Have you ever experienced bloating (abdominal distention)?

What is bloating?

Bloating is the build up of gas in the intestines. 

It occurs when the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is filled with air or gas. 

It can also be described as feeling full, tight or swollen in the abdomen. It can come with hardness of the abdomen and pains. Bloating can affect one's ability to participate in daily physical activities.

SIGNS:

▪️Swollen abdomen.

▪️Flatulence.

▪️Abdominal rumbling or gurgling.

▪️ frequently burping or belching.

▪️pain.

▪️ Hardness of the abdomen.

Common causes of bloating:

▪️ Eating or drinking too fast: one can swallow too much air while eating or drinking fast.

▪️Gas can build up in the digestive tract when undigested food gets broken down.

▪️chewing gums. People easily swallow air while chewing gums.

▪️ smoking.

▪️ wearing loose dentures.

▪️pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)

▪️ consumption of foods that contain sugar alcohols.

Medical causes include:

▪️Inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

▪️ Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

▪️Food intolerance.

▪️ Hormonal flux.

▪️ Gardiasis (Intestinal parasite infection).

▪️ Anorexia nervosa/ bulimia nervosa.

▪️ Some drugs( medications).

How can bloating be prevented/ relieved?

▪️ Don't eat too much at a time.

▪️ Learn to chew slowly.

▪️ Avoid talking while eating.

▪️ Reduce intake of carbonated drinks.

▪️If you are lactose intolerant, use lactose free dairy products.

▪️Loose weight if you are over weight.

▪️ Limit rate of chewing gum.

▪️limit intake of gas-producing foods like beans, onions, lentils, cabbages and more.

▪️ Avoid drinking through a straw.

▪️Find and follow a diet that is right for you.

▪️Be careful with sugar alcohols. (They are commonly found in sugar free foods and chewing gums).

▪️Take peppermint oil. It has shown to be effective against bloating and other digestive symptoms especially in IBS patients.

▪️ Rule out food allergies.

▪️ Take food supplement that aid digestive enzymes.

When to see a doctor:

Visit a doctor if you are having severe or prolonged abdominal pain, change in stool colour, blood in the stool, diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, severe heartburn, vomiting.

Drop your comments or questions if you have any.

Thank you.

 _Ezekiel Amarachi_