About 1 in 7 Americans experience bloating regularly, but around one-third of them don’t get symptom relief, simply because they don’t reach out for help. At Newtown Gastroenterology, the board-certified physicians are bloating and digestive care experts who compassionately investigate your symptoms, diagnose your condition, and help you overcome the cause of your chronic bloating. There are four conveniently located New York City offices in Elmhurst and Flushing in Queens, Sunset Park in Brooklyn, and Lower Manhattan, so call the nearest one or book your appointment online now.
Bloating describes the sensation of abdominal fullness, trapped gas, or pressure. Most people have experienced bloating at one point or another, and in most cases, it’s not serious. However, persistent ongoing bloating can be a sign of a serious gastrointestinal issue.
Bloating mainly describes the sensations you have, but it often occurs alongside another issue called abdominal distension. With abdominal distension, there’s actually a clear increase in stomach size, with the abdomen pushed out more than usual.
If you have severe and frequent bloating, you need to reach out to Newtown Gastroenterology for expert guidance, particularly if you also have notable abdominal distension or other troublesome issues. Some other symptoms that can occur alongside bloating include:
• Blood in stool
• Mucus in stool
• Frequent nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Severe abdominal cramping or discomfort
• Serious upper abdomen or chest discomfort
• Reduced appetite
• Unexpected weight loss
• Feeling full sooner than usual
• Chronic fatigue
Each of these symptoms may occur in a broad range of gastrointestinal conditions, so the more detailed you can be about your bloating severity, frequency, location, and accompanying symptoms, the sooner the team can determine your underlying diagnosis.
After the Newtown Gastroenterology team performs an exam and evaluates your symptoms, they may recommend testing to further isolate the cause of your bloating and other issues. This may include an X-ray or other diagnostic imaging. In some cases, persistent bloating may warrant additional testing, like an office-based procedure to visualize the digestive system.
Treatment depends on the cause of your bloating but usually includes diet and lifestyle changes. Problems like gut bacteria imbalance may require supplements such as probiotics. If you have diet-related bloating, it’s important to keep track of what you eat and notice sensitivities going forward, as this helps the team fine-tune your treatment plan for the best results.
Bloating may be a sign of a pancreatic disorder, ascites (abdominal fluid buildup), gastritis (stomach inflammation), a stomach ulcer, or another problem, each of which requires its own particular approach. The team determines all the contributing factors and develops a treatment plan to fully address both the root causes and the bloating itself.
If your bloating comes and goes frequently or never stops, it’s time to see the experts at Newtown Gastroenterology for help. Call the office or book an appointment online now.
