Digestion of food is a complex chemical action, as a result of which gases begin to be released in humans. This process is provided by physiology, therefore, normally it should not cause discomfort and painful cramps.
In an adult, no more than 1 liter of gas per day should be released. If a much larger amount of gases is observed and the woman’s stomach swells, the reasons for this can be associated with malnutrition, physiological characteristics, as well as various pathologies. Flatulence can be temporary or be pathological.
How gas formation occurs
The intestines of a healthy woman may contain 200 ml of gas. During the day, 1-2 liters of gas can pass through the body through the body. They are formed as a result of the breakdown of products in the intestine. As a result, methane, hydrogen, sulfur and nitrogen compounds are formed. The latter have an unpleasant odor.
In addition, the interaction of pancreatic juice and stomach acid produces carbon monoxide. In the process of swallowing, air enters the bloodstream, which reaches the intestines.
Gases can leave the body through belching, rectum, entry into the circulatory system and together with the air that a woman exhales. All this depends on the muscle tone of the abdominal wall, diaphragm and intestinal motor activity. With a high fecal density, metabolic disturbances, the process of dispersing it together with blood can be difficult. In this case, a large amount of gas is formed. Their volume and frequency of exit from the body is determined separately for each woman. The norm is the release of gases 13–20 times a day.
Reasons for increased gas formation
If a large amount of gas is released and the stomach swells in women, there can be many reasons for this. Some of them can lead to adverse effects. Therefore, before conducting treatment, it is necessary to initially determine the provoking factor. When answering the question why a woman’s stomach swells, it must be said that this may be for such reasons:
- water retention in the body;
- pregnancy;
- menopause;
- overeating;
- malnutrition;
- impaired bowel function;
- consumption of certain foods;
- bad habits;
- increased progesterone levels.
When there is a change in the hormonal background before menstruation, fluid retention is observed. This process provokes an increase in blood flow in the pelvis, increased swelling and the addition of several kilograms. Bloating should normally disappear after menstruation.
When the hormonal background changes, fluid retention occurs. This negatively affects the functioning of the digestive system and leads to increased appetite. A woman experiences very severe hunger, which is why she eats a lot of food. Against this background, bloating and weight gain are observed.
There are reasons that do not carry much danger. The main thing is to timely identify and eliminate them. If there is a constant bloating in the lower abdomen, then you need to see a doctor.
It is very important to know from which products the stomach of women swells , in order to prevent the occurrence of increased gas formation. These include such as:
- ice cream, cream cheese;
- celery, potatoes, onions, carrots, radishes, cucumbers;
- grapes, apple, apricot, peach, banana, pear, plum;
- sweet pastries, pizza;
- peas and beans.
Also, beer, raisins, mushrooms can provoke increased gas formation. Another reason may be poor nutrition, as this has a serious burden on the body.
With a high density of feces, as well as a violation of the metabolic process, the process of dispersing gases with blood is somewhat difficult. In violation of the digestive process, symptoms of flatulence occur mainly in people with:
- disturbances in the circulation of bile acid;
- enzymatic deficiency;
- dysbiosis.
If the motor activity of the intestine worsens, flatulence occurs with intoxication of the body, swallowing a large amount of air, performing surgery, a problem with connective tissue. A similar manifestation is observed against the background of hysteria, nervous strain, stress.
What diseases may be associated
When a woman’s stomach swells all the time, the reasons for this can be hidden in dangerous diseases and pathologies. These may be digestive problems, in particular, such as:
- enterocolitis;
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- violation of the pancreas;
- bowel obstruction.
Excessive accumulation of gases may indicate the development of dysbiosis. Only drugs and products with lactobacilli can cope with this problem.
Bloating during pregnancy
Many women with pregnancy complain of digestive problems, gas in the intestines, a feeling of heaviness, constant bloating. In the early stages, this condition may be associated with an increase in the level of progesterone in the blood, which has a relaxing effect on the intestines and uterus. At the same time, fermentation intensifies and swells in the lower abdomen, a woman has belching, constipation, rumbling in the abdominal cavity. Flatulence is also affected by food.
In the second trimester of pregnancy, bloating appears due to the constant pressure of the growing uterus on the intestines and other digestive organs, which disrupts their work in promoting food. Fermentation and increased gas formation appear.
