Gas and bloating usually occur as natural body responses. They can result from the breakdown of food through digestion or swallowing too much air. Bloating is a sensation of fullness in the abdomen, and typically develops from accumulation of intestinal gas. Gas can form in the stomach, upper intestines or colon as a response to swallowing air while eating or drinking, or the breakdown of undigested food. A health care provider can diagnose and treat individual causes of gas and bloating.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance means the body has an insufficient ability to digest lactose. Lactose is a natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. The condition occurs from deficiencies in the lactase enzyme, an enzyme produced by the lining of the small intestines. Without lactase enzymes, lactose stays unprocessed in the colon where it interacts with normal intestinal bacteria and causes uncomfortable symptoms. An estimated 30 to 50 million American adults are lactose intolerant, and most people with the disorder can tolerate some amount of lactose in their diet, according to the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include abdominal bloating, gas, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Choosing a diet that limits milk products can control many of the symptoms of lactose intolerance.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that causes damage to the small intestines and an inability to absorb some nutrients. Those with the disorder cannot tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. When consuming gluten, an abnormal immune response occurs and damages parts of the small intestine responsible for absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream. The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center reports that celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune disorder that affects approximately 1 in 133 people in the United States. Symptoms include bloating, gas, abdominal pain, upset stomach and irritability. The inability to absorb nutrients can also lead to malnutrition, weight loss, fatigue, and conditions such as anemia and osteoporosis because of lack of certain nutrients.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a common disorder of the large intestines. The condition causes changes in bowel habits and discomfort throughout the body. The exact cause of the condition is unknown, but experts believe it has to do with abnormal immune responses, stress and reactions to certain foods. As many as 20 percent of the American adult population has symptoms of IBS, and the condition occurs more often in men, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Common symptoms include gas and bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and cramping. In many cases, symptoms can be controlled through diet and stress management.
