How to stop bloating of the stomach
Eighteen ways to reduce bloating
Bloating can cause discomfort, but there are many ways to reduce it. Exercise, supplements, massage, dietary changes, and other strategies can all help reduce bloating quickly.
Abdominal bloating is when the abdomen feels full and tight.
In this article, we provide techniques for getting rid of bloating quickly and explain how to reduce bloating in the long term.
Bloating commonly occurs due to a buildup of gas somewhere in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Bloating causes the belly to look larger than usual, and it may also feel tender or painful. Fluid retention in the body can also lead to bloating.
The best way to tackle bloating is to determine its cause. Other common triggers for bloating include:
- Digestive issues: Constipation, food allergies, and intolerances can lead to bloating. When stool becomes backed up in the large bowel, it can cause bloating and a feeling of discomfort. Excess gas may also build up behind the stool, making the bloating worse.
- Diet: Fizzy drinks, too much salt or sugar, and not enough fiber in the diet can all cause bloating.
- Hormonal changes: Many people experience bloating before and during their periods due to hormonal changes and water retention.
Learn more about the causes of bloating.
Bloating usually happens when excess gas builds up in the stomach or intestines. When bloating occurs right after a meal, it usually resolves itself, but it is often possible to speed up this process.
Many home remedies can help to manage the pain and discomfort of bloating. The following quick tips may help people get rid of a bloated belly quickly:
1. Go for a walk
Physical activity can get the bowels moving more regularly, which can help to release excess gas and stool. Getting the bowels to move is especially important if a person is feeling constipated. A walk around the block can provide fast relief from gas pressure.
2. Try yoga poses
Certain yoga poses can position the muscles in the abdomen in a way that encourages the release of excess gas from the GI tract. This can reduce bloating.
Childs Pose, Happy Baby Pose, and squats can all help people to relieve a buildup of gas quickly. Learn more about yoga poses for flatulence.
3. Use peppermint capsules
Peppermint oil capsules may also be helpful for indigestion and related gas. Manufacturers usually market them as a treatment for the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but people without IBS can also use them to relieve bloating.
Peppermint works by relaxing the intestinal muscles, which allows gas and stool to move along more effectively. People should always follow the instructions on the packet. Anyone who is prone to heartburn may need to avoid peppermint.
4. Try gas relief capsules
Simethicone pills and liquid are anti-gas medications that can help to move excess air out of the digestive tract. It is essential to always take medication according to the instructions on the label.
5. Try abdominal massage
Massaging the abdomen can help to get the bowels moving. A massage that follows the path of the large intestine is especially helpful. People can follow the steps below to do this:
- Placing the hands just above the right hip bone.
- Rubbing in a circular motion with light pressure up toward the right side of the ribcage.
- Rubbing straight across the upper belly area toward the left rib cage.
- Moving slowly down toward the left hip bone.
- Repeating as necessary.
If the massage causes any pain, it is best to discontinue it immediately.
6. Use essential oils
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People should not consume essential oils without speaking to a doctor first. This is because some formulations may be toxic or can interfere with medication, and there is no regulation of dosages.
7. Take a warm bath, soaking, and relaxing
The heat of the bath can provide relief for a sore abdomen. Relaxation can reduce stress levels, which may allow the GI tract to function more effectively and help reduce bloating.
Quick fixes are not always effective for some causes of bloating. However, people who have frequent bloating may find that certain lifestyle changes can tackle the causes and reduce bloating over time.
People can use these simple steps to try to prevent bloating in the long term:
8. Increase fiber gradually
Eating more fiber helps to prevent constipation and bloating. However, it is important to bear in mind that eating too much fiber or increasing fiber intake too quickly can cause even more gas and bloating.
Including a reasonable amount of fiber in a persons diet, while making sure to drink enough water, will help prevent this. Most nutritionists recommend that adults eat about
That said, only 7% of people meet their recommended daily fiber intake of 25 grams (g) for females and 38 g for males.
When increasing fiber intake, it is best to start slowly and increase the intake over several weeks to allow the body to adjust to this change in the diet.
9. Replace sodas with water
Fizzy, carbonated drinks contain gas that can build up in the stomach. The carbon dioxide that makes soda and similar beverages fizzy can also cause bubbling and bloating in the stomach.
Sugars or artificial sweeteners in the diet can also cause gas and bloating.
10. Avoid chewing gum
The sugar alcohols in gum can cause bloating in some people. Swallowing air while chewing also may lead to bloating and gas pain. People can use ginger mints or peppermints to freshen their breath instead.
