Bloating is one of the most common digestive issues experienced by adults and children alike. It can result from a wide variety of factors, such as consuming gas-producing foods like beans and carbonated drinks, eating too fast, and stress. In most cases, indigestion is a common cause of bloating, accompanied by other symptoms including a burning or pain in the upper abdomen, feeling full too soon, burping, and nausea.
However, when it comes to persistent bloating, indigestion is the only cause. There are a number of health conditions that can trigger similar discomfort. Speaking with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Amit Miglani, Director and HOD - Gastroenterology, Asian Hospital, Delhi, sheds light on the same.
Also Read: The Bloating Epidemic: Why So Many Women In Their 30s Are Complaining Of ‘Food Baby’ Syndrome
Could Persistent Bloating Be IBS Or Coeliac Disease?
Dr Miglani describes bloating as a harmless gastric condition. But when it occurs regularly and with symptoms such as excruciating abdominal pain, weight loss, invisible blood in stool, and persistent regurgitation, it can be an indication of more sinister issues.
According to him, bloating is a typical feature of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and coeliac disease. IBS is a chronic functional disorder of the gut-brain interaction characterised by repeated abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel movements, such as diarrhoea or constipation. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder that damages the small intestine when a person with a genetic predisposition ingests gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.
"In IBS, bloating is associated with abdominal pain and changes in bowel movement (diarrhoea or constipation) as a result of difficulty in the movement of the gut," explains Dr Miglani. "In coeliac disease, bloating is due to gluten-induced inflammation and intestinal malabsorption."
Research shows a high bloating prevalence in IBS patients, ranging from 66% to 90%, with some research indicating that over half of IBS patients rate bloating as their most bothersome symptom.
Both can also lead to fatigue, weight loss or nutrient deficiencies. Diagnosis depends upon medical examination consisting of blood tests to diagnose coeliac disease or symptom-based criteria to diagnose IBS to implement effective treatment.
Bloating And Women’s Health
It is important to note that bloating isn’t always related to gastrointestinal issues; it can also be linked to gynaecological conditions, such as ovarian cysts or cancer.
Dr Miglani highlights, “Very big cysts of the ovary may compress other abdominal organs, causing bloating or pain in the pelvis or abdomen or a sense of being stuffed. Ovarian cancer typically features chronic bloating, abdominal distension and being filled up too fast, commonly misremembered as gastrointestinal problems. In some cases, these symptoms are associated with irregular periods or changes in urine.”
A study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada also links abdominal bloating to endometriosis, with one study finding that 96% of women with endometriosis experienced bloating compared to 64% of controls.
Dr Miglani emphasises the importance of medical examinations in women developing chronic bloating so as to rule out gynaecological causes through scans or consultation with experts.
Also Read: Why Do Beans Cause Gas; Cooking Tips To Make Them Easier To Digest
Food-Related Bloating Vs. Medical Red Flag
Food-related bloating usually occurs after the consumption of trigger foods like beans, dairy products, or high-fibre diets. It usually comes along with gas or aching and dissipates within a few hours.
On the other hand, red flags in medicine consist of chronic bloating that has lasted weeks, unbearable pain, weight loss, haemorrhoids, or alterations in bowel habits. These indicate conditions like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), infections, or cancer.
Monitoring the symptoms, their dietary patterns and duration may help distinguish the causes, but lasting or severe ones will need healthcare checks.
When To Seek Medical Help?
“An individual is advised to undergo medical assessment of bloating when it persists beyond a few weeks, and on occasions when there are red flags in the form of severe pain in the abdomen, unexplained weight decline, presence of blood in the stool, vomiting or alteration in bowel patterns,” warns Dr Miglani.
Other alerting symptoms are fatigue, fever, or a family history of gastrointestinal or gynaecologic cancer. “With early consultation of a gastroenterologist, the root causes can be identified and treated in time,” he concludes.