Bloating are common annoyances that occur in the stomach, causing discomfort. It is usually accompanied by gurgling gases. Most are benign, others can hide diseases, and sometimes it can be very serious. Here are the symptoms that may help you recognize a certain situation in your body!
THE (BENIGN) CAUSES OF BLOATING
Overeating
Excess of air in the stomach (you swallowed too much air)
Stomach pains
Irritable bowel syndrome
Constipation
Intolerance to certain foods or ingredients (for example, lactose)
Excessive consumption of sugary drinks and sodas
Intolerance to certain drug treatments
But bloating can also hide more serious health problems, so it is important to recognize some symptoms to prevent certain diseases.
LIVER DISEASE
Abdominal bloating can be caused by a disease of the liver such as cirrhosis (alcohol abuse), liver cancer or hepatitis. After the heart, the liver is the most important organ of the human body (without liver, man can not survive more than 48 hours). The liver is a “filter station” from where cancer cells can spread to other organs because they will enter the bloodstream more easily.
Of course, to detect liver disease, these symptoms should be associated with other physical dissorders, including yellowing of the skin or eyes.
COLON CANCER
At an early stage, colon cancer can cause bloating. Besides, it is probably the only early symptom of this disease. When at a later stage, these symptoms may be accompanied with bleeding (in the stool) and constipation.
PANCREATIC CANCER
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers; a survival rate with pancreatic cancer is very low when at an advanced stage. But some symptoms, when grouped, may indicate pancreatic cancer: bloating, jaundice, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain that radiates in the back.
STOMACH CANCER
This type of cancer usually has no symptoms when it is at an early stage, making it difficult to diagnose. It can show very common symptoms such as bloating, indigestion, flatulence. The signs of this disease are almost similar to pancreatic cancer.
At a more advanced stage, symptoms are more severe: weight loss, severe nausea, persistent abdominal pain. One of the biggest risk factors for this disease is Helicobacter pylori, bacteria that may be present in smoked and processed meat.
OVARIAN CANCER
Persistent bloating, feeling full very fast and pelvic pain are the most typical symptoms of ovarian cancer. Fifth most common cancer in women, and it is deadly.
The factors of occurrence of ovarian cancer are: obesity, no pregnancy, family history of ovarian cancer, and certain genetic abnormalities.
UTERINE CANCER
Beside bloating, uterine cancer is also manifested by abnormal vaginal bleeding, vaginal fluids or blood, pelvic pain, pain experienced during sexual intercourse or during urination. The most common causes of this cancer are: taking estrogen supplements (in the absence of progesterone during menopause) such as tamoxifen, radiotherapy treatment, and family history of uterine cancer or Lynch syndrome (a form of hereditary colon cancer).
ASCITES
Ascites is an unusual accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity which may be caused by liver disease. This disorder can cause bloating and weight gain. But if these are accompanied by bloating, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), it may indicate that the cancer spreads to the liver. Ascites can also occur in cases of hepatitis (less severe liver disease).
SUDDEN WEIGHT LOSS
Loss of more than 5 kg weight, especially when it represents 10% of your body weight (without dietary change) can be a symptom of cancer, especially when this loss is accompanied by abdominal bloating. Indeed, this weight loss can be the result of tumors in the intestines, which will give you the feeling of being full after eating a small amount of food.
DIVERTICULITIS
Diverticulitis is a disease of the colon, characterized by inflammation of the diverticula (folds of the lining of the intestinal wall). The condition causes bloating, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation. The usual treatment is to take a “gut rest” favoring a substantially liquid diet. In case of fever, antibiotics may be prescribed. In cases of diverticulitis, a high fiber diet is especially recommended to stop the flow of fecal matter in the bowels and prevent complications.
PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE
Sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia or gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which occurs when organs of the female reproductive system are infected as the uterine lining, fallopian tubes or ovaries. This condition may occur during childbirth, abortion, miscarriage or during the introduction of an IUD (intrauterine device). The characteristic symptoms are: bloating accompanied by fever, pelvic pain, with sensitivity in this area. Vaginal fluids are key sign to indicate pelvic inflammatory disease.