What is bloating and how can we prevent it?

If you've ever felt overly full and uncomfortable, but you didn't just eat a huge meal, it's very probable you were bloated.

Bloating is extremely common and it's generally not serious, but it can be uncomfortable and irritating. Luckily, there are some things we can do both to prevent and reduce it.

Check out this gallery to learn all about bloating and some tips to prevent it.

What is bloating?

Ever felt too full and uncomfortable, but you weren’t sure exactly why? It's likely you were bloated. Bloating is very common and there are several ways to ease it.

Full or big stomach

There are a number of symptoms of bloating, but the main one is feeling like your stomach is fuller or bigger than usual.

Painful or noisy tummy

You may also experience tummy pain or discomfort, or your stomach may rumble or make more noises than it usually does.

The causes

Finally, if you are bloated you may find that you are more gassy than normal. So, there you have the symptoms, but what exactly causes bloating?

Excess gas

The most common reason that we experience bloating is having too much gas in our gut. This is often caused by certain food and drinks.

Fizzy drinks

For example, fizzy drinks such as soda are known to cause bloating, as are certain vegetables. Swallowing air while you eat can also cause bloating. 

Digestive problems

There are also problems with digestion that can cause bloating. For example, if you struggle with constipation, celiac disease, or IBS, you are more likely to bloat.

What can we do?

There are a number of causes of bloating, but thankfully there are also a number of remedies. Let’s take a look at some of the things you can do to reduce bloating. 

Keep your mouth shut

Next up is a chewing tip: be sure to chew with your mouth shut. Not only is it more polite, but it will help you to avoid swallowing air as you chew. 

Eat smaller meals and more often

You may also find it helps to eat smaller, more frequent meals instead of large meals, and massage your stomach from left to right to release trapped gas.

Fizzy drinks and caffeine

It is important not to drink a lot of fizzy drinks or drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol (such as wine, coffee, or tea).

Eating late at night

In terms of when you should be eating, it is best to avoid eating late at night. It is also important not to slouch when you are eating or drinking.

What to do

If you do find yourself super uncomfortable due to bloating, there are things your pharmacist can do to help.

Not normally serious

Bloating may be uncomfortable, but it is not normally serious. For most people, it will pass quickly and not disrupt daily life.

Prolonged bloating

You should also see a doctor if you feel bloated regularly (meaning more than 12 times per month), or if you have tried changing your diet but you still feel bloated.

Inhibited movement

The final circumstance in which you should see your doctor is if you find yourself unable to move properly or do your daily activities due to bloating.

Painful to the touch

You should also seek urgent medical assistance if it hurts when you touch your stomach, you are vomiting blood, or your vomit looks like ground coffee.