Do you know bloating can be a sign of these serious underlying health issues?
Many of us would dismiss bloating as just indigestion or overeating etc, don`t we?
It is normal to get bloated after eating heavy meals. In some persons, bloating might be present always or persistent, get frequent and this can be a serious issue. This might be due to some underlying health issues also. So, please be careful.
Persistent bloating can be a sign of these underlying conditions in us. They are
IBS and digestive irregularities:
If a person experiences bloating often, then he or she might be affected with IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. It must be noted that those with IBS would have abdominal cramps with diarrhoea and constipation. Normal gut functions would be disturbed and the persons would have increased sensitivity and abnormal bowel movements. The symptoms of IBS could be eased by following a certain diet plus by managing stress, by regular exercises etc.
Food intolerances and celiac disease:
Not many would associate food intolerances with bloating. Point is that lactose intolerance (or inability to digest lactose in dairy products etc) can result in gas, bloating etc. People can get persistent bloating if they have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. It is noteworthy that persons with celiac disease would find it difficult to consume gluten based foods. Truth is that it would trigger an immune response that would damage their small intestines, impair nutrients absorption etc. Bloating could get worse due to fructose intolerances also.
Inflammatory bowel disease or IBD and chronic inflammation:
If a person gets bloating issues frequently then he or she could have chronic inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract. Examples are ulcerative colitis and Crohn`s disease etc. Point is that both these issues mentioned fall under IBD and the persons would have symptoms like diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fatigue etc.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or SIBO:
Excessive bacteria would get accumulated in the small intestine and this can lead to SIBO. The undigested foods would get fermented by these bacteria and this would produce gas leading to bloating, discomfort etc. It is highly essential to get treated for SIBO or else it would interfere with nutrients absorption causing malnutrition also.
Ovarian and abdominal tumours:
It is shocking to note that persistent and frequent bloating g can also be due to ovarian and abdominal tumours. It is worth noting that women who get chronic bloating with pelvic pain plus unexplained weight loss etc must consult a doctor immediately. Bloating can be one of the early symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Liver & pancreatic disease:
Fact is that persistent bloating might be due to underlying liver and pancreas issues. There would be fluid accumulation in the abdomen due to issues like liver cirrhosis, pancreatic insufficiency etc. This could be confused with bloating. Persons with liver and pancreatic diseases or issues must consult a specialist without fail and get their issues identified for proper treatment.
Important note:
We must never ignore frequent, severe and unexplained bloating. Point to be noted is that if the symptoms persist or are accompanied by warning signs like abdominal pain, blood in stools, changes in bowel movements etc then consulting a doctor is a must. Discomfort would get eased by early diagnosis and complications can be avoided. By maintaining awareness regarding digestive health and visiting a specialist doctor when required, we could manage bloating effectively.