With flatulence, it is important to follow a diet, namely, to exclude or limit the use of foods that lead to increased gas formation. You need to sleep at least 9-10 hours. In addition, twice a day you need to lie down for 30 minutes with raised legs.
For the intestines to work properly, at least some physical activity is required. Therefore, you need to make walks in the fresh air as often as possible, as well as do exercises for pregnant women. Shoes and clothes should be comfortable and spacious.
After eating, it is recommended to massage the abdomen by lightly stroking clockwise. You can do water aerobics or swimming for pregnant women. If necessary, drink the medicine prescribed by your doctor. Well help infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs.
Bloating during menstruation
Not everyone knows what a woman’s stomach swells during menstruation from. This happens due to a monthly change in the hormonal background. Before menstruation, the level of progesterone rises, which relaxes the intestines. This leads to flatulence and constipation, which entails bloating of the abdominal cavity.
If the stomach hurts and swells in women, the reasons for this may be associated with the onset of menstruation. Reduce the effect of hormones on the intestines at this time will help the consumption of vitamins of group B, potassium and magnesium. Also, bloating, the appearance of soreness and flatulence are affected by increased appetite after ovulation and the consumption of products that contribute to the formation of gases. With excessive food intake, the body tries to make up for the lack of serotonin. To prevent overeating and digestion, as well as increase the content of this hormone in the blood, you need to use dairy products, figs, plums, dates.
In the last days of the menstrual cycle, it is very important to exclude foods that lead to increased gas formation. Chew it thoroughly while consuming food. Walking more often, it also improves mood. If increased gas formation does not pass even after menstruation, then you need to use products that contribute to the discharge of gases.
Menopause bloating
If the lower abdomen swells and hurts in women during menopause, then this may be due to hormonal imbalance. In patients of adulthood, the weight often increases and the volume of the abdomen increases. It also leads to flatulence. Among the main causes of bloating and the appearance of discomfort during menopause are the following:
- hormonal imbalance;
- impaired intestinal patency;
- water retention in the body.
With the onset of menopause, the abdomen often swells and hurts. In women, such symptoms often occur at night or after eating food. Flatulence mainly occurs as a result of overeating, malnutrition, abuse of coffee and sodas, as well as diabetes.
Treatment of increased gas formation during menopause largely depends on the cause of the violation. Basically, it consists of taking prokinetics that improve intestinal motility, as well as dietary compliance.
Types of increased gas formation
It is very important to understand what causes the woman’s stomach to swell, as this happens for a variety of reasons. Often, unpleasant symptoms are accompanied by other symptoms. Based on this, several types of increased gas formation can be distinguished, namely:
- alimentary;
- dynamic;
- dysbiosis;
- mechanical;
- circulatory;
- psychogenic.
Alimentary type is a violation of the diet, the use of junk food and foods that increase gas formation.
Dysbacteriosis is characterized by a deterioration in the digestive tract due to insufficient production of enzymes.
With the dynamic type, difficulties arise with the muscles of the intestine due to toxic substances or food poisoning.
The mechanical type is characterized by the fact that the discharge of gases is difficult due to neoplasms in the intestine.
The psychogenic type includes stress, nervous strain, mental shock.
With the circulatory type, there is a violation of blood flow in the intestinal walls. Often this is observed when serious diseases occur in the form of cirrhosis.
Other symptoms
When the lower abdomen hurts and swells, a woman may have other symptoms, in particular, such as:
- rumbling;
- feeling of overcrowding;
- increased gas formation;
- nausea, vomiting;
- belching with an unpleasant aftertaste;
- violation of the stool;
- temperature rise;
- the appearance of mucus and blood in the stool.
Symptoms directly depend on the cause of the violation and its type. If there are neoplasms in the organ, then at the initial stage, symptoms will be absent. In case of poisoning, intoxication of the body occurs. This leads to fever and vomiting. In pregnancy, bloating is often accompanied by constipation and heaviness.
Diagnostics
From what a woman’s abdomen swells, only the attending doctor can decide after a comprehensive examination. Diagnosis is based on symptoms. You also need to take a general blood test. To fully identify the causes of what the abdomen swells in an adult woman, such diagnostic techniques are required as:
- sowing feces for dysbiosis;
- coprogram;
- fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy;
- colonoscopy.
With the help of seeding feces, you can determine the enzymatic insufficiency of the digestive system. The coprogram helps to identify various pathologies of the digestive tract. By means of a bowel x-ray using a contrast agent, mechanical obstructions to the movement of accumulated gases or food can be visualized.
