What causes stomach bloating?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Bloating symptoms come from excess gas accumulating in the abdomen, particularly in the intestines. Intestinal bacteria produce gas when foods haven't yet travelled through the small intestine. If gas particles aren't released right away, the stomach expands like a balloon.Bloating symptoms come from excess gas accumulating in the abdomen, particularly in the intestines. Intestinal bacteria produce gas when foods haven't yet travelled through the small intestine. If gas particles aren't released right away,... More -
Bloating, excess gas in the abdomen, can be caused by a variety of factors. People who swallow extra air or who aren't able to fully digest their food may experience bloating. Bloating may also be caused by eating certain foods, such as broccoli, beans, cabbage, dairy products, or fatty foods. Rarely, bloating is caused by a serious underlying condition. See your doctor if you are concerned about bloating.
Bloating, excess gas in the abdomen, can be caused by a variety of factors. People who swallow extra air or who aren't able to fully digest their food may experience bloating. Bloating may also be caused by eating certain foods, such as broccoli,... More -
RealAge answered:In addition to excess gas, there are a number of possible causes of bloating. One of the most common is a group of conditions known as functional gastrointestinal disorders. These disorders alter the way the gastrointestinal (GI) tract works, but many of them have no known cause. If you suffer from uncomfortable GI symptoms, a doctor may perform lab tests to rule out diseases such as Crohn's or cancer. But if the results come back normal, it's possible that a functional GI disorder is causing your symptoms. And there may not be an obvious reason for those symptoms.
For example, someone with chronic bloating may not have an excessive amount of gas in the intestine -- but he or she still feels uncomfortable. It doesn't mean that the bloating isn't real; it just means that nothing out of the ordinary can be found with medical testing.
Doctors speculate that some people with functional GI disorders may simply be unusually sensitive to pain and normal amounts of gas in the gut. Or it could be that the muscle contractions along their GI tracts are not coordinated, which can cause unpleasant symptoms. Or there could be some other yet-to-be-defined reason for their discomfort.
Recent research has shown that, for some people, abnormal levels of serotonin -- a chemical neurotransmitter that is present mainly in the digestive tract -- play a role in certain functional GI disorders.
Bloating is a very common symptom of many functional GI disorders. In fact, up to 96% of people with functional GI disorders experience bloating.In addition to excess gas, there are a number of possible causes of bloating. One of the most common is a group of conditions known as functional gastrointestinal disorders. These disorders alter the way the gastrointestinal (GI) tract... More