11. Get more active every day
Exercise helps your body move stool and gas out of the colon and may make bowel movements more regular. Exercise also releases extra sodium from the body through sweating, which can help to relieve water retention.
It is vital to drink plenty of water before and after exercising to stay hydrated, as dehydration can make constipation worse.
12. Eat at regular intervals
Many people experience bloating directly after a big meal. It is possible to avoid this by eating several smaller meals each day, which can help to keep the digestive system moving.
Swallowing food quickly can introduce air into the digestive tract. Drinking from a straw can also lead to people swallowing more air, which in turn leads to gas and bloating. People who have bloating should avoid using straws if possible and try eating slowly to avoid swallowing air during meals.
13. Try probiotics
Probiotics are good bacteria that live in the intestines. Taking a probiotic supplement may help regulate the colon bacteria that can produce gas and cause bloating.
14. Cut down on salt
An excess of sodium causes the body to retain water. This can cause a swollen and bloated feeling in the belly and other areas of the body, such as the hands and feet.
15. Rule out medical conditions
In some cases, bloating may result from a medical condition. To get rid of this bloating, a person may need help from a doctor to diagnose and manage their condition.
Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis, may cause people to experience bloating. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), can also cause this symptom.
Gynecological conditions, such as endometriosis and ovarian cysts, can also cause pain, swelling, and feelings of bloating in the abdominal area.
People with these symptoms should discuss them with a doctor, who will also want to know about any relevant family medical history and other medical conditions. The doctor may order diagnostic tests to look for any problems. These may include an X-ray, ultrasound, colonoscopy, or blood tests.
16. Consider a low-FODMAP diet
Trying an elimination diet such as the low FODMAP diet
FODMAPs are a type of carbohydrate that occurs in many different foods. A 2020 meta-analysis of 12 studies found that eating low-FODMAP foods reduced IBS symptoms by a mean of 45 percentage points.
17. Keep a food diary
Food intolerances are responsible for many cases of bloating. They can lead to excessive gas in the digestive tract.
Bloating is common in people who have lactose intolerance and are unable to digest the lactose sugar in dairy products. Autoimmune intolerance to gluten, known as celiac disease, is another potential culprit.
For people whose bloating happens after meals, keeping track of food and drink intake for several weeks should help to determine whether specific foods are responsible.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide a
18. Look at supplements and medications
Some supplements, such as iron, can cause constipation and other symptoms of indigestion. This can increase bloating. Potassium, on the other hand, may reduce bloating by
Medications may also cause side effects that affect GI function or cause indigestion. If this happens, a doctor or pharmacist can suggest alternatives that are more gentle on the digestive tract.
Although it is not common, bloating and swelling of the abdomen can signify a severe medical condition. Liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, heart failure, kidney problems, and some types of cancer can cause bloating.
Bloating that continues for days or weeks may indicate a health issue that needs medical attention. It is advisable to speak to a doctor about ongoing bloating that does not go away over time.
People whose bloating occurs alongside these symptoms should seek medical advice:
- appetite changes or trouble eating
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- weight loss
- fever
- severe abdominal pain
- bright red blood in the stool
- black or dark maroon stools
Here are some frequently asked questions.
Does bloating cause weight gain?
A person could gain a pound or two when bloated due to not passing stool, but this is usually not significant weight gain and will go down once the bloating subsides.
Does drinking water help with bloating?
Instead of other drinks like sodas, which can make bloating worse, water is a much better alternative. It can help reduce both bloating and constipation.
What relieves bloating fast?
Various remedies can help a person to relieve bloating quickly. These include trying gas relief capsules, abdominal massages, and exercises such as walking and yoga poses.
Ultimately, the outlook for bloating depends on the underlying cause. Most of the time, bloating is due to minor issues that lifestyle changes or OTC treatments can resolve.
People should see a doctor if bloating is ongoing or occurs with other symptoms. Determining the underlying cause of bloating and other digestive issues is the first step to getting treatment and feeling better.
Belching, gas and bloating: Tips for reducing them
Belching, gas and bloating: Tips for reducing them
Belching, gas and bloating can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. Here's what causes these signs and symptoms and how you can minimize them.
By Mayo Clinic StaffBelching or passing gas, also called flatus, is natural and common. Excessive belching or flatus, along with bloating, pain or swelling of the belly, can sometimes interfere with daily activities or cause embarrassment. But these symptoms usually don't point to a serious underlying condition and are often reduced with simple lifestyle changes.
