Healthy Body
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SUFFERING from BLOATING, GAS BUILD-UP and FULLNESS?
What Women Should Know
July 2016
By Myrna Haskell
Bloating, gas build-up and a feeling of being “stuffed full” when you shouldn’t feel full are quite common, particularly in women over the age of forty. Not surprisingly, a myriad of conditions and triggers, including food intolerance, are possible. It is imperative that women keep track of their episodes (such as keeping a food journal which also lists time and duration of symptoms) and seek medical advice if symptoms continue or recur on a regular basis.
Hormones
“Women over forty are more prone to the discomforts of bloating because it can also be the result of gynecological troubles. For pre-menopausal women, bloating is often related to the menstrual cycle and the level of hormones – estrogen and progesterone. When hormonal activity is high, stool and gas move more slowly through the intestines, often leading to constipation and bloating in the weeks before the period,” explains Patrick M. Fratellone, M.D., an integrative physician based in New York City, registered herbalist with the American Herbal Guild, and adjunct professor at the University of Bridgeport School of Naturopathic Medicine. “This must be differentiated from bloating caused by food and liquids,” he adds.
Besides hormonal fluctuations, bloating may be a sign of food intolerances and allergies, bowel disorders, intestinal blockages, and other underlying issues.
Malabsorption
Fratellone points out, “Bloating could be a sign of malabsorption issues due to a number of causes. One of these causes can be irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS can be a gluten allergy called celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). This bloating will wax and wane depending on your dietary lifestyle. A persistent bloating can sometimes be an intestinal blockage. The causes of persistence can be scars from previous surgeries, medications, hernias and serious abdominal infection.”
Gas Producing Food and Bacteria
Matilda N. Hagan, M.D., an inflammatory bowel disease specialist at The Center for Inflammatory Bowel and Colorectal Diseases at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, asserts, “Generally speaking, bloat and gas are often from air swallowing, foods that produce gas (such as carbonated drinks, beans, beer and dairy products) or bacteria producing gas. Bacteria producing gas can be a major issue if bacteria more commonly found in the large intestine overgrow in the small intestine.”
“Sometimes pancreatic insufficiency can also present with gas bloat symptoms. This is when the pancreas is not producing enough enzymes to properly digest food,” she adds.
Food Allergies and Intolerance
Food intolerances or allergies can cause gas and fullness after eating. Hagan clarifies the differences between the two. “Food intolerances show up as gas bloat. Food allergies usually present with immune-related allergic response like hives, rash, tissue swelling of the lips or tongue, or - more seriously - with trouble breathing. You can get nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and bloat as part of allergic response, but this is rarely the only sign.” Hagan warns that women should completely avoid foods they are allergic to. However, accidental ingestion of a food one is intolerant to is not as serious. Even if you have never had food allergies or food intolerances in the past, this does not mean that you cannot develop them later in life.
Positive Lifestyle Habits
Good eating habits (i.e. eating small meals several times a day) as well as avoidance of certain foods can sometimes help relieve symptoms. Herbs and foods that promote good digestion are also beneficial.
Fratellone suggests herbs as a natural digestive healer. “There are many herbs that can be used to repair and restore the 'gut.' One of these herbs is chamomile. The other herbs I use regularly for gut restoration are slippery elm, marshmallow, and meadowsweet.”
“Water is key as it will flush out excess salt,” says Brooke Alpert, R.D., C.D.N., a nationally recognized nutrition expert and founder of B Nutritious (www.b-nutritious.com). She suggests adding lemon to your water, eating foods rich in potassium (i.e. bananas, cauliflower, carrots, etc.), and taking a daily probiotic supplement which contains 100% lactobacillus GG (such as Culturelle). “I recommend that all my clients take a daily probiotic to keep their gut and digestive system healthy and to support their immune system,” she adds.
Alpert urges patients to avoid the following foods which can cause bloat:
When to Seek Medical Attention & What to Expect
As you can see, there are a wealth of catalysts, so it is really best that women see a physician if their symptoms persist and when dietary and lifestyle changes don’t seem to help. Hagan urges, “Anytime symptoms cause significant interference with life or daily activities, one should seek medical attention. Symptoms of bloat associated with weight loss, blood or fat in the stool, or diarrhea that causes one to wake during the night should prompt medical evaluation.”
What types of tests should a patient expect a doctor to recommend?
“There are many tests that can pinpoint the cause,” Fratellone reports. After patient history and a complete exam are completed, Fratellone says the following tests may be ordered: basic laboratory tests, such as comprehensive chemistries and complete blood counts, serum testing for celiac disease antibodies, food allergy and intolerance testing, abdominal sonograms, biopsies and endoscopies.
