Why Is My Stomach Protruding

When To See A Doctor

As a person ages and their body changes, keeping weight off the belly becomes more and more difficult. However, a healthful routine of diet and exercise can often deliver results in a matter of months.

If a person has put on a significant amount of weight, they should immediately talk to a healthcare professional. The quicker the problem is assessed, the better.

What Is Stomach Bloating

As per the definition of the US News, stomach bloating or swollen stomach can be defined as, The terms bloating and abdominal distension are often used interchangeably. Technically, bloating is a temporary feeling of fullness, usually due to intestinal gas while abdominal distension refers to a visible, measurable increase in the stomachs size. Passing gas, belching or having a bowel movement may or may not provide relief.

Quite simply, you know it when you have stomach bloating. To find out why you and your doctor or dietitian need to do some detective work.

Sleep Deprivation Can Slow Metabolism

It’s no secret that the average American is not getting enough sleep. But if you’re starting to gain size around the middle, you might want to consider your sleep or lack thereof.

Saeed said sleeping five hours or less each night has been linked to an increase in abdominal fat. “Sleep deprivation decreases your metabolism to preserve energy and stimulates our bodies to store fat,” he explained.

Interestingly, he also pointed out that getting more than eight hours of sleep can also lead to weight gain. “We’re not sure why this happens however, the most common explanation is that more time in bed is less time being active,” he added.

Everyone’s sleep needs are different. However, the right amount of sleep is usually somewhere between seven to nine hours per night.

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Five Steps To A Flat Stomach

Susie Burrell revealed to FEMAIL the five steps you can take to help you work towards a flat stomach.

1. Cut your carbs

‘If you choose the right types of carbohydrates and consume them at the right times, carb-rich foods can be a nutrient-rich boost to any diet. On the other hand, the wrong types of processed carbs such as white breads, refined grains and sugars consumed at the wrong time equates to abdominal weight gain. For most of us, this will translate to a 1/2 cup or two of wholegrain low glycaemic index carbs such as quinoa, oats, sweet potato, brown rice or fruit at breakfast and lunch, and cutting right back at night – instead focusing your evening meal around protein and plenty of vegetables.’

2. Get rid of little extras

‘It might be a slice of banana bread with your coffee once a week, or the cheese and crackers while you prepare dinner – the mindless munching habits regularly see us consuming a couple of hundred extra calories per day. Once you cut this out and stick to three meals along with one or two snacks each day, you will drop an extra kilo or two quickly.’

3. Stop eating so late

4. Cut the grog

‘While alcohol itself may not directly cause weight gain , the foods we tend to enjoy while we are enjoying a few drinks like the dips, chips, cheese and fried foods are less likely to be burnt off in the presence of alcohol. Alcohol also contains almost as many calories as fat per gram.’

5. Drink right

STRESSED OUT STOMACH

MUMMY STOMACH

You May Have Poor Posture

Slouching does not increase belly fat but it can make your stomach look bigger.

For one thing, slouching weakens the abdominal muscles because it keeps them relaxed all the time. And when the abdominal muscles are weak, the belly will stick out.

Second, slouching squeezes the organs and forces the belly to stick out.

How to fix it: Practice proper sitting posture avoid slouching while sitting. And use exercises that correct poor posture.

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Types Of Belly Bulges And How To Fix Them

Paunch. Pooch. Pudge. Whatever you call it, no one wants it. But if you’re serious about losing your belly fat, you first have to figure out what’s causing it.

Sure, sometimes it’s as simple as too much ice cream and not enough cardio. But a protruding tummy may also be caused by a number of other reasons, ranging from genetics to a past pregnancy or just hormones gone awry. (Here are 4 common types of big bellies and the corresponding prescriptions to flatten them out.

Before menopause, many women carry excess weight on their hips and thighs. But once “the change” happens, estrogen levels plummet, and even formerly pear-shaped women can develop round tummies. Meanwhile, testosterone drops, too. “By losing testosterone, you lose muscle mass. And when you lose muscle mass, it slows down your metabolism,” says Steven A.R. Murphy, MD, an assistant professor at New York Medical College. “It becomes much harder to process simple carbohydrates, and that leads to fat storage.”

Another reason menopause can lead to pudge? “When your hormones change, your sleep changes, too,” Murphy says. “This causes your fat cells to trigger cortisol, a stress hormone that leads to belly fat storage.”

