Your stomach felt fine this morning. But by dinner, your waistband feels tight and your belly feels full and uncomfortable.
If you’re wondering how to get rid of bloating, the first step is figuring out what’s causing it. Gas is one possibility, but constipation, certain foods, lactose intolerance, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can also cause bloating.
What works depends on the cause.
Bloating is a feeling of fullness, pressure, or swelling in your abdomen. Sometimes your stomach may also look larger.
Common causes include:
Pay attention to when bloating happens. Does it follow certain meals? Are you constipated? Do you feel full after eating only a small amount? These patterns can offer clues about the cause.
Your digestive system naturally makes gas as it breaks down food. You also swallow air when you eat and drink.
If gas is causing your bloating, you may feel pressure after meals. You may also burp or pass gas more often.
You may be able to reduce gas by:
Instead of cutting out many foods at once, keep track of what you eat and when bloating happens. This can make triggers easier to spot.
Constipation can make your abdomen feel heavy, tight, or swollen. Gas may also become more noticeable when stool moves slowly through your colon.
Treating the constipation may reduce the bloating. This can include:
Increase fiber gradually. Adding a lot at once can cause more gas and bloating.
If constipation doesn’t improve, a gastroenterologist can look for other causes.
Lactose is a natural sugar in dairy products. If your body doesn’t make enough of the enzyme needed to digest it, you may develop bloating, gas, or diarrhea after eating dairy.
Some people feel better with lactose-free dairy products or a lactase enzyme product.
If you feel full after eating only a small amount or stay full long after a meal, the problem may involve your stomach.
Functional dyspepsia can cause this pattern. Gastroparesis, which makes the stomach empty too slowly, can also cause bloating and fullness.
If this keeps happening, talk with a doctor rather than trying restrictive diets or over-the-counter remedies on your own.
People with IBS can be more sensitive to normal stretching in the digestive tract. This can make you feel bloated even when there isn’t an unusual amount of gas.
Treatment depends on your symptoms. It may include dietary changes, treating constipation, or other therapies recommended by your doctor.
Treating every case of bloating as excess gas can be a mistake. Gas-relief products may not do much if constipation, lactose intolerance, or another digestive problem is causing your symptoms.
Avoid cutting out a long list of foods without knowing your triggers, too. You could end up with a restricted diet without learning what was causing the problem.
Talk with a doctor if bloating keeps coming back, gets worse, or occurs with symptoms such as:
Getting rid of bloating starts with understanding why it’s happening. Gas, constipation, and food intolerances may respond to simple changes. Ongoing bloating may need a closer look.
If bloating keeps coming back, schedule an appointment with Gastroenterology Consultants of San Antonio. Our gastroenterologists can find out what may be causing your symptoms and recommend the right treatment for you.
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