Persistent Gas and Bloating? 5 Potential Causes You Shouldn't Ignore

Gas and bloating are also common complaints among most people, but if persistent for more than a week, they could be an indication that something is wrong with our body and needs to be investigated. Transient discomfort will always be most likely to be a food problem, but persistent symptoms could be something far more serious.IBS is the most common cause of chronic gas and bloating. It is due to gut hypersensitivity and disordered gut motility. Alternating constipation and diarrhoea, cramp, and abdominal pain, which improve after defecation, are characteristic features. It is not dangerous but can have a profound impact on the quality of life and may need long-term treatment with diet, stress, and medication. In a large-scale community-based study published in the Middle East Journal of Digestive issues found that over 60% of IBS patients experience bloating, making bloating one of the most frequently repeated symptoms. Bloating is not just "in your head"; it is a widespread, research-backed symptom.Chronic bloating can result from an inability to effectively digest some foods. Common culprits include lactose intolerance, fructose malabsorption, or gluten sensitivity. Gut bacteria ferment such toxins when they enter the large intestine undigested and produce excess gas. Keeping a food diary is usually helpful to assist with pattern identification. Untreated intolerances can result in chronic discomfort as well as nutritional deprivation.Recent studies have shown that lactose intolerance is generally shown by abdominal bloating, which arises from a complex interplay of biochemical, microbial and neurocentric mechanisms.The small intestine is usually low in bacteria compared to the colon. Small intestine bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine leads to fermentation of food, gas, bloating, and weight loss or malabsorption of nutrients in some patients. SIBO has been reported to be related to IBS, diabetes, and prolonged use of acid-reducing drugs, as researched. Unresolved SIBO leads to a deficiency of vitamins and chronic abdominal pain.In clinical manifestations, SIBO overgrowth clasically include a combination of abdominal bloating, flatulence or chronic watery diarrhea, signifying that it all starts with a little bloated stomach, then to a full blown digestive issue.Extremely rare when bloating is a chronic symptom of gut lining inflammation (colitis, gastritis, or enteritis) or stomach infection. Chronic symptoms could be symptomatic of parasites, H. pylori infection, or post-infectious IBS. Denying these can prevent recovery, hamper digestion, and in some instances, result in diseases that must be treated by a physician.Less common, but not unknown, is bloating and gas that is chronic and a sign of disease that should never be ignored, such as celiac disease, gallbladder disease, pancreatic enzyme deficiency, or ovarian or colorectal malignancy. Red-flag symptoms are acute weight loss, hematochezia, significant pain, or unexplained weakness. These need to be brought up with a doctor right away.Gas and bloating that lasts longer than a week is not always "just indigestion." Chronic symptoms such as these can lead to impaired nutrient absorption, dehydration, or progression of as-yet-unidentified disease. A prompt medical evaluation not only rules out severe illness but also provides customized treatment for symptom resolution.Bottom line: Lasting for longer than a few days, chronic bloating cannot be ignored. Early action can prevent digestive illness, boost energy levels, and prevent more serious issues in the future.