Bloating

A Bloating usually arises after a large meal when the stomach has consumed too much food. The term is also derived from "being full".

What is a feeling of fullness?

A feeling of fullness is the term used for flatulence, in which the abdomen bulges forward and causes tension pain.

A feeling of fullness is the term used for flatulence, in which the abdomen bulges forward and causes tension pain.

In the process, excessive amounts of air and gases were swallowed through food and hasty eating, which can then cause severe flatulence in the stomach and intestines. Most of the time, the abdomen is strongly arched and the person concerned feels sluggish and fat. In addition to the feeling of fullness, loss of appetite, heartburn and nausea often appear.

In the worst case, it can lead to cramps or pain that resembles colic. In the medical sense, the feeling of fullness describes an accumulation of gas in the digestive tract that is stuck there and therefore causes pain. Conceptually, a feeling of fullness is borrowed from "being full" after lavish and high-fat meals.

causes

What are the exact causes of a feeling of fullness? During the digestion of food, which takes around 42 hours, various gases are produced in the intestine. These are, for example, hydrogen sulfide, methane and other gases that are produced during fermentation and digestion. A large part of the gases produced diffuses into the bloodstream and is carried out of the body via the lungs; others escape in the form of body winds (gas, flatulence).

One cause of the feeling of fullness can be an intolerance to various foods. Eating such foods creates more gases than usual, which in conjunction with other causes can get stuck in the digestive tract. With lactose intolerance, for example, there is often an accumulation of gases and thus a feeling of fullness.

The two sugar molecules rhamnose and stachyosis are another food-related cause of bloating.

They are difficult to break down in the intestine. They are mainly found in legumes, onions, beans and sauerkraut. In addition to the food-related causes, weak abdominal muscles are often added. Among other things, this is responsible for the fact that excessive amounts of accumulated gases can escape if they do not do so through the bloodstream. Due to the slack muscles, the abdominal circumference increases with strong gas accumulation and provides the familiar feeling of fullness.

Feeling full can also be one of the symptoms of a more serious condition that affects your metabolism. Diseases of the pancreas come into question, as a result of which certain digestive enzymes can no longer be released in sufficient quantities. A bowel obstruction with various causes can also lead to a feeling of fullness.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medication for heartburn and bloating

Diseases with this symptom

• Irritable stomach
• gastritis
• Dumping syndrome

• Duodenal ulcer
• Cholestasis
• Stomach cancer

• Lactose intolerance
• Gallstones
• Fatty liver

Complications

A feeling of fullness usually does not lead to complications and does not require treatment. Since it usually occurs immediately after eating, certain foods that cause it in the person affected should be omitted to avoid a feeling of fullness. Above all, this includes fatty and sweet foods that are difficult for the stomach to digest.

They therefore lead to a feeling of fullness and restrict the body in its movements and activities. Anyone who suffers from a feeling of fullness after eating cannot do any sports afterwards and usually feels tired and exhausted. This is because the body needs a lot of energy to digest the food and therefore fatigue occurs.

This behavior is completely normal and is not a complication. Anyone who has persistent bloating may have a psychological problem or a problem with eating behavior. Such disorders are treated by psychologists and in most cases lead to success. In general, a feeling of fullness occurs in almost everyone after a certain meal and is not a symptom that is harmful to health

When should you go to the doctor?

If the feeling of fullness persists, which is not due to excessive food intake, the suspicion of a food intolerance is initially obvious. It therefore makes sense to carefully observe your own body and eating behavior. This enables important questions to be answered that a doctor may ask as part of his medical examination.

If the feeling of fullness occurs after consuming a certain food or a certain product, consumption should first be stopped. If there is a noticeable improvement, the suspicion of intolerance arises. After a few days of observation and diet adjustment, a doctor should be consulted. It is not advisable to submit unauthorized findings.

It is sufficient to make an appointment with the family doctor. This can confirm existing levels of suspicion or rule out causes. Possibly. he will refer you to an allergist who will then initiate further examinations. However, a feeling of fullness does not necessarily indicate a food intolerance. Other causes can also be considered. If the family doctor rules out an intolerance as a trigger, he will refer to a gastroenterologist. He then takes over the examination and initiates medical treatment measures if necessary.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

The feeling of fullness is a non-specific symptom that cannot be treated without further investigation. If it occurs only sporadically, it often does not need to be treated at all - however, the situation is different if the feeling of fullness is recurring or causes severe pain. If the feeling of fullness occurs sporadically, it usually only helps to wait until it passes.

If, on the other hand, it occurs more frequently in mild to moderate form, medical examinations should be initiated to determine the cause. The reason for such a feeling of fullness is often food intolerance - in this case the diet has to be changed. If the feeling of fullness is severe, sudden or persistent, hospitalization is usually necessary. Such symptoms suggest that the condition is serious. If, for example, the feeling of fullness is due to an intestinal obstruction, an operation must be performed as soon as possible.

Outlook & forecast

In itself, the prognosis for a bloated feeling is good. A feeling of fullness usually indicates overeating with fatty or difficult to digest foods. This condition can be easily remedied by eating more moderately.

However, bloating can also occur as a result of gastritis. In this case, the prognosis depends on whether it is acute or chronic gastritis. Medicines can be just as helpful for a feeling of fullness due to gastritis as a basic diet. It should be noted, however, that a persistent feeling of fullness can also indicate gastric cancer. Sudden loss of appetite without explanation, accompanied by a feeling of fullness or an unexplained weight loss should cause the person to see a doctor.

Non-specific signs such as a feeling of fullness are not always harmless. In the case of carcinoma of the stomach or pancreas, the prognosis depends on the time of discovery. If the diagnosis is made early, the prognosis can be good. If it is discovered late, there is a risk that metastases have already formed. Long-lasting bloating should therefore never be taken lightly.

Persistent bloating should always be questioned - especially if the person is not eating a lot. It can hide a simple irritable stomach, but also an abdominal or intestinal disease. Depending on the causer identified, the prognosis for an improvement is different.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medication for heartburn and bloating

prevention

Home remedies ↵ against bloating The serious causes of a feeling of fullness can hardly be effectively prevented. The situation is different with a feeling of fullness, which is caused by different foods or their intolerance. Foods that are known to lead to gas and bloating should be consumed in moderation. Above all, this includes beans, sauerkraut, nuts, and other foods that are high in fiber.

If you have a known intolerance, you can avoid the feeling of fullness by switching to a substitute for the food that is difficult to digest. By paying attention to signals from your body you avoid feeling full.

You can do that yourself

All self-help measures against bloating should only be seen as a supplement to treating the cause. The means of self-help in the case of bloating depend on the cause of the symptom. If the feeling of fullness is due to another illness, compliance with medical recommendations is of the highest priority. This includes taking prescribed medication or following other instructions.

If the feeling of fullness is due to poor eating habits, changing your diet can help alleviate the feeling of fullness or prevent it in advance. This also includes taking meals regularly and only a few snacks between meals. In particular, foods rich in fat and carbohydrates can lead to a feeling of fullness. Overall, this part of self-help focuses on implementing the recommendations of well-founded nutritional advice in everyday life.

In addition, various home remedies are known that are often recommended for those who feel bloated. Warm tea (e.g. chamomile or peppermint) can often improve feelings of fullness. Warmth also alleviates the symptoms in many cases. A hot water bottle or a cherry stone pillow, for example, is suitable for this. Massages on the stomach are also suitable to alleviate the feeling of fullness.

A drink with heavily diluted apple cider vinegar is also often recommended as a home remedy for bloating. However, the acid can hit the stomach for susceptible people and irritate the skins in the mouth, throat, and esophagus.