Swollen Stomach Causes

Irritable bowel syndrome, ovarian cyst, uterine fibroid, constipation, lactose intolerance, and overeating are some of the common causes of a swollen stomach. The common symptoms include increased size of the stomach, a feeling of heaviness, and fatigue.

Most of the people experience a general feeling of sickness as well. The condition gets resolved on its own once the food gets digested. However, a swollen stomach may sometimes indicate some serious underlying medical condition. A few such abnormal conditions have been briefly described here.

The major cause of a swollen stomach is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders. It involves an abnormal condition of gut contractions.

The characteristic symptoms are abdominal pain, mucus in stools, bloating, and irregular bowel habits with alternating diarrhea and constipation. IBS is surely uncomfortable and disturbing but it does not lead to any further medical complications.

The presence of ovarian cysts in women causes their stomach to swell. During the menstrual cycle, the follicle contains a fluid-filled cyst that encloses an ovum.

If in a cycle, the follicle grows larger than normal and does not rupture to release the ovum, it is called an ovarian cyst. This condition usually gets resolved over a period of time with the help of simple medical attention. However, in some it needs to be surgically removed.

Uterine fibroid is another common cause of a swollen stomach in women. It is described as a common benign cancerous growth of smooth muscles in the uterus. The presence of a fibroid may or may not produce any identifiable symptoms. If the patient experiences any symptoms, then they are usually menstrual pain, pelvic pressure, swelling in the stomach, etc.

Lactose is a component of milk hence present in many dairy products. Many people are naturally not able to digest lactose. This is because they lack an enzyme called lactase which is necessary for lactose digestion.

The inability to digest lactose is called lactose intolerance. When a lactose-intolerant person happens to have it, he/she often suffers from swelling in the stomach, diarrhea, nausea, bloating, abdominal cramps, and gas.

Constipation is described as either an acute or chronic condition in which bowel movements occur less often than normal. It may or may not consist of hard, dry stools that cause pain while passing out. This causes the stomach to swell.

Although constipation is not a serious medical condition, it may lead to grave complications, such as bowel obstruction, chronic constipation, hemorrhoids, hernia, laxative dependency, etc.

The intestines of the body absorb nutrients from the digested foods. There are several factors that can lead to an impairment of the absorption of nutrients. Some of them are cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, pernicious anemia, biliary atresia, etc. Malabsorption can be specific as well as non-specific. It is another possible cause of swelling in the stomach.

► If you feel that the cause for stomach swelling in your case is IBS, then you can bring about certain changes in your diet to get relief. First of all, increase the intake of fiber in your diet. Fiber is present in abundance in fruits and vegetables.

Make sure that you have at least three servings of fruits and vegetables daily. This will prove to be of great assistance in curing IBS at home.

► In case of malabsorption of nutrients, try changing your regular diet and reduce the consumption of milk. It is observed that leading a stress-free life can cure many abnormalities in the body.

You may take help of yoga, deep breathing techniques, and meditation to calm and relax yourself. Being physically active and following a balanced diet will also help a lot in restoring the normal and healthy state of the body.

To alleviate the pain and characteristic symptoms associated with a swelling in the stomach, visit a doctor. The necessity to seek medical attention is especially important if the swelling does not subside, is tender to the touch, and is getting worse. So, take the right action at the right time to save your health and life. Wish you a speedy recovery.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.