How To Tell The Difference Between A Normal Bloated Stomach And Something More Serious

Because sometimes bloating just happens.

- Natasha Lavender

Feeling like you have a bloated stomach is normal. There’s nothing wrong with experiencing minor bloating after, say, having a meal. Even if it’s uncomfortable, it’s usually temporary. Let’s all thank evolving fashion technology for elastic waistbands and not make ourselves feel bad about having a bloated stomach. With that said, persistent bloating can sometimes be an indication that something’s going on with your health, which might be worth getting checked out.

“I think it’s important to differentiate the sensation of bloating from the physical change of what we call distension,” says Dr Simon Hong a gastroenterologist specialising in inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD) and clinical assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “They often go together, but bloating is that feeling of feeling full, which most people attribute to gas.” Distension, he explains, is a noticeable difference in the size of your abdomen.

Feeling bloated for a few hours can be normal for many reasons. Experiencing distension alongside that sensation can be normal too. But if your abdomen is physically distended and doesn’t return to where it was before, that’s concerning.

Look for food-related patterns in your bloating