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Swollen Stomach Causes, Diagnosis

by | Jun 14, 2022 | Info | 0 comments

Swollen Stomach Overview

Most people experience abdominal swelling or bloating at some point, due to various causes. It feels as though the stomach has expanded and stretched, which can be uncomfortable.

Having too much to eat or consuming food that causes gas can cause temporary swelling in the stomach. However, if the swelling is frequent, it may indicate a dietary issue or be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.


Common Causes and Treatment of Swollen Stomach

The abdomen could be swollen for different reasons. These range from eating too much to pregnancy. Only a doctor will be able to determine the exact cause of your swollen abdomen.

A common cause of abdominal swelling is gas. Swallowing air as part of a nervous habit or from eating foods that are high in fiber can lead to gas production. If you don’t release this gas, it can lead to abdominal swelling.

Below are some of the possible causes of a swollen stomach, along with their treatment options:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that causes symptoms such as:

According to the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), the cause of IBS is unknown. However, the ACG note that people with IBS tend to have higher levels of sensitivity in the intestines than those who do not have the condition.

Treatment

There is no cure for IBS. However, the following home treatments may help alleviate the symptoms:

  • Avoiding or limiting gas-producing foods, such as:
    • Beans
    • Broccoli
    • Cabbage
    • Carbonated drinks
    • Fructose, a fruit sugar
    • Lactose, a milk sugar
    • Onions
    • Sugar substitutes, such as sorbitol and mannitol
  • Eating foods more slowly
  • Avoiding overeating
  • Introducing more fiber into the diet, but doing so gradually to avoid aggravating bloating

Some medical treatment options include:

  • Antidiarrheal drugs to reduce the frequency of bowel movements, in patients with diarrhea
  • Laxatives to promote bowel movements, in patients with constipation
  • Medications to relieve pain


Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is a digestive disorder in which a patient is unable to digest the sugar lactose, which is present in milk.

A person with lactose intolerance will develop uncomfortable or painful symptoms within a few hours of consuming milk or dairy products. These symptoms may include:

The severity of the symptoms varies depending on how much lactose a person has consumed.

Treatment

The best way to prevent the symptoms of lactose intolerance is to avoid foods and beverages that contain lactose.

Alternatively, people can try taking lactase pills or capsules before eating a meal that contains lactose. The enzyme lactase helps the body digest this sugar.

Ascites

Ascites is a condition that occurs when fluid builds up inside your abdomen. This buildup is usually due to problems with your liver, such as cirrhosis. Cirrhosis occurs when your liver becomes extremely scarred.

When ascites first develops, you probably won’t notice any symptoms. As the fluid accumulates over time, you’ll start to notice your abdomen becoming more and more swollen. Ascites can cause you discomfort.

Other Causes of Swollen Stomach

Swollen abdomen could be caused by other, less common symptoms. For example, gallstones are hard masses that can build up in your gallbladder.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. Weight gain may also cause swelling of the abdomen, as can a blockage in your intestine. An ovarian cyst may also lead to a swollen abdomen.

There are many other possible reasons why a person’s stomach might swell. According to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, these reasons include:

  • A blockage in the intestine 
  • An increased curvature at the bottom of the spine, which reduces the space for gas in the abdomen
  • Edema due to some types of cancer or cancer treatment
  • High salt intake
  • Hypersensitivity to the digestive process 
  • Gallstones
  • Imbalance of gut microbiota
  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

Congestive heart failure generally, develops as a result of other conditions, such as high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.

Treatment

The treatment for CHF may involve one or more of the following:

  • lifestyle changes, such as:
    • Avoiding or limiting alcohol and caffeine 
    • Being physically active
    • Eating a heart-healthy diet
    • Managing stress
    • Quitting smoking, if relevant
  • Medications, such as:
    • Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
    • Beta-blockers
    • Diuretics
  • Surgery

Diagnosis of Swollen Stomach

If a patient experiences severe or persistent stomach swelling, their doctor may run one or more of the following tests to identify the cause:

  • Abdominal X-rays
  • Blood tests 
  • Barium enema, which uses X-rays to image the lower intestinal tract 
  • Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which involves the use of a flexible scope to image the upper GI tract
  • Fecal analysis
  • Barium swallow test, which uses X-rays to image the esophagus (food pipe) while a person swallow’s food
  • Gastric emptying scan, which is a test to determine how quickly food exits the stomach

Treatment Swollen Stomach

The effective treatment of stomach swelling usually requires the identification and treatment or management of the underlying cause. However, patients may also benefit from some general strategies to help ease the swelling.

If a person believes that their stomach swelling is related to their diet, they may wish to try the low FODMAP diet. FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. Foods that are high in FODMAPS commonly cause gas or abdominal pressure. By removing high FODMAP foods from their diet, a person may reduce the frequency or severity of stomach bloating.

Some medical treatments that may help reduce stomach swelling include:

  • Antispasmodics to reduce muscle spasms
  • Probiotics to help redress the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut
  • Prokinetics to control acid reflux
  • Rifaximin (Xifaxan) to restrict the growth of diarrhea-causing bacteria

 

Prevention of Swollen Stomach

If the stomach regularly swells after a meal, a person should consider eliminating gas-producing foods from their diet. Foods that cause gas include:

  • Apples
  • Artichokes
  • Asparagus 
  • Beans, particularly pinto or baked beans
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carbonated drinks
  • Food that contains starch, such as potatoes
  • Onions
  • Prunes

Summary

There are many potential causes of stomach swelling. Some are relatively benign and transient and may be related to a person’s diet. Others may indicate an underlying health condition that requires treatment.

A person should see their doctor if they experience severe, persistent, or recurrent stomach swelling. A doctor will work to diagnose the cause and provide appropriate treatments.

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