Stomach bloating typically follows an overindulgence in gassy foods and drinks. Certain culprits lead to a build up of gas in the gastrointestinal tract. This causes the tummy to feel stretched and uncomfortable. If a person’s tummy swelling is accompanied by other symptoms, however, it may indicate a more serious underlying condition.
Cirrhosis can eventually lead to liver failure
NHS
If a person’s tummy swelling is the result of ascites – a build-up of fluid in the abdomen, it may be a sign of cirrhosis. According to the NHS, cirrhosis is scarring of the liver caused by long-term liver damage.
The scar tissue prevents the liver working properly.
Cirrhosis can eventually lead to liver failure, where a person’s liver stops working, which can be fatal, warned the NHS.
While a person may not have any symptoms in the early stages, bloating can be a sign that the condition has worsened, explained the health body.
Other advanced symptoms include:
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Vomiting blood
- Itchy skin
- Dark, tarry-looking poo
- A tendency to bleed or bruise more easily
Drinking too much alcohol over many years is one of the most common causes of the condition in the UK, noted the health site.
Other causes include:
- Being infected with hepatitis for a long time, particularly hepatitis C
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis – a more severe form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, where the liver becomes inflamed as the result of a build-up of excess fat
According to Harvard Health, bloating can also signify the following health conditions:
- Irritable bowel syndrome, a condition characterised by a combination of symptoms (bloating, cramping, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, or constipation) that last for three or more months.
- Inflammatory bowel disease, an inflammation of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the small intestine. It’s triggered by a protein called gluten that’s found in wheat, barley, and rye.
- Constipation, a condition defined by fewer than three bowel movements per week, hard or dry stools, the need to strain to move the bowels, and a sense of an incomplete evacuation.
- Gastroparesis, a sluggish emptying of food from the stomach into the small intestine.
- Cancer – colon, ovarian, stomach, and pancreatic cancer are among the cancers that can have bloating as a symptom.
Most cases of bloating can be resolved by making simple lifestyle tweaks, however.
If it is a reaction to eating certain foods, people should try to identify the main triggers and avoid them, according Dr. Kyle Staller, a gastroenterologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
The main offenders are in a group known as FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols), explained Harvard Health.
Examples include wheat, rye, onions, garlic, legumes (chickpeas, lentils, beans), honey, pistachios, cashews, asparagus, and artichokes.
Foods or drinks with fructose or artificial sweeteners are also on the FODMAP list.
“We all have an increased amount of gas in the body after eating them, but some of us react to them more severely than others,” Dr. Staller said.
To identify the worst culprits, the NHS recommends keeping a food diary.
“But do not get rid of food groups long-term without advice from your GP,” it cautioned.
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