Bloating

Bloating is an uncomfortable occurrence that we all experience. You may feel like your abdomen is tight or full. And you may need to pass gas to get relief.

Common symptoms of bloating include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Belching
• Flatulence
• Constipation

Dealing with these symptoms can be embarrassing. And it’s not always easy to determine what causes bloating. Sometimes, it may be a sign of a more severe issue that requires medical intervention.

This page will first discuss when you should see a gastroenterologist for bloating and how we diagnose and treat this symptom. We’ll then explore the potential causes of bloating. Lastly, we’ll discuss how to get rid of bloating by making specific dietary changes.

When to See a Gastroenterologist for Bloating

If you experience frequent or persistent bloating, you should see a GI doctor to rule out possible medical complications. Getting treatment for bloating symptoms can also improve your quality of life by reducing or eliminating digestive discomfort.

Signs to see a gastroenterologist for bloating include:

• Abdominal pain
• Rectal bleeding
• Blood in the stool
• Change in bowel habits
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Fatigue

Gastroenterologists have specialized training in the treatment and diagnosis of digestive conditions. We can save you months or years of suffering by finding the source of your problem.

When diagnosing the cause of bloating, we first go over your medical history. This history includes your current symptoms, past illnesses or surgeries, medications, and family history. We may then complete a physical exam to check for tenderness and abdominal distention.

Depending on our findings, we may recommend further testing to diagnose your condition. There are many tests that we can use to analyze bloating, including:

• Blood tests
• Breath testing
• Upper endoscopy
• Colonoscopy

Finding the root cause of bloating is essential to be able to treat your condition successfully. Treatment of bloating depends on your diagnosis and may include:

• Medication
• Dietary changes
• Lifestyle modifications

Sometimes, treatment is a relatively quick process. But in certain instances, like being diagnosed with a chronic condition, you may require consistent treatment for the rest of your life.

Bloating occurs when there is excess air in the digestive system, often caused by dietary choices or behaviors. And in more severe cases, it can be caused by problems with your digestive system. We’ll discuss some of the common causes of bloating below.

Foods That Cause Bloating

If you experience bloating after eating, it may be due to your diet. Bloating can be a sign that you have food intolerances. Or it can indicate that you’re eating too many gas-causing foods.

Foods that cause bloating include:

• Apples
• Beans
• Cruciferous vegetables
  • Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage
• Carbonated beverages
• Dairy products

Apples, beans, and cruciferous vegetables can cause bloating because they contain sugars that are hard to digest. These foods are also good sources of fiber, which can increase gas and digestive discomfort when overconsumed.

Carbonated beverages are common culprits of stomach bloating because they contain carbon dioxide gas. When you drink carbonated drinks, you’re swallowing air. Many carbonated beverages like soda also contain artificial sweeteners that increase gas.

Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt can increase bloating if you’re lactose intolerant. This intolerance is due to a lack of the digestive enzyme needed to digest milk sugars.

Behaviors That Cause Bloating

We know that what you eat can cause bloating. But how you eat also plays a role. Many behaviors can cause you to swallow air and develop symptoms of bloating.

Behaviors that cause bloating include:

• Drinking through a straw
• Chewing with your mouth open
• Sucking on hard candy
• Eating too fast
• Smoking

Digestive Conditions That Cause Bloating

Numerous digestive conditions cause symptoms of bloating. We’ll highlight some common sources of bloating below.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) occurs when there is an abnormal growth of bacteria in the small intestine. This bacteria produces excess gas that leads to bloating.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition that prevents the large intestine from functioning correctly. If you have this condition, your intestines may have trouble eliminating gas, which can cause bloating.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions can cause bloating due to inflammation in the digestive tract.

Treatment of bloating depends on your diagnosis. A low-FODMAP diet is an effective dietary intervention for SIBO, IBS, and symptoms of bloating. We’ll discuss how to get rid of bloating with this diet plan below.

Fiber can also help with bloating. Dr. Islam’s mantra for fiber and bloating is to GO LOW and SLOW. You should be eating the Low-FODMAP fiber foods mentioned below. If you’re not getting enough fiber, consider taking a prebiotic fiber supplement.

Low-FODMAP Diet

A low-FODMAP diet is a temporary, restrictive diet plan that can be used to reduce bloating. Follow your doctor’s recommendations to ensure that you get the vitamins and minerals you need.

FODMAP is an acronym for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. These are sugars that are poorly absorbed by the small intestine and can cause digestive discomfort.

The first step of a low-FODMAP diet is to stop eating high-FODMAP foods. Then, after a couple of weeks, you start to reintroduce these foods and discover what ones bother you. Once you identify specific trigger foods that cause bloating, you eliminate them from your diet.

High-FODMAP foods include:

• Dairy products
• Wheat-based products
  • Cereal, bread, crackers
• Lentils
• Vegetables
  • Artichokes, asparagus, onions, garlic
• Fruit
  • Apples, cherries, pears, peaches

Low-FODMAP foods include:

• Almond milk
• Eggs
• Grains
  • Rice, quinoa, oats
• Vegetables
  • Eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers
• Fruit
  • Grapes, oranges, strawberries, pineapple

If you experience bloating that causes pain or interferes with your daily life, you should contact your doctor. Occasional bloating is normal. But frequent or persistent bloating may be a sign of a serious medical issue.

Dr. Sameer Islam is a gastroenterologist and West Texas native who helps patients manage bloating symptoms by diagnosing the cause and prescribing a holistic treatment plan.

If you want to find the root cause of your bloating, you can schedule an appointment online or call our office at (806) 696-4440.