Possible Medical Reasons behind Bloating.

Bloating is very common during this Christmas period, it is that time of the year when people reunite with family members and there is always so much food available. Unfortunately, some people do not know how to say No when they have gotten to their fill, they keep eating and eating until something goes wrong. For someone like me, it is a lonely Christmas, since I get to spend my Christmas alone without family or friends, thankful for the ability to reach out through calls anyways.

In the spirit of the festive season, I will be writing about bloating today. I guess the very first thing that comes to your mind when it is been mentioned is the fact that someone somewhere has been overfed. You are not far from the truth because bloating is a condition where the stomach feels full and tight, usually due to gas.

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Bloating is usually a digestive problem, even if hormones and stress also contribute, and in some cases, it could be due to an underlying medical condition. The feeling of bloating could grow from mild discomfort to becoming seriously painful, it usually would grow away after some time but for some others, it is a recurring problem. When a bloated stomach becomes extremely painful or doesn't go away soon, then you need to seek medical attention.

If you get a bloated stomach after eating, it may be because you have overfed or you have eaten too fast, on the other hand, it could also be because you have some type of food intolerance or other conditions that may cause digestive and gas contents to build up. Some women also experience a bloated stomach during their menstrual cycle but do not forget that it could be due to a medical condition.

Constipation is another reason for bloating, it is possible to be constipated without realizing it, having fewer bowel movements than usual is just one of the symptoms of constipation others are; straining to start or finish a bowel movement, not feeling empty even after a bowel movement, and stool that looks like pebbles and rocks.

People who have IBS could be highly sensitive to gas, which could cause pain, cramping, and diarrhea.
Gastroparesis is another condition that delays the emptying of the stomach, which could cause bloating, bowel blockage, and even nausea.

An issue with the uterus or ovaries may lead to bloating, so a constant check of the pelvis is really important.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is common in people who have had intestinal surgery, or IBS with diarrhea and this could cause bloating as well.

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Some of the possible medical conditions that could cause bloating are;

Pancreatic insufficiency, is a pancreatic dysfunction where the pancreas is no longer able to make enough digestive enzymes to serve its function in the digestive process.
Ascites is a build-up of fluid in the abdominal cavity, usually caused by liver disease, kidney failure, or heart failure.
Stomach or intestine inflammation, which is usually caused by a bacterial infection or through the consumption of excessive alcohol.

If your bloating is due to the excessive consumption of some holiday meals then you can try simple home remedies like; Peppermint oil, herbal teas, antacids, magnesium, regular exercise, drinking enough water, probiotics, practicing mindful eating hencforth, and psyllium.