What should you know about chronic bloating and gas?

Bloating is a feeling of fullness or visible abdominal enlargement. Gas, slower bowel movement, and changes in how the gut handles food can all contribute. Food Intolerance and Lactose Intolerance may produce symptoms after particular foods. Coeliac Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Giardiasis, and Helicobacter Pylori Infection can also be considered when bloating persists, especially with diarrhoea, pain, nausea, or altered stools. Bloating alone does not identify one diagnosis.

Record meals, drinks, bowel movements, abdominal pain, and the timing of swelling. Eat slowly, chew thoroughly, reduce fizzy drinks, and add movement to the day. Treat constipation only with advice suited to you, especially if pain is marked. Do not start a strict exclusion diet or remove gluten before discussing testing, because this can affect assessment for Coeliac Disease. Nutrition Counselling can help make dietary changes balanced and specific.

Book an appointment when bloating is persistent, worsening, or interfering with eating, sleep, or daily activities. Seek urgent help for severe pain, repeated vomiting, a rigid swollen abdomen, inability to pass stool or gas, blood in stool, black stool, faintness, or rapid deterioration. Earlier review is sensible when bloating occurs with unplanned weight change, fever, or ongoing diarrhoea.

Ask which patterns suggest intolerance, constipation, reflux, infection, or a bowel condition. Bring your symptom diary and ask whether blood or stool tests, dietary support, or a review of medicines is appropriate.