Expanded stomach after dinner
In the most common cases, the bloated belly occurs shortly after eating. Only rarely are there difficult underlying diseases behind the bloated belly, much more often the symptom can be attributed to an incorrect diet and eating habits. Typically, the bloated belly occurs after the consumption of pulses, dietary fibres, cabbage and carbonic acid.
Fruit, milk or gluten-containing foods can also cause an inflated stomach in many people. In these cases a complete diet of these foods must be considered. After some time, the intestines get used to a diet rich in fibre and causing flatulence. As dietary fibres are important and healthy for the intestinal flora, a change in diet should be followed by a slow adaptation.
Expanded stomach during pregnancy
Women in pregnancy have an above-average number of problems with an inflated stomach. This is not due to an underlying disease, but to the interaction of several negative factors that affect digestion. On the one hand, the stresses and strains of pregnancy can lead to incorrect eating habits, which result in digestive problems.
Also a lack of exercise, which makes the intestine sluggish, often sets in with pregnant women. Certain pregnancy hormones can also cause the intestinal muscles to slacken and support intestinal sluggishness. An inflated abdomen, constipation and flatulence can be the result. In late pregnancy, an increase in the circumference of the uterus can also increase the symptoms. Pressure on the intestinal loops and stomach can cause minor blockages and additionally hinder the passage of food.
Bloated abdomen during menopause
The rapid hormonal changes in a woman’s body are responsible for an inflated stomach during menopause. Digestive problems, bloating and flatulence are all in all a very common problem for women at the beginning of the menopause. The hormones involved are primarily “progesterone” and “prostaglandins“.
Both have different effects on bodily functions and can decrease and quickly increase at the beginning of the menopause, causing unpleasant fluctuations. An increase in prostaglandins initially counteracts the bloated abdomen, as they increase the movement of the intestinal muscles. Nevertheless, due to their increased intestinal activity, prostaglandins lead to digestive problems, pain and abdominal cramps.
They are counteracted by the hormone progesterone, which leads to a slackening of the muscles. As a result, the chyme remains in the bowel for too long, which can lead to constipation, an inflated stomach and pain. If the symptoms are too severe, the hormone fluctuations can be treated with medication.
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