What Causes Bloating?

Bloating can be very uncomfortable, but it isn’t usually a sign of anything serious. However, if you experience bloating or other digestive symptoms frequently it is a good idea to see a doctor as it could be caused by a condition such as IBS.

Common Causes of Bloating

The most common causes of bloating are excess wind and constipation, which aren’t usually linked to any serious health problems. Both of these issues can usually be overcome by making some simple changes to your diet. If you are feeling bloated, it can be a good idea to reduce your intake of foods that can cause excess wind. You might want to cut back on beans, sprouts, onions or cabbage. However, it is important to ensure that you are still eating plenty of fruit and vegetables. You should also make sure that you are getting enough fibre as constipation is another common cause of bloating. Eating more fibre, drinking plenty of water and getting regular exercise can all help to relieve bloating caused by constipation. Improving your diet should help to address these problems and help you to feel healthier and less bloated.

Digestive Disorders that Cause Bloating

In some cases, bloating can be a sign of an underlying problem that requires treatment. If you often feel bloated or you are experiencing other digestive symptoms too, you should see a doctor. You might have a condition such as a food intolerance, Coeliac disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). These conditions can all cause you to feel bloated and they may cause other symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal pain too. The doctor can confirm what is wrong and recommend dietary changes and treatments to address these problems. Once the underlying condition has been recognised, it should be possible to relieve bloating and any other symptoms that you’ve been experiencing.