Bloating Health Video

Bloating is the common term for gas buildup in the stomach and intestines. It's often accompanied by abdominal pain which may be either mild and dull or sharp and intense. Passing gas or having a bowel movement may relieve the pain. Learn about bloating including possible causes, symptoms, and treatment in this video.

Take Action

Reduce fatty, gas-producing food consumption
Avoid carbonated drinks, chewing gum & hard candy
Limit intake of lettuce, apples & pears

About this Author

Dr. Susan McGladdery is a medical graduate from Oxford University in the UK and has a Master's Degree in Medical Sciences from Cambridge University. She has been a member of the Royal College of Physicians since 1991 and a member of the American Academy of Urgent Care since 2006. She trained as a Family Physician in the UK in Oxford and then in London. In a medical career that spans over 20 years, she has worked as a doctor in 5 countries on 3 continents and cared for patients from a multitude of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dr. McGladdery joined FirstMed Centers in mid 2002 and became Regional Medical Director in 2003.

SUSAN MCGLADERRY, BM, BCH, MRCP: Hello. My name is Dr. Susan McGladerry. I'm the medical director from the FirstMed Centers in Budapest, Hungary and I'd like to give you some information about the condition of bloating. This results from the accumulation of gas in the stomach and intestines. It can cause abdominal pain which ranges in severity from a dull mild pain to a sharp or intense extreme pain. Passing gas or having bowel movement can relieve the pain. Also the possible causes of bloating, a common cause is fatty food. Fat delays stomach emptying and can increase any sensation of abdominal fullness. Bloating may also be related to things like stress or anxiety, to the irritable bowel syndrome, and conditions such as celiac disease or lactose intolerance. It can also be made worse by gastrointestinal infection, and in some cases they can be a sign of a serious condition where there is intestinal obstruction. What can you do to reduce bloating? You can avoid or cut back on the amount of fatty food and gas-producing food that you eat, so this would include things like less broccoli, baked beans, vegetables such as brussel sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower, also carbonated drinks, chewing gum and hard candy can also worsen this problem, lettuce and fruits such as apples, peaches, and pears are also known to worsen this problem. When do you need to call your doctor? You should call your doctor if you have persistent abdominal distention especially if you have difficulty and unable to pass any stool or gas or if there is associated vomiting. This can be a sign of an acute abdominal obstruction and this is a medical emergency.