Stomach Bloating Causes and Treatments

Stomach bloating is a symptom that a lot of people have, and when they have it, it’s uncomfortable and makes them feel fat. So, many people wonder about stomach bloating causes and stomach bloating treatments that they can turn to when they find their stomach bloated.

stomach bloating

Let’s take a look at stomach bloating causes first, because when you know what causes bloating in the stomach then it’s much easier to avoid some of the things that cause it.

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome – One of the biggest causes of stomach bloating is irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. This is something that a lot of people have, even though they may not know it or may not have been officially diagnosed with it yet. Some of the symptoms of IBS is discomfort and bloating.

The good news is that IBS is not life threatening. It’s just very annoying. People who have it often have pain in the abdominal area, gas, diarrhea, bloating, and some bowel habit changes. It’s more common in women than in men. In fact, almost 75% of those who have IBS are women.

IBS Causes

  1. Emotional upsets and stress

  2. Caffeine

  3. Chocolate, milk products, and wheat

  4. Large meals

  5. Medications

If you are experiencing symptoms like the ones that are listed above, you may have IBS. But don’t worry about it – have a talk with your doctor because there are medicines that you can take to help the symptoms.

  • Lack of Water – Another cause of bloating is not drinking enough water. Since water helps in digestion, it also helps to stop bloating. If you are someone who isn’t a big fan of drinking water, you can start out by drinking just a glass or two a day. It’s also a good idea to drink water throughout the day. This way you don’t feel like you are drinking water all the time and you are still getting the water that your body needs. Go to the dollar store and buy yourself a water bottle, then keep it handy. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it empties.

  • Chewing Gum – Most people don’t think of gum chewing as something that might cause bloating but the truth is that it can. Why is that? Because when you are chewing gum you are swallowing a lot of air and that goes to your stomach, kind of like blowing up a balloon. Also, when you chew the gum that is sugarless, chances are that it’s sweetened artificially and your body can’t break t hat sweetener down.

  • Fatty Food – Fatty foods aren’t very good for you to begin with, but they can also cause your stomach to bloat. This is because the fat in the food delays your stomach from emptying. A good example is Thanksgiving dinner and the way that you feel after it. All that fat and grease that you consume during dinner is trying to digest. Want to get things moving? Drink some water and it will help.

  • Dairy – Another big bloating culprit is dairy products, especially for those lactose intolerant folks. Wonder if you are lactose intolerant? If you have any stomach problems like bloating, gas, cramps, or diarrhea after you eat milk, cheese, or ice cream, then you might just be. Even if the symptoms aren’t highly noticeable, you might still be bloated from eating dairy. Drinking water is again a good way to help with the bloating.

So, now that we know what causes stomach bloating, what are some stomach bloating treatments that you can use? Here are some of the things that you can do in order to help your stomach to stop from bloating.

  • Fennel Tea – One of the things that people have discovered to help them with their bloating is fennel tea. It eliminates bloating and gas by relieving the spasms which happen in the gastrointestinal tract and relaxing your gut. It’s something that is really good for people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. It can be found online online and it can also be found in many health food stores.

  • Water – As it has been stated, it’s important to drink a lot of water to keep away bloating. You will discover that if you drink more water that you will find that you aren’t as bloated nor as uncomfortable. Drink the suggested 64 ounces of water a day and you will find that not only are you not as bloated but you are also a lot healthier.

  • Dairy Products – If you think that you might be lactose intolerant, you might want to avoid consuming dairy products or take something that helps you to digest dairy products. There are a lot of things on the market that people use to help them digest things like ice cream and cheese, and they might help you as well.

  • Appointment – If you have symptoms of IBS and think that you might suffer from it, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor and see what treatments he or she recommends. Irritable bowel syndrome is very treatable and can be managed with medication and diet. But it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor and start treatment if you think that you might suffer from it. This way you will feel better and you won’t feel as bloated and uncomfortable all the time.

As you can see, there are quite a few causes of bloating, but the good news is that there are things that you can do in order to help alleviate your bloating. It mostly comes down to taking care of yourself and giving your body what it needs to stay healthy. If you think that you have IBS, call your doctor and go to see him or her. If you think that you are lactose intolerant, then watch what you eat or take over the counter remedies to help digest the dairy. All of these things will help you to reduce your bloating and feel better.