Abdominal swelling - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

Abdominal bloating is a feeling of increased tension in the abdomen, caused by excessive accumulation of gas in the stomach and / or intestines.

This symptom can have very different causes. In most cases, abdominal bloating is a trivial disorder associated with dietary errors and lifestyle; however, it can also be the manifestation of a real and actual pathology.

Abdominal swelling can occur in isolation or be associated with other gastrointestinal symptoms (such as meteorism, belching, nausea, abdominal cramps, flatulence, constipation or diarrhea) or general (headache, easy exhaustion and sense of fatigue).

Benign, dietary and behavioral causes

The sense of fullness and post-prandial abdominal tension can depend on the aerofagia, a condition due to the ingestion of large quantities of air during the meal. Behaviors that favor this phenomenon include the habit of eating voraciously (chewing the bites of food quickly and badly) and the consumption of carbonated beverages. Even anxiety (linked to an emotion or a discomfort) and stressful situations during a meal, can predispose to aerofagia. Smoking, chewing gum and sucking candy are other factors that can contribute to the development of abdominal bloating.

The formation of high quantities of gas can also derive from fermentative phenomena (sugar metabolism) or putrefactive (of proteins) at the intestinal level. This more frequently depends on the ingestion of sugary fizzy drinks, complex carbohydrates, yeasts contained in baked goods (such as bread and pizza) or beer and fiber-rich foods (eg legumes, fennel, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, kiwi, melon etc.).

Particular attention should also be paid to the methods of food preparation: fried foods and the addition of too many spices or seasonings can irritate the intestine walls and favor the formation of gas. For the same reason, spirits, tea and coffee should also be limited.

Even the consumption of certain foods, such as dairy products or products made from wheat flour (bread, pasta and biscuits), can promote abdominal bloating in people suffering from lactose or gluten intolerance.

A painful tension in the abdomen can also occur in intestinal dysbiosis, a condition in which the intestinal flora is excessively enriched with pathogenic microorganisms (clostridia, salmonella, coli, candida etc.). This can be a consequence of infections, taking antibiotics and other drugs, eating disorders and stress conditions.

Abdominal swelling is also frequent during pregnancy and in the period preceding menstruation (the intestine is quite sensitive to alterations in female sex hormones).

Disorders and Malttie

However, functional abnormalities such as dyspepsia, gastroparesis and irritable bowel syndrome may also be present at the origin of abdominal bloating.

Excessive production of gas in the intestine can also be associated with gastroenteritis, enteritis and enterocolitis, which affect the stomach, small intestine and colon, respectively. These inflammatory processes are caused by various causes, including infections of various origins (bacterial or viral), food poisoning, food allergies and the ingestion of very cold food or drinks.

Other possible causes of abdominal bloating include colitis, peritonitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, gall bladder stones, cystic fibrosis, anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

The most serious conditions that can cause abdominal tension are ascites, giardiasis (intestinal parasitic infection), diverticulosis, diverticulitis and intestinal obstruction.

Abdominal bloating can also be seen in patients with ovarian cancer and colon cancer.