Definition
In medical jargon, an inflated stomach is called a meteorism. This is an accumulation of air, usually in the stomach and/or large intestine. Frequently, nutrition plays a major role in the development of an inflatable stomach. But food intolerances can also lead to the development of a meteorism. In many cases a treatment with a change of diet and home remedies is sufficient, but sometimes the attending physician must be consulted to exclude causes that would require treatment.
Causes
The cause for the development of an inflated stomach is air accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract. These are often caused by a certain type of nutrition. Especially the otherwise highly recommended high-fiber diet can be the trigger for the development of an inflated stomach.
Dietary fibers cannot be digested by humans, so they enter the colon undigested. There they are split by the resident intestinal bacteria, producing a lot of gas (methane). This gas leads to a bloating of the abdomen, often accompanied by abdominal pain and flatulence.
Dietary fibers are nevertheless important for the human digestion because they stimulate it. Therefore, patients with constipation are often advised to eat a diet richer in fiber. Excessive swallowing of air, for example by eating hastily, can also cause a bloated stomach.
More rarely, a reduced function of the pancreas can also lead to an inflated stomach. Digestive enzymes are produced in the pancreas. If this production is restricted, food components can reach the colon undigested, where they are decomposed into gases.
One of the most common causes of an inflated stomach is the so-called irritable bowel syndrome. Here, various complaints such as abdominal pain, flatulence and diarrhea or constipation occur without a physical cause being found. In rare cases, a rapidly developing distended abdomen can also be an indication of an intestinal obstruction (ileus).
Accompanying symptoms can then be vomiting, lack of bowel movement and severe abdominal pain. Excessive swallowing of air, for example by eating hastily, can also cause an inflated stomach. More rarely, a reduced function of the pancreas can also lead to an inflated stomach.
Digestive enzymes are produced in the pancreas. If this production is restricted, food components can reach the colon undigested, where they are decomposed into gases. One of the most common causes of an inflated stomach is the so-called irritable bowel syndrome.
Here, various complaints such as abdominal pain, flatulence and diarrhea or constipation occur without a physical cause being found. In rare cases, a rapidly developing distended abdomen can also be an indication of an intestinal obstruction (ileus). Accompanying symptoms can then be vomiting, lack of bowel movement and severe abdominal pain.
Excessive swallowing of air, for example by eating hastily, can also cause an inflated stomach. More rarely, a reduced function of the pancreas can also lead to an inflated stomach. Digestive enzymes are produced in the pancreas.
If this production is restricted, food components can reach the colon undigested, where they are decomposed into gases. One of the most common causes of an inflated stomach is the so-called irritable bowel syndrome. Here, various complaints such as abdominal pain, flatulence and diarrhea or constipation occur without a physical cause being found.
In rare cases, a rapidly developing distended abdomen can also be an indication of an intestinal obstruction (ileus). Accompanying symptoms can then be vomiting, lack of bowel movement and severe abdominal pain. In rare cases, a rapidly developing distended abdomen can also indicate the presence of an intestinal obstruction (ileus). Accompanying symptoms can then be vomiting, lack of bowel movement and severe abdominal pain.
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