Digestion of food is a complex chemical process that results in the release of gases in humans. This process is provided by physiology, so normally it should not cause discomfort and painful spasms.
In an adult, no more than 1 liter of gases per day should be released. If a much larger amount of gases is observed and the woman's stomach swells, the reasons for this may be associated with malnutrition, physiological characteristics, as well as various pathologies. Flatulence may be temporary or pathological.
How gas formation occurs
The intestines of a he althy woman can contain 200 ml of gases. During the day, in the process of circulation, 1-2 liters of gases can pass through the body. They are formed as a result of the breakdown of products in the intestines. As a result, methane, hydrogen, sulfur and nitrogen compounds are formed. The latter have an unpleasant odor.
In addition, as a result of the interaction of pancreatic juice and gastric acid, an oxide is producedcarbon. In the process of swallowing, air enters through the blood and reaches the intestines.
Gases can leave the body through belching, the rectum, entering the circulatory system, and with the air that a woman exhales. All this depends on the muscle tone of the abdominal wall, diaphragm and intestinal motility. With a high density of feces, a violation of metabolic processes, the process of dispersing it along with the blood can be difficult. In this case, a large amount of gases 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.
Causes of increased gas production
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 treatment, it is necessary to initially determine the provoking factor. Answering the question why a woman’s stomach swells, it must be said that this may be for the following 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, an increase in swelling and an increase inseveral kilograms. Bloating should normally go away after menstruation.
When the hormonal background changes, fluid retention occurs. This negatively affects the functioning of the digestive system and leads to an increase in appetite. The woman is very hungry, which is why she eats a lot of food. Against this background, there is bloating and weight gain.
There are reasons that are not very dangerous. The main thing is to identify and eliminate them in a timely manner. If there is constant swelling in the lower abdomen, then you need to see a doctor.
It is very important to know what foods make women's stomachs swell in order to prevent the occurrence of increased gas formation. These include the following:
- ice cream, melted cheese;
- celery, potatoes, onions, carrots, radishes, cucumbers;
- grape, apple, apricot, peach, banana, pear, plum;
- sweet pastries, pizza;
- peas and beans.
Beer, raisins, mushrooms can also provoke increased gas formation. Another reason may be poor nutrition, as this puts a serious burden on the body.
With a high density of feces, as well as a violation of the metabolic process, the process of dispersion of gases along with blood is somewhat difficult. When the digestive process is disturbed, the symptoms of intestinal flatulence occur mainly in people with the presence of:
- disorders of bile acid circulation;
- enzymatic deficiency;
- dysbacteriosis.
If the motor activity of the intestine worsens, flatulence appears when the body is intoxicated, swallowing a large amount of air, performing an operation, a problem with connective tissue. A similar manifestation is observed against the background of hysteria, nervous strain, stress.
What diseases can be associated with
When a woman's stomach swells all the time, the reasons for this can be hidden in dangerous diseases and pathologies. These may be problems of the digestive system, in particular, such as:
- enterocolitis;
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- disruption of the pancreas;
- impaired intestinal patency.
Excessive accumulation of gases may indicate the development of dysbacteriosis. Only drugs and products with lactobacilli can cope with this problem.
Pregnancy Bloating
Many women with the onset of 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, the 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, whichdisrupts their food promotion work. 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, lie down for 30 minutes with your legs elevated twice a day.
In order for the intestines to work properly, at least a little physical activity is required. Therefore, you need to take walks in the fresh air as often as possible, as well as do exercises for pregnant women. Shoes and clothing should be comfortable and spacious.
After eating, it is recommended to massage the abdomen with light strokes in a clockwise direction. You can do water aerobics or swimming for pregnant women. If you need to drink medicines prescribed by your doctor. Infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs help well.
Bloating during menstruation
From what a woman's stomach swells during menstruation, not everyone knows. This happens due to monthly hormonal changes. Before menstruation, progesterone levels rise, which relaxes the intestines. This leads to flatulence and constipation, which leads to 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 B vitamins, potassium and magnesium. Also, bloating, the appearance of soreness and flatulence is affected by increased appetite after ovulation andconsumption of foods that promote the formation of gases. With excessive intake of food, the body tries to compensate for the lack of serotonin. To prevent overeating and indigestion, as well as increase the level of this hormone in the blood, you need to consume 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 food thoroughly while eating. Walking more often, it also improves mood. If increased gas formation does not go away even after menstruation, then you need to eat foods that contribute to the release of gases.
Menopausal bloating
If the lower abdomen swells and hurts in women during menopause, then this may be due to hormonal imbalance. In patients of mature age, weight often increases and the volume of the abdomen increases. This also leads to flatulence. Among the main causes of bloating and discomfort during menopause are:
- hormonal imbalance;
- deterioration of intestinal patency;
- water retention in the body.
With the onset of menopause, the lower abdomen often swells and hurts. In women, such symptoms often occur at night or after eating. Flatulence mainly appears as a result of overeating, malnutrition, abuse of coffee and carbonated drinks, as well as in the presence of diabetes.
Treatment for increased gas production during menopause largely depends on the causeoccurrence of a violation. It mainly consists of taking prokinetics that improve intestinal motility, as well as adherence to dietary nutrition.
Types of increased gas formation
It is very important to figure out what makes a woman's stomach swell, as this happens for a variety of reasons. Often, unpleasant symptoms are accompanied by other signs. Based on this, several types of increased gas formation can be distinguished, namely:
- alimentary;
- dynamic;
- dysbacteriosis;
- mechanical;
- circulatory;
- psychogenic.
