Advertisement

When bloating may be something serious

Learn about six serious conditions that cause bloating.

Updated on September 13, 2022

mature man clutching stomach in pain
1 / 9

Bloating: It’s that uncomfortable, overly full feeling in your gut caused by too much air or gas. Usually, bloating is just an unpleasant sensation that passes over the course of a few hours, often caused by something you ate. But it can sometimes be a symptom of a more serious condition. 

You should always reach out to your healthcare provider (HCP) if you haveShow More

mature male patient talks to doctor
2 / 9
Diverticulitis

About half of people over age 60 have bulging pouches in their large intestines called diverticula, which are believed to develop from a diet low in fiber. The presence of these pouches is a condition called diverticulosis. When they become inflamed or infected, it’s called diverticulitis. 

Show More

female healthcare provider holding hands with patient
3 / 9
Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer may be somewhat less common than other cancers—about 20,000 cases a year are diagnosed in the United States—but it causes more deaths than any other female reproductive cancer. Only about one in five cases are caught early because there are few reliable diagnostic tests. 

WhenShow More

black person clutching stomach
4 / 9
Stomach cancer

Though the stomach cancer death rate has dropped greatly over time, it was among the deadliest cancers in the U.S. for decades. The majority of stomach cancers are found after they’ve spread beyond their initial location.

Stomach cancer symptoms include heartburn, feeling full, nausea, abdominalShow More

stones
5 / 9
Pancreatic conditions

Your pancreas helps turn the food you eat into fuel for your body and helps regulate blood sugar. If the flow of enzymes from the pancreas to the small intestines gets blocked by gallstones or a pancreatic tumor, enzymes can travel back to the pancreas and cause inflammation, a condition called pancreatitis.

man goes to public restroom
6 / 9
Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an umbrella term for a group of uncomfortable digestive symptoms, which include bloating, gas, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea.

Researchers aren’t exactly sure what causes IBS, but theories include abnormal intestinal contractions, food allergies, andShow More

woman refuses bread at restaurant
7 / 9
Celiac disease

Cutting gluten from your diet has been a health craze for years now. Most people don’t need to go gluten free, but there’s a group of about 2 million Americans who do: those with celiac disease. 

Celiac disease is an intolerance of gluten—a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye—that causesShow More

doctor points to model of liver
8 / 9
Cirrhosis

If your stomach is bloated and you have swollen legs, fatigue, lack of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), and weight loss, get your liver checked—especially if you drink to excess or have been previously diagnosed with hepatitis. These symptoms could result from cirrhosis, aShow More

quit smoking breaking cigarette in two
9 / 9
Other causes

Just because you’re bloated doesn’t mean you need to panic. Bloating can have many less serious causes, from swallowing air to eating too much to lactose intolerance. Luckily, it’s easy to relieve discomfort from everyday bloating. Try to limit or ditch carbonated drinks and other gassy foods,Show More

Slideshow sources open slideshow sources

FamilyDoctor.org (AAFP). Bloating. Last updated July 2021.
MedlinePlus. Abdominal bloating. Reviewed April 6, 2020.
UNC Center for Functional GI & Motility Disorders. Abdominal Bloating: A Mysterious Symptom. Accessed September 13, 2022.
MedlinePlus. Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis. Last updated July 5, 2017.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Diverticular Disease. Last reviewed August 2021.
American College of Gastroenterology. Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis. Accessed September 13, 2022.
American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Ovarian Cancer. Last revised January 12, 2022.
MedlinePlus. Ovarian Cancer. Reviewed October 12, 2020.
American Cancer Society. Can Ovarian Cancer Be Found Early? Last revised July 24, 2020.
American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer. Last revised April 11, 2018.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ovarian Cancer: What Are the Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer? Last reviewed August 31, 2022.
National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Stomach Cancer. Accessed September 2022.
American Cancer Society. Key Statistics About Ovarian Cancer. Last revised January 12, 2022.
American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Stomach Cancer. Last revised January 21, 2021.
National Health Service (UK). Symptoms: Stomach Cancer. Last reviewed October 21, 2019.
SEER/Cancer.gov. US Historical (1950+) Mortality Trends, CSR 1975-2010: 61-Year Trends in U.S. Cancer Death Rates. Accessed September 13, 2022.
Cancer.net. Stomach Cancer: Statistics. Approved January 2022.
Columbia Surgery. The Pancreas and Its Functions. Accessed September 13, 2022.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Definition & Facts for Celiac Disease. Last reviewed October 2020.
Rubio-Tapia A, Ludvigsson JF, et al. The prevalence of celiac disease in the United States. Am J Gastroenterol. 2012 Oct;107(10):1538-44; quiz 1537, 1545. 
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Celiac Disease. Accessed September 13, 2022.
Merck Manual Consumer Version. Celiac Disease. Last reviewed February 2021.
MedlinePlus. Cirrhosis. Last reviewed November 1, 2016.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Cirrhosis. Accessed September 13, 2022.

More On

5 surprising causes of IBS

video

5 surprising causes of IBS
Diarrhea, constipation and gas, oh my! Robin Miller, MD, shares 5 potential causes of irritable bowl syndrome.
How to make heartburn-free meals

article

How to make heartburn-free meals
To eat or not to eat? When you have acid reflux—that is the question.
5 worst things you're doing to your gut

slideshow

5 worst things you're doing to your gut
Keeping your gut bacteria happy may lead to better overall health.
What is the Stretta procedure for treating heartburn and GERD?

video

What is the Stretta procedure for treating heartburn and GERD?
The Stretta procedure for heartburn and GERD is a minimally invasive method that utilizes radiofrequency energy to heal the lower esophageal sphincter...
Are acid reflux drugs bad for your bones?

video

Are acid reflux drugs bad for your bones?
If you take medication for acid reflux, here's important news: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can interfere with calcium absorption and weaken your bon...