Then you get rid of the stomach balloon

save the article

FifthIs it because the stomach suddenly swells like a balloon? Who knows a lot about this is Perjohan Lindfors, MD, a gastroenterologist at Aleris and researcher at Karolinska Institutet.

– With the stomach balloon in everyday speech, it often means a feeling of bloating, and sometimes with objectively distended stomach.

Berjohan explains that we all have very large amounts of gas in our digestive system.

These gases come partly from the air we starve, and partly from the decomposition of food. How much gas is produced also depends on what we eat. Onions, beans, and other foods rich in carbohydrates, for example, produce more gas than foods rich in protein.

Irritable bowel syndrome causes sensitivity in the digestive system

For most people, it usually does not cause such big problems.

But if you have a sensitive digestive system, such as if you suffer from IBS, the “extra” amount of gas from certain carbohydrates can cause symptoms such as stomach cramps, a feeling of bloating and visible flatulence.

Usually you don’t have such big problems in the morning, but the symptoms increase during the day to be more annoying in the afternoon and evening.

This is because the digestive system is activated when we eat and the fermentation process begins when the food reaches the large intestine.

So, if you suffer from a stomach balloon, do you likely have irritable bowel syndrome?

– In most cases, it is. IBS is very common, about ten percent of the population has irritable bowel syndrome to varying degrees, although not everyone is diagnosed with it in health care.

It may be due to an allergy to gluten or lactose

But Perjohan Lindfors also cites other causes of bloating, such as gluten or lactose intolerance. Some medications can also cause bloating as a side effect, including bloating agents used as a treatment for constipation.

It is important to seek care to discuss and investigate what may be the cause of your symptoms.

If you have significant problems with a swollen stomach, other mechanisms may play a role:

In some people with significant problems, research has shown that there may also be a disturbance in the reflex system that begins in the digestive system after a meal. This disturbance then causes the stomach to swell.

He adds that there is a very small group of people with this disorder and research is ongoing in the area.

Advice for you with the gastric balloon

If you now have a balloon stomach and irritable bowel syndrome (with or without a confirmed diagnosis), there is still hope and relief:

Many people get better by changing their lifestyle and/or diet. Long-term increased physical activity usually helps reduce symptoms.

You can also be more careful when thinking about how you eat.

If you have irritable bowel syndrome, you will usually feel better by snacking more frequently and preferably eating regular snacks, smaller portions at main meals and slower. Stress often makes the sensitive digestive system more sensitive, so it’s also important to find ways to reduce stress in life.

In irritable bowel syndrome, carbohydrates can cause discomfort

Simple dietary changes such as eating less fermented foods, such as onions, beans, and garlic, can be an important part of the changes that can lead to improvement.

In IBS, carbohydrates often contribute to its occurrence, many of which contribute to increased fermentation in the colon.

However, there are some carbohydrates that are “worse” than others in this regard. Examples include Perjohan’s milk sugar, carbohydrates from grains (mainly wheat), from some berries/fruits and from beans, onions and garlic as well as sweeteners.

Sometimes a more advanced diet like Fodmap . is required

If you’ve tried these lifestyle changes and are still experiencing major problems, you can contact your health center for help meeting a dietitian for more specific nutritional advice, sometimes with a more advanced nutritional therapy like Fodmap, says Perjohan and explains what it means one:

First you go through a 2-3 week elimination phase, where you eliminate all fermented carbohydrates. If you then feel better during follow-up and your symptoms have visibly decreased, move on to the re-introduction phase. Then, for several weeks, the fermented carbohydrates return to the level that the patient “tolerated” without regaining symptoms.

LCHF or Ketodiet

If you’ve tried another low-carb diet like the LCHF or the keto diet, it’s very common to have fewer IBS issues, and it’s probably precisely because you’re eating less carbs, Berjohan explains.

If you try an extreme diet like the keto diet for a short time, it can work as a gateway, but maintaining such a diet can be problematic in the long run. If she feels good about cutting out some carbs, that’s okay. But I advise you to take the help of a dietitian to make sure that you do not get a deficiency of vitamins and everything else your body needs.