FEGDS allows you to examine the intestinal mucosa and stomach. A special fiber optic tube is used for this. In some cases, a small piece of tissue for histological examination may be taken from the patient for analysis. Colonoscopy is performed in a similar way as FEGDS, however, with the help of a fiber optic tube, an examination of the large intestine is performed.
Treatment features
The reasons (gas and swollen belly of a woman why) can be very different, which is why diagnostics is required. If flatulence is accompanied by vomiting, acute pain, bleeding from the anus, a sharp drop in pressure, you must immediately call an ambulance. Most likely, the patient will need surgery. If there are no life-threatening symptoms, then before visiting the doctor, you need to take medications that will help normalize well-being. Acceptance of such means as:
- sorbents;
- medicines to eliminate flatulence;
- probiotics.
To eliminate increased gas formation and bloating, you can use alternative recipes that help eliminate unpleasant symptoms and normalize well-being. Additionally, diet may be required.
Drug therapy
Having established the causes (gases and stomach swelling), only the attending doctor will be able to prescribe treatment to the woman after diagnosis. Medications are prescribed only if a serious illness or poisoning of the body has become a trigger factor for flatulence.
Typically, patients are prescribed sorbents, in particular, such as activated carbon, Smecta, Enterosgel. They quickly remove toxic substances and gas bubbles from the intestines. Espumisan may also be required. The active components of this drug absorb gases and remove them from the digestive tract.
"Regidron" is prescribed for intoxication, when there is diarrhea and repeated vomiting. Enzymes help to normalize digestion in the form of "Creon", "Mezima", "Festal".
Anthelmintic and antibacterial agents are prescribed for parasitic or bacterial infections. With dysbiosis, lactobacilli and probiotics may be required. The duration of therapy depends largely on the type of disease. It usually takes 7-14 days.
With constipation, cleansing enemas can be used. However, it is often impossible to use such a technique, as this can disrupt the normal intestinal microflora.
Dieting
After the doctor has determined what makes the woman’s stomach swell, he selects the treatment. In addition to taking medications, dieting may be required. Eating with bloating must be fractional. Food should be taken often, in small portions. It is advisable to do this at the same time.
This will help normalize the digestion process. As a result, food will be much better digested, and the processes of decay and fermentation in the intestine, which provoke increased gas formation, are significantly reduced.
Between meals, the interval should be 3 hours. Frequent snacks with foods with a high carbohydrate content should be excluded, since they provoke increased gas formation and fermentation in the intestine. Chew food thoroughly. All meals must be served warm. It is preferable to steam, simmer or cook.
To prevent constipation, drinking is recommended. A day you need to drink at least 1.5–2 liters of water without gas.
In the daily menu, it is recommended to include products that normalize intestinal motility. These are vegetable and fruit salads, baked or boiled vegetables, sour-milk drinks, dietary meats, cereals, low-fat fish.
Folk remedies
When a woman’s stomach swells, the causes and treatment of this condition must be precisely determined so as not to provoke the occurrence of complications. In some cases, folk remedies are good. They can also be used during lactation.
With a sick stomach, potato juice is considered a very good remedy. To prepare it, you need to take a large root crop, peel and rub on a fine grater. Then squeeze the juice. You need to drink the finished product three times a day.
From flatulence, dill water helps well. Take 1 tbsp. l dried dill, add a little dandelion and caraway seeds. Pour 1 cup boiling water and leave to infuse for 1 hour. Then filter and drink three times a day before meals.
Chamomile helps not only to get rid of bloating, but also to calm the nervous system. Pour boiling water over the grass and leave for 10 minutes. Filter, drink 2 tbsp. l ready broth no more than 5 times a day.
The effective remedy is ginger. It can be added to ready meals or tea. Pour the sliced ginger into boiled water. Put infuse for 10 minutes. Drink 1 tbsp. l no more than 7 times a day.
Prophylaxis
It is important not only to understand exactly why a woman’s stomach is often swollen, but also how to prevent this problem from occurring. Prevention plays a very important role. Women are not recommended to lead a sedentary lifestyle. It is necessary to increase physical activity and play sports. It is recommended to do exercises in the morning.
Good prophylaxis against flatulence is yoga. It helps to strengthen muscles, eliminate flatulence and normalize a person’s mental state. It is recommended to undergo a massage. . , .
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