Healthy Habits
Just yesterday you were happily considering buying a new pair of jeans – one size smaller. And today, your tummy is ballooned so much that even your regular pair of jeans seems to be crimping your belly. Blame it on bloating.
Medically referred to as ascites, bloating is a condition in which a person experiences tightness in the abdomen and may experience a feeling of fullness. It can also cause pain in the abdomen.What causes bloating?
There are a number of possible causes for bloating. The most common causes are:
Food: Overeating, skipping meals or eating foods that one is allergic to, can cause bloating. For example, a person with lactose intolerance may experience bloating after ingesting dairy products.
Aerophagia: Simply put, swallowing too much air. Chewing with mouth open or the nervous habit of swallowing air can cause bloating.
Certain diseases and illnesses: Medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, Alvarez’ syndrome, splenic-flexure syndrome and diverticulosis could be the underlying causes of bloating.
Menstruation: Women may feel bloated before or during their menstruation periods due to hormonal changes.
Alcohol: One too many beers can give you that extra fizz to make your belly bloat. Wines are also known to cause bloating and gas.
Ovarian cysts: Women with ovarian cysts may experience bloating.
Constipation: A partial obstruction of the bowels or constipation can cause bloating.
Serious medical problems: Critical health problems such as intra-abdominal tumours and mega-colon can also cause bloating.
Prevention & Treatment:
Since the causes for bloating vary, their remedies vary too. Treating bloating generally calls for treating the underlying cause and by avoiding these causes you can prevent the problems.
If you experience severe or frequent bloating or if it is caused by a serious medical problem, your doctor could advise you on the diagnostics and medications. But if it is just a casual discomfort that bothers you once in a while, try the following:
• If the bloating is caused by constipation, drinking fruit juices or eating fruits can help loosen the stool. Exercising, drinking plenty of water, and consuming fibre can also help relieve constipation and, therefore, help treat bloating.
• If gas is the cause of bloating, you may like to try one to two tablets of betaine hydrochloric acid. In addition, carbonated water can encourage belching, which helps to eliminate gas and relieve bloating.
• Activated charcoal pills are also known to help relieve gas and reduce bloating, though they should not be taken by anyone on birth control pills or other medication. Charcoal should not be used on a long-term basis.
• Chewing celery seeds and drinking chamomile tea can also be beneficial. Other helpful teas include fennel, ginger, and peppermint.
• Your sugar alternative could be the cause as some of them are hard to digest and cause bloating. This is true of your sugar free gums, candies and beverages.
• PMS causing the problem? Go for a walk or hit the treadmill. Along with bloating, this will relieve some of your other symptoms too.
• Think before you eat – and afterwards also. Analyse the pattern of bloating after eating certain foods. Chocolates, fruits and foods rich in sugar, dairy products, beans, lentils, whole grains and fibre rich foods are well known bloating culprits. Don’t give up the healthy food but learn some healthy recipes.
• Have smaller meals, chew your food properly and eat slowly. Do not eat stale food.
• Don’t be full of air – To avoid swallowing too much air breathe from the nose, chew your food with mouth closed and do not talk while eating. Be aware that your mouth is not open when in a tension or anxiety.
• Cut down on your alcohol intake. Avoid too much caffeine.
• Walk, exercise and practice inverted yoga poses. Pavanmuktasan is particularly helpful in relieving bloating discomfort and improving digestion.
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