What causes abdominal distension (bloating)?
Many individuals complain of abdominal distension which increases during the day and is most uncomfortable after the evening meal. Often distension is believed to be caused by the build-up of intestinal gas; however, there are other considerations. The tone of the rectus muscles (the muscles which support the abdominal wall and run along the length of the abdomen on either side of the navel) may be decreased due to the stretching of the abdominal wall in women who have had one or more pregnancies. If these muscles have become thinned, the abdomen may distend as food (and gas) moves through the intestine. This is most noticed after the evening meal. This explanation for distension (bloating) is most likely if the uncomfortable feeling is absent when the individual is lying down (you don’t need the rectus muscle for a “flat” abdomen when lying down) but is apparent when standing or sitting erect. There is no effective medical therapy for this type of abdominal bloating but exercise direc
