When is Bloating a Cause for Concern?

Bloating can cause discomfort, and even pain.

Bryan Curtin, M.D., MHSc, board certified gastroenterologist and Director of The Center for Neurogastroenterology and GI Motility at The Melissa L. Posner Institute for Digestive Health & Liver Disease at Mercy, explains why it affects women more than men.

"Sometimes, women have a higher gut sensitivity, and so, they tend to be more sensitive to certain types of foods, food intolerances," Dr. Curtin said. "Women suffer from constipation more than men do, and so, that's a big contributing factor to bloating as well. Plus, as we've seen in the literature, women suffer from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) more, and bloating can be a big manifestation of IBS."

Most people probably wouldn't see a doctor for bloating - but there's a time when you should.

"If you eat a big meal, or if you eat a lot of hard-to-digest foods, and you feel bloated, that's not necessarily a reason to go see the doctor," Dr. Curtin explained. "When you should start to get a little bit concerned is if it becomes more of a chronic, almost daily occurrence. If it causes you to change your behavior in significant ways that you otherwise wouldn't, then that's probably a reason to see the doctor."

Reasons to see the doctor can include missing work or missing social engagements, where it really becomes a chronic problem.

The doctor might test for things like food intolerance and structural issues or look for additional symptoms that could suggest something more serious.

View Mercy gastroenterologist Dr. Bryan Curtin's interview regarding stomach bloating, its causes and treatment.