When you get pregnant, your stomach stretches to incorporate amniotic fluid, a widening uterusand, oh yeah, a brand new human being. Unfortunately, everything doesn’t just go back to normal the second you give birth, and many women complain of a bulge that never seems to disappear.

How To Effectively Banish Your Belly Fat

Now that you figured out the reason why your stomach sticks out and found out a little about how to get rid of it, it is time to go a bit deeper into this topic. Read on about how to make your tummy fat vanish by changing your lifestyle and implementing some of the following recommendations into your everyday life .

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It Could Be Your Genetics

Genes play a major role in the shape of your body.

Research shows that belly fat is affected by genetics. In this study, researchers found that genes were linked to abdominal obesity and waist-to-hip ratio.

I may also note that people with apple-shaped bodies are more likely to have a belly even though theyre skinny.

How to fix it: You cant do much about your genetics, just make sure you eat nutrient-dense foods and exercise regularly.

Beat Bloating In A Week

Nutritional therapist Natalie Lamb has outlined a seven day plan in order to help with bloating. Here are the seven steps:

For a more detailed outline of the seven day plan, click the link below and look into creating your own food diary.

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Stop Wearing Tight Clothing While Eating

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.

Fast For At Least 12 Hours

“Having a fasting stretch of 12-14 hours between dinner and breakfast can promote weight loss and encourage beneficial bacteria to thrive in the gut which can improve metabolism and balance hunger hormones,” says Jeannette.

“Its easy to do if you are eating nice and early say 7pm for dinner and then just having water between then and a 7am breakfast the next day.”

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Causes Of Hard Stomach And What To Do About It

Lets look at the various reasons why your stomach can become swollen and hard. You will also find some easy ways to relieve the symptoms and reduce hardness and bloating around your abdomen. At the end of the article, there are some home remedies you can try at home for general relief from abdominal bloating.

You Live A Sedentary Lifestyle

Diet and lifestyle also play a role. A sedentary lifestyle is linked to having higher amounts of that hard-belly visceral fat . Women are more likely to store fat as subcutaneous fat than visceral fat, though they start storing visceral fat when they reach menopause.

There are many ways to get started moving moreeven getting up and walking around more frequently during the day matters. If you want a gym routine and don’t really know where to start, try this total body workout.

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I Get So Bloated I Look Pregnant

Hannah Lewis, 36, is a model, who is single and lives with her eight-year-old son in Ascot, Berks.

Abdomen exam: Normal

Diagnosis: IBS

Hannah says: Ive suffered from excessive bloating for more than 10 years and can look pregnant after eating certain foods.

I also get terrible stomach cramps, constipation and severe flatulence. My GP hasnt offered much help.

Some days my tummy is so bad I dont want to go out. If I have an important event to attend, I either dont eat at all or just eat crisps which dont cause me to bloat. Ive tried over-the-counter medicines, but none have helped much.

Mr Wests assessment: Hannah has classic IBS symptoms. Her mother apparently suffered from it and it can run in families.

I reassured her it isnt associated with a higher risk of any other more serious conditions.

Treatment for Hannah is all about symptom control, as her bloating gets worse with certain foods including roast dinners and curries.

Ive advised her to avoid these and keep a food diary to spot other triggers.

Following a low FODMAP diet, avoiding gas producers like onions, broccoli and apples, can improve IBS.

What Side Is The Stomach On A Dog

The distended stomach pushes the posterior rib cage so that the dog appears swollen or “bloated”.

This is most obvious on the left side and gentle tapping of the swelling just behind the last rib often produces hollow, drum-like sounds.

The enlarged stomach presses on the diaphragm and breathing becomes labored.

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What Side Is A Dog’s Stomach On

The distended stomach pushes the posterior rib cage so that the dog appears swollen or “bloated”.

This is most obvious on the left side and gentle tapping of the swelling just behind the last rib often produces hollow, drum-like sounds.

The enlarged stomach presses on the diaphragm and breathing becomes labored.

Tips On How To Get Rid Of A Protruding Stomach

Fortunately, there are answers to questions such as Why is my stomach protruding out? Below are some solutions and tips for protruding stomach:

• Drink less beer to reduce the accumulation of fat in the viscera or stomach.
• Avoid eating dinner very late or before going to bed as this tends to deposit fats on the belly.
• Exercise to lose weight.
• Swimming also helps in getting rid of fats quickly.
• Upper, lower, and oblique exercises for the abdomen also help burn stomach fat.
• Eat smaller meals a day to increase metabolism.
• Avoid sugary and sweet foods as fats and sugar work together in increasing the bodys fat deposits.
• Participate in cardiovascular activities or exercise for at least thrice a week for twenty minutes to prevent fat build-up.
• Rehydrate yourself by increasing water consumption to loosen stomach fats.
• Stress may also result in bulging stomach. Find healthy ways to cope with stress in life, emotional or physical to activities such as exercise.
• Get a daily exercise routine.

