrated area?
• Is your bloating or distension associated with burping?
• Do you experience nausea or vomiting?
• Is the symptom associated with pain in your abdomen?Upper or lower?
• Does the bloating or distension relate to passing gas or a change in your bowel habits ?
• Are your symptoms related to food? Which ones?
• Do they occur right after eating?
• Do your symptoms increase during the day or improve during night hours?

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You’re Sitting Too Much

Sit all morning, rush to lunch, eat at your desk, barely move until its time to clock out. Sound familiar? This pattern of staying sedentary through most of the work day can make it hard for food to move through your digestive tract, which can lead to feeling bloated, Manning says. ” I’ll often tell someone to go take a walk after lunch to help them to digest so they don’t feel so uncomfortable, she explains.

Speaking of going for a walk, being active can be extremely helpful if your bloat seems to be related to constipation. Exercise helps speed up your bowel transit and helps you to go to the bathroom more frequently, Manning says. So even if youre not interested in becoming a fitness beast, a routine that gets your blood flowing may be what you need to help get your bowels in shape.

When Stomach Pain Is An Emergency

Stomach pain can sometimes be caused by a life-threatening condition. Some examples are:

• Bowel obstruction, which is when food or waste blocks the intestine
• Bowel perforation, which is a hole in the intestine that leaks food material

These emergencies usually cause pain that feels extreme. Your stomach pain may be urgent if:

• You are pregnant
• Your pain started within a week of abdominal surgery
• Your pain started after a procedure in your stomach area, such as an endoscopy
• You have ever had surgery on your digestive tract, such as gastric bypass, a colostomy, or a bowel resection
• Your pain started shortly after an abdominal trauma
• Your abdomen is bruised or rapidly expanding

Even if you don’t have these symptoms, get help if you feel unusually severe pain.

Sometimes stomach pain is mild at first but gets worse after a few hours. You may also develop other symptoms. Get help right away if you have any of these symptoms along with stomach pain:

• Extremely hard abdomen
• Inability to have a bowel movement, along with vomiting
• Pain in neck, shoulder, or between shoulder blades
• Vision changes

If you have these symptoms, call for an ambulance or have someone drive you to the emergency room. You should not “wait and see” or take medicine for the pain. Get help right away.

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Can Bloating Be Prevented

To keep your digestive system working well, follow a healthy diet and eat at least 30g of fibre every day. Cut down on processed and fatty foods, and drink less alcohol. Drink plenty of water and take any medicines as directed by your doctor.

Dont overeat, and try to eat more slowly. Eating regularly will help to prevent digestive problems.

Regular exercise is also important for your gut because it strengthens the muscles in your tummy and stimulates the digestive system to push food through. It also helps with stress, which affects the nerves in the digestive system and can slow down digestion.

Smoking is very bad for your digestion. If you smoke, try to quit now.

When To See A Healthcare Provider

As noted earlier, the symptom of abdominal bloating is most commonly caused by conditions that are more of a nuisance than life-threatening. That said, it is often the first symptom of ovarian cancer which is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women and often diagnosed when it is “too late,” at least to be curable.

Whether your symptoms are due to a “serious” cause or not, it is important to see your healthcare provider. So-called “nuisance symptoms” can interfere with your quality of life, and by that measure, are not just a nuisance.

If your symptoms do not improve with whatever treatment is recommended, talk to your healthcare provider or seek out a second opinion. In our overworked, over-busy society, it’s important to be your own advocate in your medical care, no matter what your symptoms or the condition that is responsible.

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What Causes Too Much Stomach Acid

Most people who experience excessive stomach acid symptoms complain about a burning sensation from the start. Well look at excess stomach acid symptoms in detail, but first, lets consider what causes excessive stomach acid.

Acid can build up in the stomach due to diet, excessive alcohol consumption, abnormally high acid production, or it can simply be hereditary. When excess stomach acid goes untreated, it can lead to ulcers. Diet plays a big role in controlling stomach acid too. There are certain foods that cause more acid and others that are better tolerated. Heres a look at what causes excess stomach acid, starting with food.

In most cases, symptoms of excess stomach acid can be attributed to diet. It can be helpful for people to keep a food journal, which enables them to pinpoint what food or foods are bothersome. Once certain culprits are identified, it is simply a matter of eliminating those foods from the diet to find relief.

Also read: Burning Sensation in Stomach: Causes, Symptoms and Home Remedies

Eat The Right Amount Of Fibre

Sometimes a low fibre diet is prescribed to people who suffer with bloating because of bowel problems.

Foods like lentils, beans, broccoli, asparagus, corn, wheat, potatoes, artificial sweeteners or too much fibre can cause bloating, says Mr Chophada. Keeping a food diary to see if any specific foods trigger your symptoms and trying an elimination diet can help.

Your gut bugs have a bit of a party when you feed them fibre, which can shake things up while your gut adjusts. So you might find yourself a little bloated or windy, adds The Gut Stuff team. Try to increase your fibre intake by 5g per day per week over a few weeks to reduce the risk of bloating, advises the team.

If you love bread, here are some breads that may not make you bloat.

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Abdominal Swelling And Bloating Symptoms

Abdominal bloating and swelling is described in many different ways. Some people describe it more as a symptomas a feeling of indigestion or a tight abdomen, and some people define it more as a signthat they can visually see that their belly is distended or their clothes look too tight around the middle.

Depending on the cause, this symptom can come on suddenly or gradually. It can be something that has recently appeared or a symptom that comes and goes.

