FIND A PHYSICIAN
- Search for a physician by selecting a
  hospital or by using the UH system finder
REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT
- Request an appointment by selecting a
  hospital or by using the UH system request
  
  1-866-UH4-CARE
  (1-866-844-2273)
SERVICES
- Find a medical specialty by selecting a
  hospital or by reviewing all UH specialties
  
  View UH Specialties & Institutes
  View all Services
LOCATIONS
- View all of University Hospitals locations or select
  a hospital to get directions
  
  Advanced Location Finder
GIVING
- Visit the UH Giving Web site
  Ways to Give
  Opportunities to Support
UH CAREERS
- Visit the Career Center
  Nursing Education Programs
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
- Physician Portal
  Continuing Medical Education
  Residency & Fellowship Programs
CONTACT
- Contact Numbers
  
  1-866-UH4-CARE (1-866-844-2273)

CLEVELAND, OHIO
1-866-UH4-CARE
|
Search UH Online

Health Information

Health Encyclopedia

About UH

Our Services

Patients & Visitors

Health Professionals

Locate a UH Facility

Health Information

Research

Home

Print this page Email this page Bookmark Page

In This Section

The Health Encyclopedia provides the most comprehensive, patient-friendly health information available on the internet. More than 11,000 pages of content detail diseases, symptoms, medical tests, injuries and other common health and medical questions.

Encyclopedia Topics

Health Encyclopedia

Abdominal bloating

Abdominal ultrasound

Definition

Abdominal bloating is a condition in which the abdomen (belly) feels full and tight.

Alternative Names

Bloating; Meteorism

Considerations

Common Causes

Air swallowing (a nervous habit)
Constipation
Excess gas in the bowel
Irritable bowel syndrome
Lactose intolerance and other food intolerances
Overeating
Partial bowel obstruction
Small bowel bacterial overgrowth

Important but uncommon causes of abdominal bloating include ascites and tumors, such as those arising from ovarian cancer.

Home Care

Call your health care provider if

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Review Date: 3/8/2008

Reviewd By: Christian Stone, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Rate this article:

1 Excellent - 4 Poor

1234

Send a Comment:

Type the characters you see in the picture