Why am i bloated so much?!


Question:

Why am i bloated so much?

is this a sign u will becomeing on your period soon or not from a side veiw i look like i am pregnate but i havent had sex only useing a bottle can u get pregnate by this please write bk


Answers:

Hormonal Bloating
For premenopausal women, bloating is often related to the menstruation. During the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle, known as the luteal phase, women can retain water, which causes swelling in not only the abdomen, but also sometimes in the hands, feet and breasts.

The rising levels of hormones also have a direct effect on the gastointenstinal tract. "This hormonal effect causes the GI tract not to empty as quickly and to produce gas," explains Dr. Grace Janik, director of Reproductive Endocrinology at St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee.

Because stool and gas are moving more slowly through the intestines, women often have constipation and bloating in the two weeks before their periods. When women get their periods, their hormone levels drop and they sometimes get diarrhea.

Although it's less common, women can also have hormone-related bloating from changing, starting or stopping birth control pills, or from the contraceptive Depo-Provera. Bloating due to these contraceptives, however, usually subsides after about three months.

Abdominal swelling may be a sign of early pregnancy, particularly in women who aren't using birth control. Older women who are taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes may also have discomfort from bloating.

Dr. Linda Bradley, a gynecologist and director of hysteroscopic services at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, says that after taking a younger woman's medical history, she often suggests the patient keep a diary of her symptoms to help determine the cause(s). If it appears to be related to the menstrual cycle, she may prescribe a mild diuretic or birth control pills. Exercising, avoiding gas-producing foods and adding bulk fiber to the diet may also ease premenstrual bloating.

Sometimes, Bradley says, women are not necessarily seeking treatment; many just want to know that the cause is nothing serious.

Gynecological Obstruction
If abdominal bloating is persistent rather then cyclical, it might be due to a mass such as an ovarian cyst or uterine fibroid. Women older than 50 need to be especially cautious and consult a doctor about any chronic bloating, because it could be a sign of an ovarian tumor. "Age makes a difference," Janik says. "An increase in abdominal size is much more concerning in women in the postmenopausal range."
To determine whether a mass is present, gynecologists will usually perform a transvaginal ultrasound. This will allow them to see if there is a mass on the ovaries that is putting pressure on the bladder or bowel and causing abdominal swelling and tightness. Women with ovarian cancer may also have ascites, an accumulation of fluid around the abdomen that can cause bloating.

Gastrointestinal Bloating
Bloating that is not hormonal in nature is often due to a gastrointestinal problem. Dr. Lin Chang, an associate professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, says that the first step in figuring out the cause of abdominal bloating is taking a detailed history to determine whether it's associated with eating or drinking.

Bloating can be caused by diet, particularly if someone who has a high salt intake or eats a lot of gas-producing foods, such as dark leafy vegetables or beans. Calcium supplements can also cause gas in some people. Doctors may recommend that people avoid these foods or products to see if they're the culprit.

But the most common gastrointestinal cause of abdominal bloating, Chang says, is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a common condition characterized by abdominal discomfort and bloating, along with diarrhea and/or constipation.

Women with IBS do not usually have more gas and bloating than other people, but instead are more sensitive to it. While IBS is difficult to treat, it may be helped by medications or even psychotherapy.

Persistent bloating can also sometimes be a sign of a partial or complete intestinal blockage. There are many possible causes of these blockages, including scar tissue from prior surgeries, certain medications, abdominal infections and hernias. Additional symptoms of a partial or complete blockage are colicky abdominal pain, swelling, rumbling bowel sounds (borborygmi) and vomiting.

When bloating is accompanied by gas and diarrhea, a food intolerance could be the culprit. For example, people might be sensitive to lactose, the sugar in milk, or fructose, the sugar in fruit. This can be handled by simply avoiding lactose or fructose. Women with lactose intolerance may also choose to treat milk products with the enzyme lactase.

Bloating is very common in women, but if the problem is making you uncomfortable, especially if it's persistent, experts say that getting it checked out is worthwhile.




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