A bloated stomach commonly occurs when the abdomen is swollen due to an excessive production of gas in the digestive tract. However, there are other causes such as being pregnant or overweight.
Full Answer
What bloating and abdominal pain could really mean?
The most common cause of stomach pain and bloating is excess intestinal gas. If you get a bloated stomach after eating, it may 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.
What causes my stomach to get bloated constantly?
The Problem With Gas
- Most Common Gas Triggers. The main triggers for gas and bloating are fermentable foods, foods that are difficult to digest, and mealtime practices.
- FODMAPs. These are short-chain carbohydrates (sugars) that are not easily absorbed by the gut. ...
- Raw Foods. ...
- Red Meats. ...
- Lactose. ...
- Gluten. ...
- Bad Mealtime Habits. ...
- Other Reasons for Bloating. ...
What are the causes of a bloated stomach?
These may include:
- Ascites. This is a gradual build-up of fluid in your abdominal cavity. ...
- Pancreatic insufficiency. ...
- Inflammation of the stomach (gastritis) or the intestines (enteritis). ...
- Cancer ( ovarian, uterine, colon, pancreatic, stomach or mesenteric). ...
What could cause bloating of stomach?
Typical causes can be:
- overeating,
- swallowing excess air
- heartburn
- irritable bowel syndrome
- constipation
- intolerance to certain foods or ingredients (lactose, for example)
- drinking too many carbonated beverages
- some medications
What does a swollen stomach indicate?
Buildup of fluid in the abdomen (this can be a sign of a serious medical problem) Gas in the intestines from eating foods that are high in fiber (such as fruits and vegetables) Irritable bowel syndrome. Lactose intolerance.
Why is my stomach hard and enlarged?
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.
What causes a large extended stomach?
Functional reasons for a distended abdomen tend to involve digestive problems that cause gas and/or digestive contents to accumulate. Causes might include: Gas from functional indigestion, food intolerances or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Constipation causing a build-up of feces and back-up of digestive contents.
What disease causes swollen stomach?
IBD includes conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease which can cause abdominal bloating and cramping that can make your stomach feel hard. Diverticulitis, an inflammation and infection of the digestive tract, can also result in bloating and swelling that may make your stomach feel hard.
Why does my stomach look pregnant?
Endo belly can cause discomfort, pain, and pressure in your abdomen and your back. The lower abdomen can swell for days, weeks, or just a few hours. Many women who experience endo belly say that they “look pregnant,” even though they're not. Endo belly is just one symptom of endometriosis.
How do you fix a distended stomach?
Long-term solutions for bloatingIncrease fiber gradually. Eating more fiber helps to prevent constipation and bloating. ... Replace sodas with water. ... Avoid chewing gum. ... Get more active every day. ... Eat at regular intervals. ... Try probiotics. ... Cut down on salt. ... Rule out medical conditions.More items...
Why is my stomach getting bigger but not gaining weight?
A combination of things happens as we age. We tend to lose muscle mass, so our abdominal muscles aren't as tight as they once were, and the loss of elastin and collagen in our skin allows gravity to have its way so skin starts to sag. Both can cause the waistline to expand.
Is abdominal distension serious?
Abdominal distension occurs when substances, such as air (gas) or fluid, accumulate in the abdomen causing its expansion. It is typically a symptom of an underlying disease or dysfunction in the body, rather than an illness in its own right. People with this condition often describe it as "feeling bloated".
Can liver problems cause a distended stomach?
Abdominal Swelling A swollen abdomen can point to a condition called ascites, in which liver malfunction leads to an imbalance of proteins and other compounds, and fluid builds up in the tissues.
Why is my stomach hard when I press on it?
When your stomach feels hard, you may be experiencing bloating or distension of the abdomen. There's bloating and then there's, well, bloating. We're talking about when your stomach bloats outward — or distends — and becomes hard to press on. It can feel like you're carrying around a bowling ball in your belly.
What does a hard belly mean?
Hard belly fat is a type of fat that lies deeper, mostly within the abdominal (stomach) area. This type of fat may also be associated with fat buildup in and around other organs.
How do you know if bloating is serious?
Five: Signs your bloating is something more seriousWeight loss. Weight loss alongside continually bloating should be explored by your GP, especially if the weight loss was not part of a change of diet/lifestyle.Changes in bathroom habits. ... Fatigue. ... Appetite changes. ... Continual bloating.
Is stomach swelling serious?
Abdominal swelling, or distention, is more often caused by overeating than by a serious illness. This problem also can be caused by: Air swallowing (a nervous habit) Buildup of fluid in the abdomen (this can be a sign of a serious medical problem)
What causes a swollen abdomen?