When belching, gas or bloating interferes with your daily activities, there may be something wrong. Find out how to reduce or avoid gas and gas pains, and when you may need to see a healthcare professional.
Belching: Getting rid of excess air
Belching is commonly known as burping. It's your body's way of pushing out excess air from your upper digestive tract. Most belching is caused by swallowing excess air. This air most often never even reaches the stomach. Instead, it builds up in the esophagus.
You may swallow excess air if you eat or drink too fast, talk while you eat, chew gum, suck on hard candies, drink carbonated beverages, or smoke. Some people swallow air as a nervous habit even when they're not eating or drinking.
Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can sometimes cause excessive belching by promoting increased swallowing.
Belching often also may be related to inflammation of the stomach lining or to an infection with Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium responsible for some stomach ulcers. In these cases, the belching is accompanied by other symptoms, such as heartburn or stomach pain.
You can reduce belching if you:
- Eat and drink slowly. Taking your time can help you swallow less air. Try to make meals relaxed occasions; eating when you're stressed or on the run increases the air you swallow.
- Don't drink carbonated drinks and beer. They release carbon dioxide gas.
- Skip the gum and hard candy. When you chew gum or suck on hard candy, you swallow more often than normal. Part of what you're swallowing is air.
- Don't smoke. When you inhale smoke, you also inhale and swallow air.
- Check your dentures. Poorly fitting dentures can cause you to swallow excess air when you eat and drink.
- Get moving. It may help to take a short walk after eating.
- Treat heartburn. For occasional, mild heartburn, over the counter antacids or other remedies may be helpful. GERD may require prescription-strength medicine or other treatments.
Flatulence: Gas buildup in the intestines
Gas in the small intestine or colon is usually caused by the digestion or fermentation of undigested food by bacteria found in the bowel. Gas also can form when your digestive system doesn't completely break down certain components in foods, such as gluten, found in most grains, or the sugar in dairy products and fruit.
Other sources of intestinal gas may include:
- Food residue in your colon.
- A change in the bacteria in the small intestine.
- Poor absorption of carbohydrates, which can upset the balance of helpful bacteria in your digestive system.
- Constipation, since the longer food waste remains in your colon, the more time it has to ferment.
- A digestive condition, such as lactose or fructose intolerance or celiac disease.
To prevent excess gas, it may help to:
- Eliminate certain foods. Common gas-causing offenders include beans, peas, lentils, cabbage, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, whole-grain foods, mushrooms, certain fruits, and beer and other carbonated drinks. Try removing one food at a time to see if your gas improves.
- Read labels. If dairy products seem to be a problem, you may have some degree of lactose intolerance. Pay attention to what you eat and try low-lactose or lactose-free varieties. Certain indigestible carbohydrates found in sugar-free foods, such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol, also may result in increased gas.
- Eat fewer fatty foods. Fat slows digestion, giving food more time to ferment.
- Temporarily cut back on high-fiber foods. Fiber has many benefits, but many high-fiber foods are also great gas producers. After a break, slowly add fiber back to your diet.
Try an over the counter remedy. Some products such as Lactaid or Dairy Ease can help digest lactose. Products containing simethicone (Gas-X, Mylanta Gas, others) haven't been proved to be helpful, but many people feel that these products work.
Products such as Beano, particularly the liquid form, may decrease the gas produced during the breakdown of certain types of beans.
Bloating: Common but not fully understood
Bloating is a sensation of having a full stomach. Distension is a visible or measurable increase in belly size. People often describe stomach symptoms as bloating, especially if those symptoms don't seem to be relieved by belching, passing gas or having a bowel movement.
The exact connection between intestinal gas and bloating is not fully understood. Many people with bloating symptoms don't have any more gas in the intestine than do other people. Many people, particularly those with irritable bowel syndrome or anxiety, may just have a greater sensitivity to stomach symptoms and intestinal gas.
Nonetheless, bloating may be relieved by the behavioral changes that reduce belching, or the dietary changes that reduce flatus.
When to see your doctor
Excessive belching, passing gas and bloating often resolve on their own or with simple changes. If these are the only symptoms you have, they rarely represent any serious underlying condition.
Consult a healthcare professional if your symptoms don't improve with simple changes, particularly if you also notice:
- Diarrhea.
- Persistent or severe belly pain.
- Bloody stools.
- Changes in the color or frequency of stools.
- Losing weight without trying.
- Chest discomfort.
- Loss of appetite or feeling full quickly.
These symptoms could signal an underlying digestive condition. Intestinal symptoms can be embarrassing but don't let embarrassment keep you from seeking help.
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