What Causes Bloating?
It is important to distinguish between bloating and distention. • Bloating is the subjective sensation (feeling) that the abdomen is larger than normal. Thus, bloating is a symptom akin to the symptom of discomfort. • In contrast, distention is the objective determination (physical finding) that the abdomen is larger than normal. Distention can be determined by such observations as the inability to fit into clothes or looking down at the stomach and noting that it is clearly larger than normal. In some instances, bloating may represent a mild form of distention since the abdomen does not become physically (visibly or measurably) enlarged until its volume increases by one quart. Nevertheless, bloating should never be assumed to be the same as distention. Bloating and even very mild cases of distention may be caused by relaxation of the muscles of the abdominal wall. There are three ways in which abdominal distention can arise. The causes are an increase in air, fluid, or tissue within t
Bloating is a term that describes abdominal swelling or the feeling of swelling, and there are a variety of causes for this condition. It is frequently referred to as distention. Intermittent distention means it occurs at irregular intervals while continuous distention clearly means it is an incessant problem. Continuous distention often indicates more serious health problems. Several causes of bloating are related to diet. By changing your eating habits, you may be able to prevent or treat bloating quickly, easily, and safely. Eating too much salt can result in retaining water. Eating foods that produce gas, such as certain types of beans and other vegetables, can also result in bloating, as can drinking too many carbonated beverages. Lactose intolerance is another culprit, as many people suffer uncomfortable symptoms including bloating, after consuming dairy based foods or drinks. Avoiding foods and drinks that are known to cause bloating is good preventive medicine, but there are al
In order to answer the question of what causes bloating, which could be a number of things, we first must explain how the gastrointestinal (digestive) system works. The overall job of the gastrointestinal system is to absorb nutrients and prevent the abnormal (toxic) substances from being absorbed. In order to do this, a very complex system of three processes is required: the nerve-controlled muscles to push food through the alimentary canal (the gastrointestinal system is comprised of this 30-foot hollow tube), gastric juice secretions by the stomach, pancreas and the liver to breakdown the food, and finally, the absorption of fluids and nutrients by the small and large intestines. The small intestine’s wall is the first line of defense against the absorption of toxic molecules. A healthy intestinal wall is covered with “friendly bacteria” that act as a gate, keeping damaging toxins out of the body’s circulation and letting healthy substances in. Anything that goes wrong in any of the