What Causes Excessive Stomach Acid And How To Get Rid Of It

Written byBel Marra HealthPublished onDecember 5, 2017

Excessive stomach acid can be uncomfortable to live with, and while in many cases it is a minor nuisance, it can lead to serious health problems when not treated.

Stomach acid is important to the digestive system. It helps us process food and it kills harmful bacteria. The stomach makes the hormone called gastrin, which creates hydrochloric acid. When these acid levels increase, it can lead to hyperacidity. Excess stomach acid can range from mild to severe.

Our diet, environment, and even stress can be contributing factors to excessive stomach acid. There are, in fact, relatively simple ways to reduce excess stomach acid or prevent it altogether.

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The Bottom Line On Bloating

Stomach bloating, and bloating in general, can be horribly frustrating. Especially if you know what youre doing with your diet and training and are trying to maintain a lean, muscular physique.

Use the strategies in this article and chances are very good that youll get that flat belly and thin skin youve always wanted.

What Increases My Risk For An Umbilical Hernia

Umbilical hernias usually happen because of a hole or weak area in your abdominal muscles. Umbilical hernias happen more often in women than in men. The following may increase your risk for an umbilical hernia:

• Being overweight
• Fluid in your abdomen
• A large growth in your abdomen
• Pregnancy, especially more than 1 pregnancy
• Chronic constipation or straining to have bowel movements
• Repeated coughing caused by lung disease such as COPD

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Check For Certain Medical Conditions

Medical conditions which affect co-ordinated bowel movements including bowel inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome or even conditions like diabetes can result in bloating, says Mr Chophada.

Underlying digestive issues such as Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth , IBS or an unresolved gut infection, plus blood sugar imbalances that mean we make too much stress hormone can result in bloating, says Claire.

According to one studyprobiotics may be helpful in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, enteritis, bacterial infections, and various gastrointestinal disorders and diarrhoea. The same study found that probiotic microorganisms are also effective in the alleviation of lactose intolerance. Taking probiotics can actually cause bloating at first, until your gut microbiota settle down, though they are worth persisting with. While pricey, the food supplement drink Symprove which contains live bacteria has been found to be very effective at improving gut health in some people. Users have found that it reduces bloating and some symptoms of IBS. It has also been attributed to a better mood.

You can also reduce bloating by eating certain foods. For example, many IBS sufferers have also had success with the Fodmap diet.

Which High Fodmap Foods Are The Best To Avoid

This is the question that youll need to answer for yourself during the process of the low-FODMAP diet. The answer will be different for everyone. The point of the diet is not to deprive you of bad foods but to find out if your symptoms are related to FODMAPs or not and if they are, which ones. Some people may not improve at all on the elimination phase. If you don’t, theres no reason to follow through to the next phase. But if you do, it will be very important to reintroduce foods in a systematic way to separate the real offenders from foods that you can tolerate. Many people find in the end that its only one or two of the FODMAP food groups that bother them. The ultimate goal of the diet is to widen your dietary options as much as possible.

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How Do You Fix A Distended Abdomen

If your distended abdomen has an organic cause, the treatment will be very specific to that cause. It might mean managing a disease, infection, growth, obstruction, or injury. An acute case will resolve when the underlying cause has been treated. A chronic case may be treated supplementally with diuretics , laxatives or activated charcoal capsules .

If you have functional abdominal distension and the cause is unknown, it might take some trial and error to manage it. Your healthcare provider may recommend a hydrogen breath test to help determine the cause of excess intestinal gas. They might also recommend you try dietary changes, probiotics or enzymes to improve digestive processes. If they suspect muscle weakness as a cause, they might suggest abdominal or pelvic floor exercises.

Maintain Good Eating Habits

You can help your digestive system by simply changing how you eat, which, in turn, can improve your health. Try eating five to six small meals each day and be sure to chew each bite slowly and completely. Consume water throughout the day and 30 minutes before and after meals. Do not drink water during the meal.

Also Check: How To Reduce Gas In Stomach Home Remedies

Are You A Fast Eater

If Yes, then you are in trouble. When you eat fast, the digestion process is a little interrupted. It can take 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain youre full, so you can eat enough to make yourself bloated and uncomfortable before your brain gets the message. So if you are finding causes of a hard and swollen stomach.

We have given 7 very common causes of a hard and swollen stomach, I hope that you will now be extra careful. Also, in case you need to see a doctor or order medicine online, you can always visit our website.

A Note From Cleveland Clinic

Ascites is a sign of liver damage. People who have cirrhosis may develop ascites. With the right treatments and diet changes, you can manage ascites and feel your best. Restricting your salt intake is one of the most effective treatments for ascites. Ask your provider about working with a dietitian to plan a salt-restricted diet and other treatment options for ascites that doesnt respond to diuretics.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/28/2021.

References

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What Is Belly Bloating

Belly bloating occurs when your stomach becomes swollen with fluid or gas. Belly bloat is usually temporary, and it causes a person to feel uncomfortable and extremely full for longer. The most common causes for bloating include high-fiber foods like beans, dairy products, overeating, consuming too much salt, swallowing air, and chewing gum.

Unlike excess fat and skin, which require more involved treatments, belly-bloating can be addressed with probiotics, eating fermented foods, peppermint tea, and avoiding dairy products.

What Can I Do At Home To Prevent Abdominal Distension

Prevention is easier if you know the cause. If you notice that abdominal distension occurs after you eat, you may be able to change your eating habits to prevent it. For example:

• Identify food sensitivities and change your diet accordingly.
• Eat smaller amounts more slowly. Wait longer between meals.
• Drink more water and eat more fiber to prevent the accumulation of waste.
• Try digestive enzymes and probiotics before meals.

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