Feeling bloated? Ensure it’s not something more serious

May 27, 2018 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists

By Dr Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

Bloating is that uncomfortable feeling you get in your belly that makes you feel full and often, gassy. When you are bloated, you feel as if you’ve eaten a big meal and there is no room in your stomach. It can be painful or uncomfortable. Your stomach may actually look bigger and it can make your clothes fit tighter. Excess gas is often the cause, but it is not the only cause. There are other causes that may be dangerous to your health that we will highlight today.
WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF BLOATING?
Symptoms include stomach pain, discomfort, and gas. Severe bloating may occur along with other serious symptoms, such as:
• Blood in your stool.
• Noticeable weight loss (without trying).
• Vaginal bleeding (between your periods, or if you are postmenopausal).
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Fever (due to an infection).
If you have these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible.
WHAT CAUSES BLOATING?
Bloating can be caused by something as simple as the food you eat and lactose intolerance (problems with dairy). Other simple reasons include:
• Swallowing air (which can happen when you chew gum).
• Constipation.
• Overeating.
• Eating too fast.
• Eating sugary, fried, spicy and fast foods in general
• Vegetables such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips, beans, and lentils.
• Reflux (GERD).
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Weight gain.
• Menstruation (in some women).
More serious causes include:
• Infection.
• Inflammation (such as a condition called diverticulitis).
• Infection of the female reproductive system.
• Liver disease causing abnormal buildup of fluid in your stomach or pelvis.
• Crohn’s disease.
• Blockage in your bowel or bladder.
• Cancer (ovarian, uterine, colon, pancreatic, stomach).
Some medicines used to treat diabetes can also cause bloating.

WILL I NEED TESTS?
This will depend on what your doctor finds when he examines you. He also will ask you questions about your symptoms. Your doctor will want to know if your bloating is occasional or if it occurs all the time.
Temporary bloating is usually not serious. If it happens all the time, your doctor may order an imaging test, such as an X-ray or CT scan, to look inside your stomach. If the imaging tests show a blockage, you may need a biopsy to sample it. This involves inserting a certain type of needle into the blockage to collect a tissue sample. Depending upon the cause of the blockage, major surgery may be necessary to remove it.
ARE THERE WAYS TO PREVENT BLOATING?
There are many ways to prevent and avoid bloating, including:
• Avoid the foods that are known to cause gas
• Avoid chewing gum for long periods of time.
• Reduce or avoid drinking carbonated drinks (such as soda).
• Reduce or avoid eating and drinking foods and drinks that include fructose or sorbitol. These artificial sweeteners are often found in sugar-free foods.
• Slow down when you eat.
• Eat more foods high in fibre to prevent constipation. If foods alone don’t help, consider taking a fibre supplement.
• Ask your doctor about over-the-counter medicines that relieve gas and bloating.
• Avoid dairy products if you notice they cause gas and bloating.

HOW CAN BLOATING BE TREATED?
For temporary bloating, ask your doctor about over-the-counter medicines that relieve gas and bloating. Probiotics (such as yogurt) and certain herbal ingredients can relieve your discomfort, too. Herbal ingredients include peppermint and chamomile tea, anise, caraway, coriander, fennel, and turmeric. If your bloating is caused by something more serious, your doctor will treat the underlying cause.
Living with bloating can be uncomfortable. You may have stomach pain or just a sense of fullness. When it affects how your clothes fit, it can be frustrating. If your bloating is constant, don’t suffer unnecessarily. See your doctor to determine if the cause of the bloating is something more serious