Upper abdominal swelling when eating may be the result of excessive gas or inflammation in your digestive system. Upper abdominal swelling from eating is not a common occurrence and needs to be assessed by your primary care physician. Common reasons for upper abdominal swelling are gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance and food allergies. If you develop severe pain or notice blood in your vomit or diarrhea, call your doctor immediately.
Gluten Intolerance
Gluten intolerance is a common food-related condition that causes upper abdominal swelling while eating. This condition is also referred to as celiac disease and can cause permanent damage to your intestines if not treated. Gluten is a protein found in various grains, such as wheat, barley and rye, but is used in a wide range of products. Gluten may be found in salad dressing, chocolate, ice cream, custards, bread, baked goods, medications, cereals and crackers. If you are diagnosed with gluten intolerance, you will be advised to implement a gluten-free diet to prevent further complications.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is a food intolerance, less severe than gluten intolerance but more common. Lactose intolerance does not cause any long-term effects in your digestive system. Lactose intolerance causes excessive bloating, gas, indigestion, diarrhea and stomach pain after consuming dairy products. Lactose is a sugar found in dairy that requires lactase, a digestive enzyme, to break it down. If your small intestines don't produce enough lactase, you will not be able to digest the sugar in milk, leading to common lactose intolerance symptoms.
Food Allergies
Food allergies will cause upper abdominal swelling from inflammation. When you eat a food that you're allergic to, your immune system overreacts and creates immunoglobulin E antibodies to protect the body. When IgE antibodies enter the bloodstream, mast cells create histamine in soft tissue. Histamine produced in the soft tissue that lines your stomach, intestines and lungs will cause inflammation and swelling. This can cause stomach pain, cramping, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing.
Considerations
If you experience upper abdominal swelling as an isolated event, you may simply be experiencing indigestion. Indigestion can occur after eating greasy foods, spicy foods or foods high in fat that causes the feeling of fullness in your upper abdomen. Most cases of indigestion are treated with over-the-counter acid reducers. Chronic upper abdominal swelling may be the result of irritable bowel syndrome, a serious digestive condition that needs to be evaluated by your doctor.
