We often feel bloated or gassy from time to time. However, if you are experiencing symptoms of a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, it is essential to see a doctor.
Most people are familiar with the feeling of bloating. Your stomach feels full and stretched, and your clothes feel tight around your belly. You’ve probably experienced it after a big holiday meal or eating junk food. It’s not unusual to feel a little bloated from time to time.
Burping, especially after eating, is also normal. Passing gas is also healthy. The air that has entered must come out again. Most people pass gas 15 to 21 times daily (trusted source).
But things change when bloating, burping, and gas become common. If gas is not released correctly through the intestines, it can lead to severe abdominal pain.
You don’t have to live with chronic discomfort. The first step in solving these problems is identifying their cause.
Below are some reasons why you may be experiencing excessive gas, bloating, and pain, as well as signs that it’s time to see a doctor.
Reaction to food
When you eat, you take in a certain amount of air. Here are some reasons that can cause excessive air inhalation:
- Talking while eating
- Eating or drinking too quickly
- Drinking carbonated beverages
- Drinking through a straw
- Chewing gum or sucking on hard candy
- Dentures that don’t fit properly
Some foods produce more gas than others. Here are some that tend to produce a lot of gas:
- beans
- broccoli
- cabbage
- cauliflower
- lentils
- onions
- sprouts
You may also have an intolerance to foods such as:
- artificial sweeteners such as mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol
- fiber supplements
- gluten
- fructose
- lactose
If you only experience symptoms occasionally, keeping a food diary can help you classify and avoid foods that cause discomfort. If you think you have a food intolerance or allergy, talk to your doctor.
Constipation
You may not even realize you’re constipated until you start to feel bloated. The longer it’s been since your last bowel movement, the more likely you are to feel gas and bloated.
We all suffer from constipation from time to time. It can heal itself. You can add fiber to your diet, drink more water, or try over-the-counter constipation remedies. If constipation is a frequent problem, see your doctor.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)
If you have EPI, your pancreas doesn’t produce digestive enzymes. This makes it difficult for you to absorb nutrients from your food. In addition to gas, bloating, and abdominal pain, EPI can cause:
- Light colored stools
- Greasy and smelly stools
- Stools stick to the toilet or float in the bathroom and are difficult to flush.
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Malnutrition
Treatment may include dietary deviations, lifestyle changes, and pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT).
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a chronic disorder that touches the large intestine. It causes increased sensitivity to gases in the body. This can cause:
- Abdominal pain, cramping, discomfort
- swelling
- Changes in bowel movements, diarrhea, and constipation
Sometimes called colitis, spastic colon, or nervous colon, IBS can be controlled with lifestyle changes, probiotics, and medications.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
IBD is an over-all term for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative inflammatory bowel disease is characterized by Costa Rican colon and rectum inflammation. Crohn’s disease is characterized by irritation of the entire digestive tract lining. Bloating, gas, and abdominal pain may be accompanied by:
- Bloody stool
- Fatigue
- High fever
- Loss of appetite
- Severe diarrhea
- Weight loss
Treatment may include anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal medications, surgery, and nutritional support.
Diverticulitis
Diverticulosis occurs when there are feeble spots in the colon, causing pouches to bulge out of the colon wall. Diverticulitis occurs when these pouches begin to trap bacteria and become inflamed, causing symptoms such as:
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation or diarrhea
- High temperature
- Nausea, vomiting
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may need medications, dietary changes, and possibly surgery.
Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a chaos in which the stomach empties too slowly. This can cause bloating, nausea, and bowel obstruction.
Treatment may include medications, dietary changes, and sometimes surgery.
When to see your doctor
You probably don’t need to see a doctor for occasional bloating or gas. However, some conditions that cause bloating, gas, and abdominal pain can be very serious, even life-threatening. That’s why it’s essential to see a doctor if:
- Over-the-counter medications or changes in eating habits do not help.
- You have unexplained weight loss.
- He has no appetite.
- You have chronic or frequent stultification, diarrhea, or vomiting.
- You have tenacious bloating, gas, or heartburn.
- Your stool contains blood or mucus.
- There have been significant changes in how your bowels work.
- Your symptoms make it difficult for your bowels to move.
Seek immediate medicinal attention if:
- stomach pain is severe
- diarrhea is severe
- you have chest pain
- you have a high-temperature
Your doctor will likely start with a whole medical history and physical exam. Be sure to include your symptoms and how long you’ve had them. The specific combination of symptoms can provide essential clues for diagnostic testing.
Once diagnosed, you can begin managing your symptoms and improving your overall quality of life.