For example, there are many over-the-counter and natural remedies for constipation and heartburn. If you are experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms that might be food-related, try to avoid the offending foods and change your diet. However, some causes of abdominal swelling should be evaluated by a physician. Imaging, prescription medication, and surgery are all possible treatments your physician may recommend depending on your specific symptoms and the determined cause.
What does it mean when you feel bloated after eating?
Heartburn: Heartburn , or dyspepsia, is abdominal pain or burning along with bloating or feeling full after meals. It is very common and typically has no known underlying cause. Heartburn may be the cause of mild abdominal bloating or swelling.
Why do my pants feel so small?
It can be due to common gastrointestinal disorders like heartburn, constipation, or irritable bowel syndrome or disease, and these conditions typically bring discomfort and pain. More serious causes of abdominal swelling include intestinal blockage, fluid in the abdomen, or cancer. Obesity, pregnancy, and local skin infections may also cause abdominal swelling symptoms. In many cases, abdominal swelling can be treated at home with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter remedies. However, the more serious causes of abdominal swelling require evaluation and treatment by a physician.
Why does my stomach swell up after eating?
Common gastrointestinal causes. Common causes of abdominal swelling include the following. Heartburn: Heartburn, or dyspepsia, is abdominal pain or burning along with bloating or feeling full after meals. It is very common and typically has no known underlying cause.
What causes a blockage in the intestinal wall?
Inflammation from Crohn's disease or diverticulitis causes the intestinal wall to thicken and narrow. Hernias or tumors can also cause blockage. Symptoms include inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas; abdominal cramping and swelling; loss of appetite; and vomiting.
Why does my abdomen swell?
More serious causes of abdominal swelling include intestinal blockage, fluid in the abdomen, or cancer. Obesity, pregnancy, and local skin infections may also cause abdominal swelling symptoms. In many cases, abdominal swelling can be treated at home with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter remedies.
What to do if your intestines are swollen?
Surgery: This is unlikely, however, if a blockage in the intestines is causing abdominal swelling, a doctor may recommend surgery to treat the problem. In this case, your doctor would discuss the risks and benefits of surgery as a treatment for the condition.
Why does my stomach swell up after eating dairy?
Lactose intolerance is a condition that occurs when your body is unable to digest lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include abdominal bloating and gas. These symptoms can cause your abdomen to swell. If you experience a swollen abdomen within two hours of ingesting dairy, you might be lactose intolerant.
Why is my abdomen swollen?
Your abdomen could be swollen for different reasons. These range from eating too much to pregnancy. Only your doctor will be able to determine the exact cause of your swollen abdomen. A common cause of abdominal swelling is gas. Swallowing air as part of a nervous habit or from eating foods that are high in fiber can lead to gas production.
What does it mean when your stomach is swollen?
A swollen abdomen occurs when your stomach area is larger than normal. This is sometimes known as a distended abdomen or swollen belly. A swollen abdomen is often uncomfortable or even painful. A swollen abdomen has a number of potential causes and is a common occurrence.
What to do if your kidneys are swollen?
Medical treatment. If rest and lowering the amount of sodium in your diet don’t work to relieve symptoms, your doctor might suggest using diuretics. Diuretics will help your kidneys remove more of the fluid causing the swelling. In rare cases, an infection can develop in your ascitic fluid.
What is it called when fluid builds up in the abdomen?
Ascites. Ascites is a condition that occurs when fluid builds up inside your abdomen. This buildup is usually due to problems with your liver, such as cirrhosis. Cirrhosis occurs when your liver becomes extremely scarred. When ascites first develops, you probably won’t notice any symptoms.
How to stop stomach swelling from gas?
Some of these foods are beans and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage. Avoid drinking carbonated drinks and drinking out of a straw.
How to know if you have a swollen abdomen?
Seek medical care if you have extreme diarrhea or blood in your stool. If you find that you’re unable to eat or drink for more than eight hours, tell your doctor.
What to do if you have abdominal distension?
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.
What causes distension in the peritoneum?
Another cause of abdominal distension is fluid build-up in the lining of the abdominal cavity, called the peritoneum. These tissues can become inflamed from infection ( peritonitis ), or they can be filled with fluid as a result of a condition called ascites. Usually, a side-effect of liver scarring ( cirrhosis ), ascites occurs when pressure on the blood vessels in the liver ( portal hypertension) forces fluid into the abdominal cavity. Healthcare providers can often identify fluid in the peritoneum from a physical exam, but an abdominal ultrasound is more sensitive.
Why is my abdomen distended?
You can see and measure the difference, and sometimes you can feel it. A distended abdomen can be due to bloating from gas, or it can be due to accumulated fluid, tissue, or digestive contents. It can be chronic or acute.