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Eat Early To Avoid Heartburn

Acid reflux tends to strike at night when youre lying down, so avoid eating later than 8pm. Try sleeping with an extra pillow to help reduce the backflow of acid and taking a tablet such as Nexium Control which blocks acid production.

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.

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Symptoms Of Hard Stomach

Abdominal bloating and stomach distention are related conditions. According to the journal ISRN Obstetrics and Gynecology, a distended stomach is usually accompanied by more symptoms than just bloating.1

For example, a hard stomach may also be associated with mild to severe abdominal pain and excess gas. If you have excess gas with bloating you may find that you have to belch or pass gas to get relief from bloating. Because indigestion can sometimes cause a swollen belly, you may get cramping pains in your abdomen or a burning sensation in your chest .

Dr. Melissa Conrad Stöppler on MedicineNet says that along with abdominal pain, a rigid stomach can cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.2

My Stomach Pains Last Days

Edson Chace, 74, is a retired credit manager from Portsmouth, Hants.

Abdomen exam: Normal

Diagnosis: Reflux disease or hiatus hernia requires further tests

Edson says: I suffer from excessive burping about an hour after eating, which started around 10 years ago, but has got worse recently.

I also get bouts of tummy ache which can last several days. I take Omeprazole every day or Im in considerable pain.

Mr Wests assessment: Despite his discomfort, Edsons had no change of bowel habit, which is reassuring.

But hes in a higher risk age group and, given his previous history of reflux symptoms, Im recommending he has a gastroscopy to see if he has gastroesophageal reflux disease .

This occurs when stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus causing heartburn.

Or it could possibly be a hiatus hernia when part of the stomach squeezes up into the chest through an opening in the diaphragm, causing stomach acid to flow back up.

Read more

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How To Prevent Bloating

Typically, the first line of treatment for preventing gas and bloating is changing your diet. Research has shown that a low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols diet can reduce the symptoms of gas and IBS. A low FODMAP diet avoids fermentable, gas-producing food ingredients, such as:

• Oligosaccharides, which are found in wheat, onions, garlic, legumes and beans
• Disaccharides, such as lactose in milk, yogurt and ice cream
• Monosaccharides, including fructose , apples and pears
• Polyols or sugar alcohols found in foods such as apricots, nectarines, plums and cauliflower, as well as many chewing gums and candies

The small intestine doesnt always fully absorb these carbohydrates, instead passing them to the colon, where they are fermented by bacteria and produce gas, Lee says. Not everyone gets gas and bloating from every FODMAP foods. You might start by cutting out FODMAP foods and then slowly bringing them back into your diet one at a time to pinpoint problem foods.

In the long run, the key to preventing bloating is understanding its cause. If mild constipation is the problem, a fiber-rich diet, water and exercise may help, but these steps wont always work for chronic constipation. Chronic constipation and other conditions, such as IBS or gastroparesis, require medical treatment, so its important to talk to your doctor about your bloating symptoms.

Feeling Bloated?

Causes Of Protruded Stomach In Children

In most of the cases, distension of stomach among children is nothing serious to worry about. It may be caused due to over eating, which improves after couple of hours. Childs stomach can also appear to be protruded, if a straw is used for drinking, talking while eating, or eating a meal too quickly. This can cause swallowing up of air through their mouth leading to bloating of the stomach. However, if this issue appears repeatedly over a period of time, it may indicate presence of underlying medical conditions. Some of these possible conditions are discussed below:

Lactose Intolerance: It is a common belief among parents that dairy product such as milk cheese, yoghurt etc. is good for the childs health. However, if the child has lactose intolerance, these products can cause great discomfort to the child. It is a condition where the childs digestive system does not produce lactase enzymes which are essential for digestion of dairy products. Lack of these enzymes causes fermentation of undigested lactose in the intestine, leading to production of large amount of gases causing bloating or protrusion of the stomach.

Other possible causes of protrusion of stomach include:

• Hormonal fluctuation

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