Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Why Is My Upper Stomach Bloated And Hard

You Have A Buildup Of Hard Fat

WHAT MY BLOATED STOMACH LOOKS LIKE | ABDOMINAL BLOATING

The first cause brings us to the root of your hard stomach: a high accumulation of visceral fat. Located in the spaces between organs in your abdominal cavity, visceral fat is packed in tightly, so there’s no jiggle room. As it accumulates in your abdomen, it pushes your abdominal wall outwards, which gives the appearance of having a gut. And while the fat itself isn’t actually hard per se, the tissues that make up your abdomen are, which is why your beer belly feels rigid when you poke it.

While a hard, protruding beer belly is caused by the buildup of visceral fat, a soft belly is caused by subcutaneous fat, which is located close to the skin’s surface. If you have subcutaneous belly fat, your belly feels jiggly and softer to the touch. Unlike visceral fat, subcutaneous fat can be pinched.

For men, a waist that measures more than 40 inches is a sign that your belly fat may be increasing your risk of health problems. To measure it properly, place a tape measure around your waist, just above the hip bone . Relax, exhale, and measure without sucking your belly in. It’s useful to record the number so you can see how it changes when you lose weight .

Can You Get A Hernia Above Your Belly Button

An epigastric hernia is a type of hernia in the epigastric region of the abdominal wall. Its above the belly button and just below the sternum of your rib cage. This type of hernia is a somewhat common condition in both adults and children. About 2 to 3 percent of all abdominal hernias are epigastric hernias.

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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Stomach Bloating Can Be A Sign Of An Enlarged Liver Know The Reason And Diagnosis

An enlarged liver or a liver inflammation is a serious health condition. Leaving it, untreated can cause severe distress to the body. If diagnosed on time, its treatment is possible.

Other Diseases

If your doctor tells you that you need to keep a check on your drinking or eating habits, that means you need to be careful about your liver health. Liver enlargement or inflammation in the liver is a grave health condition, which can even lead to deaths in the worst cases. Hepatitis is usually another reason behind this, although this condition can be treated, but only if the diagnosis is done on time. Liver problems mainly crop up due to several lifestyle-related factors including excessive drinking, lack of exercise and a disturbed diet pattern.

This medical condition should be treated on priority as the liver helps in the regulation of food in the body. It also cleanses your blood by getting rid of harmful chemicals produced in your body. It makes a liquid called bile, which helps you break down fat from food. Also, it stores glucose in the body, which is a sort of fuel for the body to function. In cases of late treatment, there can be chances of liver transplants, which involves a longer recovery process. Liver transplant cases can be every bit harrowing for the individual to follow a set pattern of lifestyle to reduce the risk of re-damaging the new liver.

Chronic Gastritis And Peptic Ulcer Disease

This Is The Real Reason Why Your Stomach Is Bloated And ...

Chronic gastritis occurs when your stomach lining becomes irritated or inflamed over time. Severe inflammation can destroy the lining and formation of the stomach or duodenal ulcer .

Chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease are classically present with burning or gnawing pain in the upper stomach .

However, many peptic ulcer diseases dont have epigastric pain instead, they are mild symptoms such as indigestion or discomfort .

Chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease are commonly due to:

  • Infection .
  • Irritation by certain foods or medication .

Gastritis often causes frank pain in the upper stomach area rather than a sense of hard stomach.

Common Symptoms of gastritis and PUD:

  • Upper central stomach pain sometimes feels like a hard stomach in the upper-middle abdomen.
  • The pain is usually dull, vague, burning, or aching pain.
  • Associated symptoms include:
  • If bleeding ulcers, vomiting of blood , or passage of black stool can occur.

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Can You Bloat In Your Upper Stomach

Upper stomach bloating is not healthy or expected, but it is widespread.

Upper stomach bloat causes a very uncomfortable sensation that makes us feel full even if weve only eaten a small amount of food.

Some popular foods that can cause bloating are cabbage, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and bran cereals.

If your stomach and gut arent functioning correctly, it is challenging for your body to digest these high-fiber foods.

Additionally, people that are lactose intolerant often struggle with bloating in the upper stomach area.

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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Why Is The Left Side Of My Stomach Bloated And Hard

When your stomach swells and feels hard, the explanation might be as simple as overeating or drinking carbonated drinks, which is easy to remedy. Other causes may be more serious, such as an inflammatory bowel disease. Sometimes the accumulated gas from drinking a soda too quickly can result in a hard stomach.

You Are Drinking Too Much Soda

“Why is my stomach so bloated?” (Common causes of bloating)

Those bubbles in soda and other drinks like beer, champagne, or seltzer are filled with gas. When you drink them, they can fill up your digestive system. You may burp some of it away, but once the gas reaches your intestines, it stays until you pass it. And most sodas are full of sugar, which can make you hold on to water and feel bloated.

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What Can Be Done

Over-the-counter medications or a prescription from your doctor might help. Look for a medication containing alpha-D-galactosidase. It has an enzyme that breaks down indigestible sugars in vegetables and beans.

Tablets or capsules containing simethicone can also help alleviate symptoms of upper abdominal bloating. If you’re a tobacco user, it’s a good reason to quit because it has been linked to heartburn, bloating, and other digestive problems. Fortunately, bloating is a very common affliction, and most people can find a remedy at the pharmacy. Other measures, such as a change in diet, the frequency and times between meals and a change in habits are all you’ll need to do to avoid bloating.

When to Worry

Usually, temporary bloating is very common and nothing to worry about. However, if the condition persists on a regular basis, or bathroom problems are a constant battle, there might be more serious medical conditions causing your discomfort, so you’ll need to consult your physician. There could be a physical obstruction in the stomach or small intestines, and if diagnosed by your health care provider, may need to be surgically corrected. Many people already know that gas-inducing foods can cause gas, but what most people don’t suspect is an underlying chronic disease or cancer that could also be the cause.

