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Bloating is a common complaint, particularly among women, who often note that the problem becomes more pronounced during the latter part of the day. Patients and physicians usually ascribe the problem to excess gaseousness. The ingestion of food causes relaxation of the stomach and rectus muscles. Any weakening of the rectus muscles, therefore, leads to more-pronounced distention. Because the largest meal usually is taken in the evening, distention following this meal is more pronounced than observed after bloating. Although gaseousness is not the dominant cause, excess gas ingestion or generation will add to the problem. The absence of significant associated complaints such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and severe pain is often helpful in determining whether the complaint is caused by muscle relaxation or gastrointestinal structural pathology. A long history of symptoms also supports a functional cause. Women who have had one or more pregnancies or individuals who have undergone abdominal surgeries or have debilitating diseases may lose rectus muscle tone.
The most important clinical observation is whether the distention is present in the erect and recumbent positions. If the evaluation is in the late afternoon and the patient is able to show abdominal distention while standing erect, the patient should be asked to lie recumbent on the examining table. If the distention is no longer apparent to the physician and patient, the diagnosis has been established. Many patients unfortunately have been subjected to numerous endoscopic and radiographic procedures and treated with a variety of drugs for a problem that is primarily mechanical. If the distention persists while the patient is recumbent, an obstruction series should be obtained and appropriate studies directed to determine whether the disorder is related to abnormal motility (pseudo-obstruction).
Efforts can be directed toward reducing the swallowing of air, the use of carbonated beverages, and the ingestion of foods that generate colonic gas such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and baked beans. A larger lunch and smaller dinner may prove beneficial. Dietary manipulation unfortunately is less helpful for patients with distention than for individuals with belching or flatulence.