What is a build up of fluid caused by liver disease?
A build-up of fluid caused by liver disease ( ascites ).
What are the internal organs of the abdomen?
Solid organs include the liver, spleen, kidneys, adrenals, pancreas, ovaries and uterus. These can become enlarged due to inflammation or growths such as a tumor, abscess or cyst. Your healthcare provider might be able to feel that they are enlarged, or they might need to look at an image of the internal organs to tell. A large growth might be palpable through the skin. Your healthcare provider will confirm your condition with imaging tests, then follow up with additional testing and treatment depending on the condition.
Is a distended abdomen a sign of a serious condition?
A distended abdomen is often a temporary problem linked to digestion, but it can be uncomfortable, and it can sometimes indicate a serious condition. There’s no need to suffer in silence. If you have a digestive problem, your healthcare provider can help you narrow down causes and strategies for managing it at home. If you have an acute condition that isn't improving, you should seek care to rule out serious causes. Sometimes a symptom is a blessing in disguise that leads you to treat an unsuspected condition—or simply discover a food intolerance.
What causes a build up of urine?
Urinary retention causing a build-up of urine.
7 causes of belly fat in women
If you are taking in more calories that you are burning through physical activity, you will likely gain weight. Women especially tend to gain weight around their waistline and hips.
How to lose abdominal fat
Having a big stomach goes beyond looks and can lead to serious health issues. However, with few lifestyle changes, you can shed the excess weight around your midsection:
What Causes Distended Stomach?
To treat a distended stomach condition, it is important to know why it is happening in the first place. Internal and external factors contribute to distended stomach causes.
What are the effects of digestive issues?
Bloating, gas, and stomach distention are common effects of digestive issues. The conditions of gastrointestinal disorders of celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcerative colitis are directly related to the distention.
Why does my stomach feel bloated after eating?
After a meal of fatty food or having too much alcohol, your stomach may become bloated and offer discomfort and pain. A distended abdomen can usually be a mild case of fluid retention or a digestive issue. It may also be the result of an underlying health condition that can lead to severe complications. We will look at the causes as well as how to get rid of a distended stomach.
What does it mean when your stomach is distended?
A distended stomach refers to a swelling of the abdomen itself. The symptoms of nausea, discomfort, and pain are among the signs of this condition, with bloating being first noticed with snug-fitting clothes.
What causes bloating in the lower stomach?
Hormones. Hormone changes during the menstrual cycle can cause bloating of the lower stomach, fluid retention, and constipation. Severe stomach distention is a cause for concern when accompanied by strong pains from cramping, an irregular cycle, or fibroids. 10. Cancer.
Why does food not love us back?
Sometimes the food we love does not love us back as it can cause stomach distention as well as gas and discomfort. Being sensitive to foods can go hand-in-hand with food allergies. Categories under these issues include dairy products, nuts, shellfish, and bread products. 7.
How to stop bloating after eating spicy food?
If your bloating is present after eating a big meal or spicy food, you may be able to settle it by allowing time for digestion. You may experience discomfort and pain as well. Limit or avoid foods that irritate your stomach and take small bites.
How does PMS affect your body?
The symptoms of PMS can be both emotional and physical. They’re caused by changes in hormone levels that occur during your menstrual cycle. Two of the physical symptoms of PMS are bloating and weight gain. Bloating occurs due to water retention, which, like many other PMS symptoms, is caused by hormonal changes.
Why does my stomach swell?
Bloating or swelling around your stomach or abdomen can have many causes, including digestive conditions, hormonal changes, and even some medications. In addition to abdominal bloating or swelling, it’s possible that you may have noticed that you’ve also gained some weight without changing your exercise routine or diet.
Why does endometriosis cause weight gain?
Medications: The side effects of some medications used to treat endometriosis, such as hormonal birth control, may lead to weight gain.
What happens when you are stressed?
When you’re stressed, you can experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms like bloating, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea. Additionally, some researchers believe. Trusted Source.
What causes fluid to accumulate in the abdomen?
tuberculosis. Ascites happens when high blood pressure in the veins of the liver ( portal hypertension) is combined with reduced liver function. This causes fluid to accumulate in the abdomen. Symptoms can include: swollen or distended abdomen.
What causes ascites in the liver?
In addition to cirrhosis, additional causes of ascites can include: some types of cancer, such as ovarian, liver, colorectal, or pancreatic cancers. heart failure. kidney failure. pancreatic disease.
How do you know if you have Cushing's syndrome?
