But if your bloated stomach doesn't go away or gets worse, or if you have other symptoms of serious illness, such as fever or vomiting, you should seek medical attention to rule out other medical causes. These may include: Ascites. This is a gradual build-up of fluid in your abdominal cavity.
Chronic bloating caused by fluid retention could have a more serious cause, such as liver or kidney failure or diabetes. If the bloating does not go away, a person should speak with a doctor.
If your bloating is accompanied by abdominal pain, cramps, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, then it might be a serious problem. Regularly occurring bloating that doesn't improve with lifestyle changes, such as eating smaller meals or avoiding certain foods, may also point to a more serious issue.
The two most common causes within this category are small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and intolerance to carbohydrates and other food groups.
If you don't have those conditions but have bloating that persists for months, you may have something called functional bloating, or bloating with no identifiable cause. Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or chronic idiopathic constipation fall into this category.
Contact your provider if: The abdominal swelling is getting worse and does not go away. The swelling occurs with other unexplained symptoms. Your abdomen is tender to the touch.
Ongoing bloating is not normal and may have many causes, so you should call your doctor if you feel bloating every day. Bloating is a chronic and bothersome condition for a large minority of the population. Anywhere from an estimated 16% to 31% of us have bloating and distension.
“When it's accompanied by red-flag symptoms—vomiting, blood in stool, unexplained weight loss, yellowing of eyes or skin—those are signs of a more urgent and serious disorder,” she says. Liver disease or an obstruction of the GI tract can cause bloating accompanied by some of these red-flag symptoms.
Bloating That Doesn't Go Away
"If bloating is persistent and does not vary with changing eating habits or bowel movements, it is a good idea to seek medical care," added Alex Hewlett, DO, associate professor of medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Extreme bloating, especially if you can't pass gas or stool. Inability to urinate or significant pain or blood with urination.
Some people have a bloated stomach for a long period of time due to gastrointestinal tract disease, including gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastrointestinal or colorectal cancer, parasitic infection, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal dysfunction, and other system disorders such as thyroid and diabetes, which can ...
Bloating is actually a very common symptom of anxiety, especially for those with anxiety attacks. What's interesting is that many different issues can cause bloating including, but not limited to: Hyperventilation The main reason that anxiety leads to bloating is the result of hyperventilation.
Bloating may occasionally add a pound or two, but it doesn't actually signify weight gain. A simple way to tell the difference between bloating and weight gain or fat is how your stomach looks and feels. If your stomach is tight and hard, then bloating is the cause. If your stomach is soft and thick, then that's fat.
Stomach cancer can present itself in several different ways, such as difficulty swallowing, feeling bloated after eating, feeling full after only eating a small amount of food, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, stomach pain, unintentional weight loss, and vomiting.
A hard stomach can happen for various reasons, including constipation, gastric cancer, and some chronic digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal swelling and bloating, both of which people may link to weight gain. Also, some people with ovarian cancer may experience weight gain due to treatment or just living with the disease.
Back pain and bloating can sometimes occur together. Common causes include hormonal changes, stress, a urinary tract infection, a back injury, or gas. Although back pain and bloating are fairly common symptoms, it is a good idea to see a doctor if they last more than a few days.
People can often treat bloating at home, but over-the-counter products such as Alka-seltzer or Lactaid may also help relieve symptoms.
Ascites can also develop when the liver isn't making enough blood protein (albumin). A swollen abdomen might cause discomfort or pain, and a loss of appetite or feeling full quickly. A swollen (enlarged) liver can cause pain in your right shoulder.
A swollen abdomen is often caused by bloating from conditions like IBS, heartburn, constipation, and menstrual cramps. But may also be a sign of fluid buildup in the abdomen, liver disease, or an intestinal blockage.
Bloating vs. Swelling. Bloating and swelling are not the same. Abdominal bloating is a feeling that your abdomen is bigger (such as feeling too full after a meal) while swelling is a measurable increase in size.
A GI doctor can help identify the triggers that may be causing IBS bloating. Increasing fiber intake and drinking plenty of fluids, managing stress, and increasing intake of probiotics may be helpful in reducing symptoms. Medications such as antispasmodics or antidiarrheals can be used to relieve symptoms.