Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

There is a lot of confusion about what bloating is and whether it is the same thing as distention. Here are a couple of exerts from some research papers on the topic that may help.

"Bloating, like some other descriptors for abdominal sensations, is an ambiguous term that alludes both to the subjective sensation and to the objective abdominal distention. The ambiguity of the English term is shared by other languages. Furthermore, bloating appears to be more frequently associated with visceral hypersensitivity, whereas distension is more often related to hyposensitivity and delayed transit. Although there is little evidence for excessive gas as a cause of bloating, gas infusion studies suggest that handling of gas may be impaired in irritable bowel syndrome and there may also be abnormal relaxation of the anterior abdominal musculature in these patients."

"Bloating means different things to different patients (and to their doctors). Some use the term bloating to refer to the sensation of a swollen/distended abdomen, and others use it to refer to the sensation of a full belly, the feeling of abdominal pressure or wall tension, or the sensation of excess gas. Yet others use it for various apparently unrelated sensations, such as needing to burp; nausea; crampy, gurgling, or rumbling stomach; or needing to go to the bathroom. Many patients with bloating, approximately 24%, report no visible abdominal distention."

References
Agrawal, A. and P. J. Whorwell, 2008: Review article: abdominal bloating and distension in functional gastrointestinal disorders - epidemiology and exploration of possible mechanisms" Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 27, 2-10.

Azpiroz, F. and J.-R. Malagelada, 2005: Abdominal Bloating. Gastroenterology, 129, 1060-1078.

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