Two of them are weight gain and accumulation of fat around the abdomen. Other symptoms include: round face (moon face) thin arms and legs. fat accumulation at the base of the neck. easy bruising.
What is a distended stomach?
The stomach is a hollow organ that fills with food after eating. Its walls are able to stretch and the entire stomach can distend to several times its size when empty. This distention is usually not visible from the exterior as space within the abdominal cavity allows for the stomach to expand. The term ‘stomach’ is also commonly used, and quite incorrectly, to refer to the abdominal cavity as a whole.
What is the term for distension of the stomach?
There are several common terms to describe abdominal distension including : Distended stomach. Bloated stomach. Abdominal bloating . Swollen stomach or abdomen. Swelling indicates an enlargement usually due to fluid accumulation. Bloating is a non-specific term to describe enlargement as well due to any cause.
What causes right upper quadrant distension?
Hydronephrosis. Renal carcinoma (cancer of the kidney) Colon disease involving the upper part of the ascending colon, hepatic flexure and first half of the transverse colon may cause right upper quadrant distension. Causes may include : Colonic obstruction (blocked colon) Colon cancer. Colitis.
Why is my left upper quadrant distended?
Stomach disease may be a cause of left upper quadrant distension. A large part of the stomach is tucked under the left rib cage but it does distend with eating and less commonly with drinking fluids. Some of the causes of left upper quadrant distension due to stomach problems includes :
What is the difference between a generalized and a localized distension?
Distension may be generalized or localized. Generalized distension of the abdomen means that the entire abdomens is enlarged. Localized distension means that the enlargement is more prominent in one part of the abdomen.The causes of localized distension may differ depending on the location – one of the four abdominal quadrants : right upper quadrant (RUQ), left upper quadrant (LUQ), right lower quadrant (RLQ) or left lower quadrant (LLQ).
What is the difference between peritonitis and ascites?
Ascites is fluid accumulation within the abdominal cavity. Peritonitis is an inflammation of the inner lining of the abdominal cavity. Intra-adominal abscess is an accumulation of pus within the abdominal cavity which causes generalized abdominal distension along with localized distension.
What causes suprapubic distension?
Prostate disease (men only) that may lead to suprapubic distension includes benign prostatic hypertrophy ( enlarged prostate), prostatitis or prostate cancer.
What are the symptoms of gastritis?
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach usually caused by a stomach ulcer or an H. pylori bacterial infection. Symptoms include: 1 pain 2 bloating 3 a hard stomach
What is the name of the inflammation of the stomach?
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach usually caused by a stomach ulcer or an H. pylori bacterial infection. Symptoms include: pain. bloating. a hard stomach.
Why does my stomach feel so hard?
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.
What does it mean when you feel discomfort during the third trimester?
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 don’t pass and become more persistent, it might be a sign that you’re going into labor.
When to see a doctor for swollen stomach?
When to see a doctor. If your stomach feels hard and swollen for more than a few days, you should visit your doctor or seek medical attention. You should also consult with your doctor if you have other symptoms such as: bloody stools. difficulty breathing.
What to do if your stomach hurts during pregnancy?
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.
Why does soda make my stomach hard?
Sometimes the accumulated gas from drinking a soda too quickly can result in a hard stomach. This uncomfortable feeling dissipates as the gas is expelled.
What is the difference between subcutaneous and visceral fat?
Subcutaneous fat is the belly fat you can feel if you pinch excess skin and tissue around your middle. Visceral fat is belly fat that accumulates in your abdomen in the spaces between your organs. Too much visceral fat is strongly linked with a greater risk of serious health problems. The trouble with belly fat is that it's not limited to ...
What does a waist measurement of 35 inches mean?
For women, a waist measurement of more than 35 inches (89 centimeters) indicates an unhealthy concentration of belly fat and a greater risk of health problems.
Why do women have a bigger belly?
This is likely due to a decreasing level of estrogen, which appears to influence where fat is distributed in the body.
What happens if you eat too much?
If you eat too much and exercise too little, you're likely to carry excess weight — including belly fat.
How to measure waist for a sex?
Measure your waist: Stand and place a tape measure around your bare stomach, just above your hipbone. Pull the tape measure until it fits snugly around you , but doesn't push into your skin. Make sure the tape measure is level all the way around.
Where is the fat in your belly?
The trouble with belly fat is that it's not limited to the extra layer of padding located just below the skin (subcutaneous fat). It also includes visceral fat — which lies deep inside your abdomen, surrounding your internal organs.
How to reduce calories in your diet?
Keep portion sizes in check. Even when you're making healthy choices, calories add up. At home, slim down your portion sizes. In restaurants, share meals — or eat half your meal and take the rest home. Include physical activity in your daily routine.