Bloating, gas build-up and a feeling of being “stuffed full” when you shouldn’t feel full are quite common, particularly in women over the age of forty. Not surprisingly, a myriad of conditions and triggers, including food intolerance, are possible. It is imperative that women keep track of their episodes (such as keeping a food journal which also lists time and duration of symptoms) and seek medical advice if symptoms continue or recur on a regular basis.
Hormones
“Women over forty are more prone to the discomforts of bloating because it can also be the result of gynecological troubles. For pre-menopausal women, bloating is often related to the menstrual cycle and the level of hormones – estrogen and progesterone. When hormonal activity is high, stool and gas move more slowly through the intestines, often leading to constipation and bloating in the weeks before the period,” explains Patrick M. Fratellone, M.D., an integrative physician based in New York City, registered herbalist with the American Herbal Guild, and adjunct professor at the University of Bridgeport School of Naturopathic Medicine. “This must be differentiated from bloating caused by food and liquids,” he adds.
Besides hormonal fluctuations, bloating may be a sign of food intolerances and allergies, bowel disorders, intestinal blockages, and other underlying issues.
Malabsorption
Fratellone points out, “Bloating could be a sign of malabsorption issues due to a number of causes. One of these causes can be irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS can be a gluten allergy called celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). This bloating will wax and wane depending on your dietary lifestyle. A persistent bloating can sometimes be an intestinal blockage. The causes of persistence can be scars from previous surgeries, medications, hernias and serious abdominal infection.”
Gas Producing Food and Bacteria
Matilda N. Hagan, M.D., an inflammatory bowel disease specialist at The Center for Inflammatory Bowel and Colorectal Diseases at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, asserts, “Generally speaking, bloat and gas are often from air swallowing, foods that produce gas (such as carbonated drinks, beans, beer and dairy products) or bacteria producing gas. Bacteria producing gas can be a major issue if bacteria more commonly found in the large intestine overgrow in the small intestine.”
“Sometimes pancreatic insufficiency can also present with gas bloat symptoms. This is when the pancreas is not producing enough enzymes to properly digest food,” she adds.
Food Allergies and Intolerance
Food intolerances or allergies can cause gas and fullness after eating. Hagan clarifies the differences between the two. “Food intolerances show up as gas bloat. Food allergies usually present with immune-related allergic response like hives, rash, tissue swelling of the lips or tongue, or - more seriously - with trouble breathing. You can get nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and bloat as part of allergic response, but this is rarely the only sign.” Hagan warns that women should completely avoid foods they are allergic to. However, accidental ingestion of a food one is intolerant to is not as serious. Even if you have never had food allergies or food intolerances in the past, this does not mean that you cannot develop them later in life.
Positive Lifestyle Habits
Good eating habits (i.e. eating small meals several times a day) as well as avoidance of certain foods can sometimes help relieve symptoms. Herbs and foods that promote good digestion are also beneficial.
Fratellone suggests herbs as a natural digestive healer. “There are many herbs that can be used to repair and restore the 'gut.' One of these herbs is chamomile. The other herbs I use regularly for gut restoration are slippery elm, marshmallow, and meadowsweet.”
“Water is key as it will flush out excess salt,” says Brooke Alpert, R.D., C.D.N., a nationally recognized nutrition expert and founder of B Nutritious (www.b-nutritious.com). She suggests adding lemon to your water, eating foods rich in potassium (i.e. bananas, cauliflower, carrots, etc.), and taking a daily probiotic supplement which contains 100% lactobacillus GG (such as Culturelle). “I recommend that all my clients take a daily probiotic to keep their gut and digestive system healthy and to support their immune system,” she adds.
Alpert urges patients to avoid the following foods which can cause bloat:
- Processed white starch products (white breads, pastas, and rice)
- Salty foods which make our bodies retain water
- Carbonated beverages
- Gum and candy – chewing adds more air to your digestive system
When to Seek Medical Attention & What to Expect
As you can see, there are a wealth of catalysts, so it is really best that women see a physician if their symptoms persist and when dietary and lifestyle changes don’t seem to help. Hagan urges, “Anytime symptoms cause significant interference with life or daily activities, one should seek medical attention. Symptoms of bloat associated with weight loss, blood or fat in the stool, or diarrhea that causes one to wake during the night should prompt medical evaluation.”
What types of tests should a patient expect a doctor to recommend?
“There are many tests that can pinpoint the cause,” Fratellone reports. After patient history and a complete exam are completed, Fratellone says the following tests may be ordered: basic laboratory tests, such as comprehensive chemistries and complete blood counts, serum testing for celiac disease antibodies, food allergy and intolerance testing, abdominal sonograms, biopsies and endoscopies.
