Abdominal bloating and gas are conditions most people cope with at one time or another. Depending on the underlying cause, bloating and gas can be episodic or chronic, acutely painful or tolerable. Abdominal bloating and gas is frequently caused by swallowing air and eating certain foods. Gas and bloating resulting from these factors are usually temporary and not too painful. Still, belching and flatulence which often accompany bloating and gas can be distracting and uncomfortable. The journal "Gastroenterology" suggests that the treatment of bloating and gas is enhanced by recognizing that the cause in someone with a subjective perception of gas and bloating is often different from causes which, in addition, are accompanied by measurable changes in abdominal girth.
Diet
Foods that can trigger abdominal bloating and gas are as diverse as people themselves. Some foods, however, are more common culprits. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are notorious gas producers as are spicy or greasy foods. Bloating and gas can be caused in part by a predisposed sensitivity to certain foods. The American Dietary Intolerance & Allergy Association points out that up to 90 percent of Asian Americans and 75 percent of Native Americans and African-Americans, for example, are lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance is a condition that results from a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, which is necessary for the digestion of lactose, or milk sugar. Abdominal bloating and gas are a common feature of lactose intolerance.
Viral and Bacterial Illnesses
Symptoms of bloating and gas are frequently associated with illnesses like stomach viruses and bacterial infections. Many of the microorganisms responsible for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can be the primary cause of bloating and gas, or cause them indirectly as a result of the aforementioned symptoms. When sick with a stomach virus, you can minimize discomfort by not eating and drinking foods which commonly cause excess gas and bloating, such as fried food and carbonated beverages.
Surgery and Anesthesia
Surgery, especially abdominal and pelvic surgeries, sometimes precipitates postoperative bloating and gas pain. Many obstetric nurses can attest, for instance, to complaints of bloating and gas from women recovering from cesarean section. It is speculated that this common phenomenon may result from factors such as manipulation of the intestines and other body parts, the effect that anesthetics can have on gastrointestinal motility and referred pain from nerve stimulation. Symptoms of postoperative bloating and gas usually resolve after a couple of days. Relief measures often include some combination of walking or moving around, medication and avoiding gas-producing foods and beverages.
Underlying Disease
Although many causes of abdominal bloating and gas are benign, these symptoms can also arise as a result of underlying diseases, some of which are serious. The fact that bloating and gas occur frequently in otherwise healthy people is one of the things that can make it tricky to identify as a sign of more serious illness. It takes a medical professional to distinguish normal symptoms from abnormal ones and to identify an underlying cause. MayoClinic.com stresses that abdominal bloating and gas accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, fever, pain, constipation or heartburn are reasons to consult with a doctor.
