Abdominal bloating in the upper abdomen is a common condition that can affect people of all ages.
Bloating in the upper abdomen, also called abdominal distension, causes the stomach to feel bloated and and may cause intestinal gas.
This article will give you all the information on how it affects your body and ways to get rid of abdominal pain quickly.
Symptoms Of Upper Abdominal Bloating
Bloating can be referred to as a sensation of having inflated balloons in a stomach.
Symptoms may be a result of gas-related issues like burping, swallowing air, or passing gastrointestinal gas and is often accompanied by more symptoms like severe stomach pain and swelling.
The following are the most common symptoms of upper stomach pain from bloating:
- Feeling of fullness or tightness in the stomach
- Increased abdominal size
- Pressure or discomfort in the abdomen, especially after eating
- Belching and passing gas frequently
- Experiencing nausea and vomiting occasionally
- Bacterial infection in the small intestine
Some of these symptoms are relatively minor and include swallowing air, eating too quickly, or drinking from a straw. Others might be more serious such as ovarian cancer, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
What Causes Bloating In Upper Abdomen Under Ribs?
There are several reasons you may be experiencing bloating in your upper abdomen under your rib cage.
Abdominal bloating happens when there’s too much gas and fluids in your digestive tract.
Upper stomach pain also may occur if you’re constipated, have irregular bowel movements or irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, or intestinal obstruction.
A digestive tract obstruction means that food cannot pass through the intestines properly.
If the cause is bloating, you may feel abdominal pain such as cramping or intense pain.
Can You Bloat In Your Upper Stomach?
Abdominal bloating in the upper stomach is not healthy or normal, but it is very common.
Upper stomach bloat causes a very uncomfortable sensation that makes you feel full even if you’ve only eaten a small amount of food.
Some popular foods that can cause bloating are cabbage, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, bran cereals, and coffee.
If your stomach and gut aren’t functioning correctly, it’s challenging for your body to digest these high-fiber foods.
Additionally, people that are lactose intolerant often struggle with upper abdominal bloating.
Why Is My Upper Abdomen Bloated and Hard?
Abdominal pain with upper abdominal hardening may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, or excessive gas after eating certain foods including dairy products.
Upper abdominal hardening is sometimes caused by a serious health condition.
For that reason, it is critical to discuss your severe abdominal pain with your doctor to get a proper diagnosis and create a treatment plan.
How Long Should Bloating Last?
Bloating in the upper abdomen is a common condition that generally only lasts for 1 to 2 hours.
Bloating can be felt in your upper stomach, lower chest area below the rib cage, and sometimes even in your throat.
This stomach pain often goes away after you’ve eaten foods that are easy to digest or had a normal bowel movement.
Drinking lots of water throughout the day can also help with bloating because it keeps food moving through your digestive tract before too much gas builds up in there!
What Should I Eat When Bloated?
Bloating is caused by several different factors. But if you want to reduce bloating, specific food choices help.
The following list includes nutritious foods that promote healthy digestion:
- Ginger
- Lightly cooked leafy greens
- Raw carrots
- Lean meats, including chicken and turkey
- Kimchi
- Kefir
- Kombucha
- Probiotics
Ginger is often used because it helps stimulate gastric juices, which help with nutrient absorption.
Drinking ginger tea before meals can help reduce tummy bloat.
If you’re looking for a high-quality ginger tea, we recommend Yogi Tea.
How Do You Know If Bloating In Upper Abdomen Is Serious?
If bloating in the upper abdomen occurs when you’re not eating any high-fiber foods, then something more serious may be going on.
This may be due to intestinal obstruction, diverticulitis, or irritable bowel syndrome.
Bloating can also happen if you have a gas-producing infection, such as bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.
If you experience vomiting, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, blood in your stool or vomit, or sudden weight loss, make sure to see your doctor immediately.
How do you get rid of upper stomach bloating?
Abdominal bloating is not always a serious issue and typically goes away on its own.
If you find that the bloat doesn’t go away, try making a few small changes to your diet.
- Choose foods high in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains; fiber absorbs water and helps you feel fuller
- Avoid fatty or fried foods that slow down digestive process
- Eat smaller portions throughout the day
- Don’t drink in between meals or juices because this will fill up on liquids which have no dietary value
- Avoid drinking carbonated beverages
- Consider adding rinsing your mouth out after eating to get rid of bacteria and make digestion easier
- Eat healthy fats found in avocado, olive oil, canola oil
If problems still persist, we recommend seeking medical attention where a medical professional can recommend treatment options.
What Relieves Bloating Instantly?
Drinking water immediately upon bloating discomfort often helps ease symptoms of abdominal pain quickly.
Abdominal pain often occurs if you have eaten foods that are difficult to digest or experience issues with your gallbladder, small intestine, pancreas, or liver.
Health and digestion experts also suggest incorporating a high-quality probiotic supplement into your daily routine.
If you’re looking for the best probiotic to relieve bloating, we recommend GOL Nutrition’s IBPro Probiotic.
Unlike other probiotics, IBPro provides two-step acid protection using their advanced MAKTrek® 3-D technology. This means that all of the living probiotic bacteria will make it to your digestive system.
Summary
Bloating in the upper stomach can be a frustrating experience.
We’ve provided some information on what bloating is, how long it generally lasts, and how to get relief from your symptoms.
If you have been struggling with upper stomach bloating regularly with severe pain, we recommend seeking medical attention from a doctor as soon as possible because there may be something else going on that needs attention.
You can also try taking GOL Nutrition’s IBPro Probiotic twice a day to relieve any discomfort caused by bloating!