Bloating

Symptoms of bloating

You may be bloated if:

your tummy feels full or bigger than usual
you have tummy pain or discomfort
your tummy is rumbling or making noises
you're farting more than usual

Causes of bloating

The most common reason for bloating is having a lot of gas in your gut.

This can be caused by some food and drinks, such as some vegetables and fizzy drinks, or by swallowing air when you eat.

It can also be caused by a problem with your digestion, such as:

Some people feel bloated around the time of their period.

Sometimes, bloating that does not go away can be a sign of something more serious such as ovarian cancer.

How to reduce bloating

Do

exercise regularly to improve your digestion and help prevent bloating - exercise can also help when you're feeling bloated
chew with your mouth closed to avoid swallowing air
drink plenty of water
eat foods high in soluble fibre if constipated, such as oats or linseed
eat smaller, more frequent meals instead of large meals
massage your stomach from right to left to release trapped wind

Don't

do not drink lots of fizzy drinks, alcohol or caffeine in coffee and tea
do not eat lots of foods that are known to cause gas, like cabbage, beans or lentils
do not eat large meals late at night before bed or slouch when eating
do not eat lots of processed, sugary, spicy or fatty foods
do not eat food you are intolerant to, if you have a food intolerance

A pharmacist can help with bloating

You can ask a pharmacist about:

laxatives to help treat constipation
medicines like simeticone to help ease the bloating

Find a pharmacy

See a GP if:

you feel bloated regularly
you've tried changing your diet but keep feeling bloated
you have bloating and unintentional weight loss
you have bloating and also have blood in your poo

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if:

you have bloating with vomiting (being sick), diarrhoea or constipation
you have bloating with a stomach ache
you have a high temperature (fever), or feel hot, cold or shivery
you have a swelling or lump in your tummy
you cannot pee, poo or fart
you have a burning feeling in your chest caused by stomach acid travelling up towards your throat (acid reflux)

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

You have bloating with a swollen stomach and:

you have a stomach ache that is severe and came on very suddenly
you're vomiting blood or your vomit looks like ground coffee
you have severe difficulty breathing - you're gasping, choking or not able to get words out

Find your nearest A&E

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

Treatment for bloating

Treatment for bloating is often not needed. If you need treatment it will depend on the cause.

A GP may:

refer you to an NHS dietitian if general diet tips, such as cutting down on foods that trigger bloating, are not helping
refer you to a specialist for tests to find out what may be causing your bloating

Sexual Health Advice

Throughout this series we have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. The topics covered in this series include:

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