What Causes Abdominal Pain and Bloating?
Eating a lot of fatty foods can cause bloating and discomfort because the fat delays stomach emptying, allowing gas to build up. This problem can be avoided by eating less fatty meals. The feeling of bloating in the abdomen may increase during the day and become most severe after a large meal. Many people think the bloated feeling after eating is caused by large amounts of gas. Researchers, however, have not found any connection between this symptom and the total amount of gas in the abdomen. Studies show that in some people even modest amounts (one ounce to one-half pint) of gas in the intestine can cause spasms, especially after eating. Gas in the upper abdomen often is relieved by belching. Sometimes people try to swallow air to make themselves belch. This doesn t work, however, because it only adds to the amount of gas in the stomach and does not reduce the discomfort. Gas can collect anywhere in the lower intestine. Often it collects on the left side of the colon, and the pain can
