How Do You Know If Bloating Is Serious?

Causes of bloating include: 

• Eating foods such as beans, some fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and wheat
• Drinking carbonated beverages
• Swallowing air, which can occur while eating, drinking, or smoking
• Constipation
• Gastroparesis
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Conditions that harm the digestive system
• Some gynecological conditions
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Bloating not an illness it itself but is a symptom of another underlying condition. Tests used to diagnose the cause of bloating may include: 

• Blood tests to check for gluten intolerance
• Breath test to check for lactose intolerance or over-growth of bacteria in the intestines
• Stool tests to check for blood, fat levels, and other things
• X-rays of the intestines
• Upper endoscopy 
• Colonoscopy 
• Pelvic examination in women

Treatment for bloating depends on the cause and may include:

• Dietary changes 
  • Avoiding foods known to cause gas and bloating
  • A low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) diet 
  • Eating more slowly 
• Lactase supplements to help digest dairy products such as Lactaid
• Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines 
  • Simethicone (Maalox Anti-Gas, Mylanta Gas, Gas-X, or Phazyme) to help break up gas bubbles in the intestines
  • Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) to help ease gas 
  • Beano to help digest beans and some vegetables
• Digestive enzymes such as amylase, lipase, protease, or HCL to help relieve bloating 
• Don’t smoke
• Prescription medicines