Bloating often results from our daily eating habits. We might overeat at social gatherings, eat hastily due to a busy lifestyle, or remain inactive after meals because of work that requires sitting in front of a computer. These factors contribute to bloating due to indigestion or excessive gas in the digestive tract.
Simple Remedies for Bloating After a Heavy Meal
Normally, the body expels gas through belching or flatulence. However, sometimes bloating can persist for hours, accompanied by discomfort, tightness, or even nausea and vomiting.
If you experience bloating, there’s no need to endure the discomfort or wait for it to worsen. You can alleviate the symptoms with the following simple methods:
- Use digestive aids and anti-gas medications to reduce bloating and indigestion.
- Move your body by taking a slow walk after meals to expel gas and stimulate digestion
- Avoid wearing tight clothing, as it increases abdominal pressure.
- Gently massage the abdomen to stimulate digestion and expel gas.
When to See a Doctor
While you can use self-help methods to expel gas when bloating occurs, including anti-gas or digestive aids, frequent or prolonged bloating, tightness, or indigestion should not be ignored as they may signal digestive system diseases.
If you have had bloating for more than two weeks, or medication doesn’t help, and you have additional symptoms, you should see a doctor for further diagnosis.
When to See a Doctor
- Frequent or prolonged vomiting, or vomiting blood.
- Severe bloating, tightness, or abdominal pain.
- Pale complexion, jaundice (yellow skin and eyes).
- Alternating constipation and diarrhea, or changes in bowel habits.
- Dark or blood-stained stools.
- Loss of appetite, fatigue, unexplained weight loss.
- Age over 40 or having direct relatives with a history of digestive system cancer.
Bloating, tightness, or indigestion are common and not severe conditions, but if they occur frequently and persist over time or are accompanied by other symptoms, you should not be complacent. Ignoring these symptoms may lead to more severe conditions or diseases you might not expect.
Therefore, it is important to monitor yourself. If you have these symptoms, see a doctor for a thorough examination and early treatment, which increases the chances of recovery from digestive system symptoms and diseases.
