What should you know about stomach keeps bloating?

Bloating may feel like fullness, pressure, visible swelling, or tight clothing. It can follow large meals, fizzy drinks, eating quickly, constipation, or changes in gut bacteria. Some people notice a repeatable link with dairy or another food; lactose intolerance and food intolerance are examples. Irritable bowel syndrome can combine bloating with abdominal discomfort and altered bowel habits. Coeliac disease, giardiasis, and Helicobacter pylori infection are other conditions a clinician may consider when symptoms persist, especially with diarrhoea, weight loss, fatigue, or upper-abdominal discomfort.

Keep a brief diary of meals, bowel movements, swelling, pain, and medicines. Eat slowly, choose smaller portions, drink water, and take gentle walks. Address constipation with gradual fibre changes rather than a sudden large increase. Avoid removing many foods at once; a clinician or Nutrition Counselling service can help test a pattern safely. Do not start a gluten-free diet before discussing coeliac testing, because changing gluten intake can affect the assessment.

Arrange a medical review when bloating is new and persistent, repeatedly disrupts eating or sleep, or comes with ongoing diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, blood in stool, fever, or marked tiredness. Seek urgent help for severe or rapidly worsening pain, a hard swollen abdomen, repeated vomiting, faintness, or inability to pass stool or gas.

Ask whether your pattern suggests constipation, intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, infection, or another cause; which tests are appropriate; and whether any medicine or supplement could be contributing. Take your symptom diary and a list of regular products.