Abdominal Fullness or Bloating

Topic Overview

Abdominal fullness or bloating occurs when excess gas builds up in the digestive tract.

Common causes of gas include:

• Swallowed air. If swallowed air is not burped up, it passes through the digestive tract and is released through the anus as gas (flatus). Excessive air swallowing may cause hiccups.
• Gas-producing foods and drinks, such as beans, broccoli, carbonated drinks, and beer. The amount of gas that different foods cause varies from person to person.
• Constipation. This can cause bloating but generally does not increase gas.
• The side effects of medicines or supplements, such as opioid pain medications, vitamins, iron supplements, and many medications that are used to treat constipation.
• Changing hormone levels. Many women feel bloated right before their periods because their bodies retain fluid.
• Pregnancy.
• Weakened abdominal muscles caused by pregnancy or abdominal surgery.
• Obesity.

Occasionally, excess gas and bloating may be caused by a more serious medical problem, such as a bowel obstruction, liver problems, gallbladder disease, or cancer.

Treatment depends on what is causing the problem. Call your doctor for a checkup if you have abdominal fullness or bloating that has not gotten better or gone away with home treatment.