Digestive
Bloating
A feeling of fullness, tightness or swelling in the tummy, often with trapped wind.
Education and reference only. This explains the common causes of bloating and the warning signs that need urgent help, in plain language — it is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a clinician. If you feel very unwell or are worried, seek medical help.
Quick answer
What is bloating?
Bloating is a common sense of fullness, tightness or swelling in the tummy, often coming with wind, rumbling or a feeling that your clothes are tighter. Most of the time it is linked to digestion, diet, constipation or a sensitive bowel, and it comes and goes through the day.
- Get urgent help: Persistent bloating on most days, especially in women over 50, with loss of appetite, feeling full quickly, or weight loss – this needs assessment to rule out ovarian cancer. A hard, swollen, very painful tummy with vomiting and no bowel movement or wind – a possible obstruction needing urgent help.
- Self-care: Everyday bloating often improves with simple changes.
About bloating
Bloating is a common sense of fullness, tightness or swelling in the tummy, often coming with wind, rumbling or a feeling that your clothes are tighter. Most of the time it is linked to digestion, diet, constipation or a sensitive bowel, and it comes and goes through the day. Occasionally, persistent bloating, especially when it happens on most days and comes with changes in appetite or weight, can be an important early sign of something needing investigation, including ovarian cancer in women over 50. A hard, swollen, very painful tummy with vomiting can signal a blockage and is urgent. Noticing the pattern and any other symptoms helps tell everyday bloating from the kind that needs checking.
When to get help
Call 999 or go to A&E if bloating comes with any of these warning signs:
- Persistent bloating on most days, especially in women over 50, with loss of appetite, feeling full quickly, or weight loss – this needs assessment to rule out ovarian cancer.
- A hard, swollen, very painful tummy with vomiting and no bowel movement or wind – a possible obstruction needing urgent help.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if bloating happens on most days for three weeks or more, rather than coming and going, or if it is a new and persistent change for you. Get checked if it comes with loss of appetite, feeling full quickly, weight loss, a change in bowel habit, or bleeding. Women, especially over 50, should not dismiss persistent bloating as simply diet-related, as it can be an early sign of ovarian problems that benefit from early assessment.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
What can cause it
Common causes of bloating
Bloating has many possible causes. Each links to a full, plain-language guide to that condition — what it is, how it's treated and when to seek help.
What helps
Self-care and what you can do
Everyday bloating often improves with simple changes. Eating slowly, having smaller and more regular meals, and cutting back on fizzy drinks, chewing gum and very fatty or gas-forming foods can all help. Keeping well hydrated, staying active and getting into a regular toilet routine eases the bloating that comes with constipation. A food and symptom diary can help you spot patterns and any particular foods that set it off. If bloating is persistent or comes with other symptoms, treat self-care as a first step alongside, not instead of, getting it checked.
Answers
Bloating: frequently asked questions
When should I worry about bloating?
See a doctor if bloating happens on most days for three weeks or more, or comes with loss of appetite, feeling full quickly, weight loss or a change in bowel habit. In women, especially over 50, persistent bloating should be checked to rule out ovarian cancer.
What everyday things cause bloating?
Common causes include a sensitive bowel, constipation, swallowing air, fizzy drinks and gas-forming or fatty foods. This kind of bloating usually comes and goes through the day and often eases after opening the bowels or passing wind.
How can I reduce bloating at home?
Eat slowly and have smaller, regular meals, cut down on fizzy drinks and chewing gum, stay hydrated and keep active. A food and symptom diary helps spot trigger foods. If bloating is persistent or comes with other symptoms, get it checked as well.
When is a bloated tummy an emergency?
A hard, swollen, very painful tummy with vomiting and no bowel movement or wind can signal a blockage in the bowel and needs urgent help. Do not wait it out if you have these symptoms, as a blockage needs prompt assessment.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Ovarian cancer.
- Target Ovarian Cancer.
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