The alimentary type is a violation of the diet, the use of junk food and products that increase gas formation.
Dysbacteriosis is characterized by deterioration of the gastrointestinal tract due to insufficient production of enzymes.
In the dynamic type, there are difficulties with the muscles of the intestine due to the ingress of toxic substances or food poisoning.
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 shocks.
With the circulatory type, there is a violation of blood flow in the walls of the intestine. Often this is observed when serious diseases occur in the form of cirrhosis of the liver.
Other symptoms
When the lower abdomen hurts and swells, a woman may experience other symptoms, in particular, such as:
- rumble;
- feeling full;
- increased gas formation;
- nausea, vomiting;
- bad taste belching;
- breaking stool;
- temperature increase;
- appearance of mucus and blood in the feces.
Symptomatology directly depends on the cause of the violation and its type. If there are neoplasms in the organ, then at the initial stage there will be no symptoms. In case of poisoning, intoxication of the body occurs. This leads to fever and vomiting. During pregnancy, bloating is often accompanied by constipation and heaviness.
Diagnostics
From what a woman's stomach swells, only the attending doctor can decide after a comprehensive examination. The diagnosis is made on the basis of the present symptoms. You also need to take a general blood test. To fully identify the cause of what makes the stomach swell in an adult woman, diagnostic methods such as:
- sowing feces for dysbacteriosis;
- coprogram;
- fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy;
- colonoscopy.
With the help of sowing feces, it is possible to determine the enzymatic deficiency of the digestive organs. The coprogram helps to identify various pathologies of the digestive tract. Bowel x-rays using a contrast agent can visualize mechanical obstructions in the passage of accumulated gases or food.
FEGDS allows you to examine the intestinal mucosa and stomach. For thisa special fiber optic tube is used. In some cases, a small piece of tissue may be taken from the patient for analysis for histological examination. Colonoscopy is performed in the same way as FEGDS, however, with the help of a fiber optic tube, the large intestine is examined.
Features of treatment
Causes (gas and a woman's stomach swells why) can be very different, which is why diagnostics are required. If flatulence is accompanied by vomiting, acute pain, bleeding from the anus, a sharp drop in pressure, you should 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 your well-being. Requires taking funds such as:
- sorbents;
- drugs to eliminate flatulence;
- probiotics.
To eliminate increased gas formation and bloating, you can use folk recipes that help eliminate unpleasant symptoms and normalize well-being. Additionally, dieting may be required.
Drug therapy
Having established the causes (gas and swelling of the stomach), treatment for a woman can only be prescribed by the attending doctor after the diagnosis. Medicines are prescribed only if a serious illness or poisoning of the body has become a provoking factor for flatulence.
Usually, patients are prescribed sorbents, in particular, such as activated carbon, Smecta, Enterosgel. They take out quicklytoxic substances and gas bubbles from the intestines. You may also need "Espumizan". The active ingredients in this drug absorb gases and remove them from the digestive tract.
"Regidron" is prescribed for intoxication of the body, when diarrhea and repeated vomiting appear. Enzymes in the form of "Creon", "Mezim", "Festal" help to normalize digestion.
Anthelmintic and antibacterial agents are prescribed for parasitic or bacterial infections. With dysbacteriosis, lactobacilli and probiotics may be required. The duration of therapy largely depends on the type of disease. It usually takes 7-14 days.
Cleansing enemas can be used for constipation. 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 causes the woman's stomach to swell, he selects a treatment. In addition to taking medications, you may need to follow a diet. Nutrition 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 intestines, which provoke increased gas formation, are significantly reduced.
Between meals, the interval should be 3 hours. Frequent snacking on foods high in carbohydratesshould be excluded, as they provoke increased gas formation and fermentation in the intestine. Food must be chewed thoroughly. All meals should be served warm. It is preferable to steam, stew or boil.
To prevent constipation, it is recommended to observe the drinking regimen. Drink at least 1.5-2 liters of water without gas per day.
It is recommended to include foods that normalize intestinal motility in the daily menu. These are vegetable and fruit salads, baked or boiled vegetables, fermented milk drinks, dietary meats, cereals, lean 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 complications. In some cases, folk remedies help well. They can also be used during lactation pregnancy.
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 out the juice. You need to drink the finished product three times a day.
Dill water is good for flatulence. Take 1 tbsp. l. dried dill, add a little dandelion and cumin. Pour 1 cup boiling water over 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. finisheddecoction no more than 5 times a day.
Ginger is an effective remedy. It can be added to ready meals or tea. Pour the chopped pieces of ginger with boiled water. Leave to 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 often puffs up, but also how to prevent this problem from occurring. Prevention plays a very important role. Women are not recommended to lead a sedentary lifestyle. You need to increase physical activity and exercise. It is recommended to do exercises in the morning.
Yoga is a good prevention against flatulence. It helps to strengthen muscles, eliminate flatulence and normalize the mental state of a person. A massage session is recommended. You can also do self-massage of the abdomen. It is necessary to carry out rotational movements along it, which help to disperse stagnant air.
It is important to watch your diet. It is necessary to exclude fatty high-calorie foods, preservatives and carbonated drinks.
Flatulence causes significant discomfort, and is also characterized by the presence of pain manifestations. Therefore, it is very important to determine why women's stomach swells in the evening in order to start treatment in a timely manner. If this happens often, then it is not recommended to delay treatment.