When Is It Serious

Most of the time, you can manage bloating on your own. But if you also feel weak or lose your appetite, or have diarrhea, weight loss, fever, belly pain, or blood in your stool, talk to your doctor. To find out whatâs going on, they may take a stool sample or an X-ray of your small intestine, or test you for lactose intolerance or celiac disease.

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Hard Stomach: Causes And Effective Natural Treatments That Really Work

Jenny Hills, Nutritionist and Medical Writer Health

Bloating around the abdominal region can cause a hard stomach. Some people experience that the area around their stomach becomes hard and rigid after eating or if they have issues digesting food. Usually, the bloating and feeling of tightness in the stomach goes away after passing gas, having a bowel movement, or taking natural remedies to relieve bloating. However, some serious medical conditions can cause your stomach to become hard and bloated.

Apart from causing abdominal discomfort, a hard, rigid stomach can cause embarrassment. Some women say that their stomachs become so stiff and swollen that others think they are pregnant. Of course, pregnancy is one reason for having a larger stomach. But, if your hard stomach is because of a digestive problem, there are many effective home remedies to help you get relief.

This article looks at the different reasons you can experience a hard stomach and what you can do to relieve the bloating.

Why Does It Feel Like Something Is Moving In My Stomach And Im Not Pregnant

Why Is My Stomach Hard?

Its possible to have sensations that feel like a baby kicking when you arent pregnant. Several normal movements in a womans body can mimic a babys kicks. This includes gas, muscle contractions, and peristalsisthe wave-like motions of intestinal digestion. Women often refer to the sensation as phantom kicks.

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Right Side Of The Abdomen

Upper right:

The upper right side of your abdomen contains the gallbladder, liver, and first part of the small intestine.

The gallbladder is a small sac that stores bile made by the liver. The duodenum, known as the first portion of the small intestine, is where food empties from the stomach into the small intestine.

Center right:

The center right side of the abdomen contains the ascending colon and the transverse colon. Food then passes from the ascending colon to the transverse colon.

Lower right:

The cecum of the large intestine with the appendix and the small intestine are in the lower right side of the abdomen. The cecum is the first part of the large intestine that the end of the small intestine connects to.

Some experts believe the appendix plays a role in the immune system. Others think it has no purpose.

If your doctor performs a physical exam and then suspects a medical condition is causing your abdominal bloating or pain, theyll run various medical tests.

The types of tests they order will depend on your medical history and physical exam results.

Some common tests for abdominal problems include the following:

Wheres Your Abdominal Bloating And Pain

Pain in different areas of the abdomen can mean different things.

Abdominal pain can be anywhere between the chest and the pelvis. People often call it a stomachache. The pain can also be:

  • cramp-like
  • dull
  • sharp

Causes of abdominal bloating and pain can vary from mild to severe. Most of the time, abdominal bloating and pain occur due to:

  • overeating
  • stress
  • indigestion

This kind of bloating or pain is usually normal and will go away within two hours.

In cases of the stomach flu, you may feel intense pain or bloating that comes and goes before each episode of vomiting or diarrhea. Stomach viruses usually go away with rest and home care.

This guide lists the organs associated with different locations of abdominal bloating or pain:

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Why Does My Left Side Feel Bloated After Eating

Bloating occurs in the abdominal area. It happens when large amounts of air or gas build up in the gastrointestinal tract. Eating is a common cause of bloating because when the body digests food, it produces gas. People also swallow air when eating or drinking, which then enters the gastrointestinal tract.

When To See A Doctor

Upper Abdominal Pain And Bloating – Why Does My Upper Stomach Hurt

Sometimes, bloating and shortness of breath occur due to certain food choices or overeating. In such cases, the symptoms usually disappear once the food has passed through the digestive system.

If bloating and shortness of breath do not go away within a day or so, a person should talk to a doctor. They may have an underlying medical condition that requires treatment.

A person should seek immediate medical treatment if they experience any of the following symptoms alongside bloating and shortness of breath:

  • severe abdominal pain
  • vomiting that lasts for longer than a day
  • loss of control over bladder or bowel movements
  • dark, bloody, or tarry stools

Those who experience shortness of breath as well as the following symptoms need emergency medical attention:

  • severe chest pain that spreads to the arms, back, neck, or jaw
  • tightness or heaviness in the chest
  • choking

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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.

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.

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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 can 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.

What Should I Eat When Bloated

Bloated Stomach After Eating

Bloating can be caused by several different factors, but if you want to reduce bloating, food choices can help.

Bloating usually happens when your digestive system is out of whack and having trouble digesting certain types of food.

The following list includes nutritious foods that promote healthy digestion:

  • Ginger
  • Raw carrots
  • Lean meats, including chicken and turkey

Ginger has traditionally been used for thousands of years because it helps stimulate gastric juices, which help with the breakdown and absorption of nutrients from our food!

Drinking ginger tea before meals can help reduce tummy bloat.

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Bloated Stomach And Swollen Legs

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What Causes Bloating In Upper Abdomen Under Ribs

There are several reasons you may be experiencing bloating in your upper abdomen under your rib cage.

Bloating, or distension, happens when theres too much gas and fluids in your digestive tract.

Upper stomach pain can also occur if youre constipated, have irritable bowel syndrome , diverticulitis, an eating disorder, celiac disease, or intestinal obstruction.

An intestinal obstruction means that food cannot pass through the intestines properly.

If the cause is bloating, you may feel abdominal discomfort such as cramping pains.

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