What counts as persistent bloating? Persistent bloating doesn't necessarily mean that you always feel bloated, in fact your bloating can come and go. Persistent bloating means that you feel bloated regularly, for example more than 12 times a month.
As long as your symptoms eventually go away, they probably aren't serious. But if your bloated stomach doesn't go away or gets worse, or if you have other symptoms of serious illness, such as fever or vomiting, you should seek medical attention to rule out other medical causes.
Typically, if someone is feels bloated, it is because of their food or water intake, but even if you haven't eaten too much, you may have eaten the wrong thing. Certain food intolerances or sensitives to spicy or acidic foods can cause the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to have a more difficult time than usual.
Ongoing bloating is not normal and may have many causes, so you should call your doctor if you feel bloating every day. Bloating is a chronic and bothersome condition for a large minority of the population. Anywhere from an estimated 16% to 31% of us have bloating and distension.
Many people who experience endo belly say they “look pregnant,” even though they're not. Endo belly is just one symptom of endometriosis. Those who experience endo belly often have other gastrointestinal symptoms, such as: gas pain.
A doctor may examine a person's abdomen when lying down and standing. The shape of the abdomen may suggest that it contains fluid rather than fat. A person with ascites may also have a distended abdomen, which is hard and swollen. They may also experience rapid changes in weight and body shape.
Causes of bloating
The most common reason for bloating is having a lot of gas in your gut. This can be caused by some food and drinks, such as some vegetables and fizzy drinks, or by swallowing air when you eat. It can also be caused by a problem with your digestion, such as: constipation.
To receive specialized care, especially if you are frequently bloated, make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. This is a specialist who can treat complex gastrointestinal conditions that may be the underlying cause of your bloating.
If you're bothered by intestinal gas, try changing your diet. However, see your doctor if your gas is persistent or severe, or if it's associated with vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, unintentional weight loss, blood in the stool or heartburn.
You Are Experiencing Specific Symptoms
If your abdominal pain is unexplained, severe, and lasts for more than 30 minutes, you should seek emergency medical care. These additional symptoms also require a trip to the ER: Tenderness in the abdomen. Swelling or bloating.
The main symptoms of ascites are a large belly and rapid weight gain. Other symptoms include: Swelling in your ankles. Shortness of breath.
Some non-laboratory signs may give your doctor reason to suspect fatty liver disease: - Abdominal bloating after eating Carbohydrates (sweets/starchy foods) can indicate an increased accumulation of fat within the liver cells.
When your stomach swells and feels hard, the explanation might be as simple as overeating or drinking carbonated drinks, which is easy to remedy. Other causes may be more serious, such as an inflammatory bowel disease. Sometimes the accumulated gas from drinking a soda too quickly can result in a hard stomach.
Your belly bulge may also be the result of fluid retention or abdominal separation (diastasis recti). Abdominal separation may occur during or after pregnancy. It happens when your growing uterus causes the two long muscles that run parallel in your abdomen to separate from each other.
If your tummy still looks pregnant, many months or even years after you've had your babies, this could be due to diastasis recti (abdominal separation). A diastasis may cause your stomach to 'dome' or bulge, especially during certain movements like getting up from lying on your back.
Back pain often occurs because some people who are experiencing stress tense their muscles unconsciously. Stomach pain and bloating are more common in people who have stress as well as an underlying condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Although a bloated stomach is a common symptom that is not harmless, it can actually be a sign of something serious. A bloated stomach that lasts longer than 2 weeks after taking medications, weight loss, pale skin, loss of appetite and yellowing of the skin can be warning signs of cancer.
These can be caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli or Helicobacter pylori — or a viral infection such as norovirus or rotavirus. Stomach infections usually go away on their own after a few days. However, some people may become severely dehydrated or continue to get worse over several days.
The most common symptom of chronic pancreatitis is repeated episodes of severe pain in your tummy (abdomen). The pain usually develops in the middle or left side of your tummy and can move along your back.