Bloating
Gastroenterology in Irvine, Santa Ana and Anaheim, CA
Bloating is a feeling of fullness and discomfort in your abdomen. If you frequently suffer from bloating, Gastrointestinal & Liver Consultants in Santa Ana, Irvine, and Anaheim, California, can help. Their highly experienced doctors uncover the causes of bloating and prescribe treatments that reduce or eliminate it. Call Gastrointestinal & Liver Consultants today or book an appointment online for expert bloating treatment.
Bloating means your abdomen feels swollen or distended, and it’s a symptom rather than a medical disorder.
Feeling bloated after a large meal is common. You overfill your stomach, stretching it to capacity, and making you uncomfortable. Then as the food travels through your digestive tract, gas builds up and makes your lower abdomen swell.
If you only experience bloating occasionally and for obvious reasons (like overindulgence), there’s nothing to worry about. But if you suffer from frequent, prolonged, or painful bloating, you should visit Gastrointestinal & Liver Consultants for an evaluation.
If you experience bloating, look at your diet and how much you eat. Reduce your food intake and avoid carbonated drinks that fill your gut with gas.
Reduce your fat intake as well. Fat takes longer to digest than other nutrients, making you feel full longer. Your body also finds some foods harder to digest, including:
Pulses (chickpeas, lentils, and dried peas and beans) can also make your symptoms worse. These foods increase gas production, so it’s best to avoid them if you’re prone to bloating.
Quickly eating and swallowing can trap gas, causing bloating because you’re more likely to swallow air. Eating fast also encourages overeating because your brain doesn’t receive messages from your stomach saying you’re full right away. By the time your brain registers that you’re full, you’ve probably already overeaten.
If making changes to your diet and how you eat doesn’t relieve bloating, it’s wise to visit Gastrointestinal & Liver Consultants. They use various tests and procedures to determine the cause of your bloating. Possible problems include:
Food intolerances develop when your digestive system overreacts to something you eat, causing bloating. Intolerances to lactose (a sugar in dairy products) and wheat are common problems that often cause bloating.
You might feel bloated because something’s stopping food from traveling along your digestive tract. Or the muscles that push food along might not work correctly.
Your gut contains beneficial bacteria that help digest food and keep your intestines healthy. SIBO is an imbalance in these bacteria that can produce excessive gas.
Gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can also cause bloating.
Call Gastrointestinal & Liver Consultants today or book an appointment online to find the cause of your bloating and get effective relief.