Bloating happens to everyone at some point in their lives. However, whether it is due to overeating, indigestion, or something more sinister, it is important to know.
Also, according to experts, bloating can be a symptom of some other conditions, which may need immediate medical intervention.
A bloated stomach gives a feeling of tightness, pressure, or fullness in your belly. It may or may not be accompanied by a visibly swollen abdomen and may range from mildly uncomfortable to intensely painful symptoms. It usually goes away after a while, but for some people, bloating is a recurring problem.
It may not always be due to indigestion
While it is a common belief that bloating only happens when you have digestive issues, experts say otherwise. Excessive gas or constipation are usual causes – but bloating may also result from coordination problems between muscles and nerves.
In many cases, experts believe abdominal muscles and the diaphragm get into a state of discord, causing the belly to bulge outward despite no excess gas. Many times, stress, anxiety, and mood issues can also lead to gut problems.
What can cause bloating?
Hormonal imbalance
Many times, in women, stomach bloating follows a different cycle, which matches the menstrual cycle. Experts believe three in four women experience abdominal bloating before and during their menstrual periods. It is also a common complaint during the hormone fluctuations of perimenopause. It mostly happens when estrogen causes water retention – along with the increased volume of your uterus.
Doctors say estrogen and progesterone can cause intestinal gas by either slowing or speeding up your motility.
Constipation
Everyone faces occasional constipation due to diet or lifestyle factors – but for those with chronic problems with their bowel movements, bloating can be painful as well. Doctors say backed-up poop causes the recently digested food to stay longer in the intestines, waiting to descend. Everything expands to contain the extra volume, leading to bloat.
Weight gain
If you have gained weight for any reason, you would gain weight in your belly as well, as the fat impacts your abdominal volume. Doctors say it may be due to water retention, which can make you feel bloated with fluids in your stomach and elsewhere.
Ascites
Ascites happens due to excessive accumulation of fluid within the peritoneal cavity – the space surrounding the abdominal organs. Doctors say the fluid buildup creates pressure and distension, causing a swollen and firm abdomen.
It is usually caused by severe liver disease (cirrhosis), heart failure, some cancers, and kidney failure.
Cancer
Cancer can cause bloating by causing fluid buildup in the abdomen from conditions like ovarian cancer or through the direct pressure of tumours.
Bloating is also a common side effect of cancer treatments like chemotherapy, which disrupts the digestive system by slowing digestion, destroying gut bacteria, or causing inflammation. According to doctors, cancers affecting the digestive organs, like stomach cancer, also cause bloating by hindering normal digestion or causing early fullness.
Pancreatic insufficiency
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency leads to severe bloating as your pancreas does not produce enough digestive enzymes, leading to undigested food fermenting in the colon, which thereby leads to severe gas and bloating. According to experts, the lack of lipase hinders fat digestion, but your body’s inability to break down carbohydrates and proteins can also lead to bloating.