What should you know about cause of upper stomach bloating?

Bloating high in the abdomen may follow a large meal, fizzy drinks, eating quickly, or swallowing air while chewing gum. Repeated symptoms can occur with Food Intolerance or Lactose Intolerance, while Coeliac Disease may cause bloating alongside bowel changes, tiredness or weight loss. Irritable Bowel Syndrome can link bloating with abdominal discomfort and altered bowel habits. Helicobacter Pylori Infection may irritate the stomach and cause upper abdominal discomfort, nausea or early fullness. Giardiasis is another possible cause when bloating follows an intestinal infection, especially with loose stools.

Keep a brief record of meals, drinks, timing, bowel movements and other symptoms. Eat slowly, choose smaller portions, and reduce fizzy drinks if they clearly worsen symptoms. Avoid removing many foods at once, because that can make the cause harder to identify and may limit nutrition. A clinician can review medicines, examine your abdomen and decide whether tests or Nutrition Counselling would help. Seek advice before trying a strict elimination diet.

Arrange medical review if bloating is persistent, keeps returning, interferes with eating, or occurs with unintentional weight loss, repeated vomiting, difficulty swallowing, blood in stool, fever or a new change in bowel habit. Seek urgent help for severe or rapidly worsening abdominal pain, a swollen abdomen with inability to pass stool or gas, fainting, or vomiting that prevents fluids staying down.

Ask whether the location and timing suggest gas, reflux, intolerance, infection or another digestive problem. Mention recent travel, antibiotics, weight change, bowel pattern and foods that trigger symptoms, and ask whether testing or a supervised food plan is appropriate.