Bloating is not always due to heavy meals or overeating. Sometimes it may indicate towards a more serious and chronic health problem.

After eating a heavy meal bloating or even overeating, which is the feeling of tightness or fullness in the abdomen, is very common. To ease the discomfort, many may resort to temporary fixes like walking, drinking warm water, or taking antacids. However, if bloating happens frequently or without a clear reason, then you need to pay close attention as it may signal an underlying digestive condition that should not be ignored.

So to decode when bloating may indicate an underlying ailment, we spoke to Dr Shankar Lal Jat, HOD of gastroenterology at Manipal Hospitals in Jaipur, who shed light on what chronic bloating may allude to, beyond just the usual causes like overeating or heavy meals.

What can chronic bloating mean?
“When the feeling of abdominal fullness or tightness appears regularly, even without clear triggers, it may signal an underlying digestive issue. In some cases, it can be linked to conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), where the gut becomes unusually sensitive and reactive,” Dr Jat stated, observing how it can indicate a indicate a deeper gut-health concerns rather than occasional abdominal tightness after eating.

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
“IBS is a functional digestive disorder in which the intestine appear normal, but do not perform their functions normally, mainly because of a lack of normal communication between the brain and the intestines. It is frequently associated with reasons such as stress, irregular gut movement, food sensitivities, imbalances in gut bacteria, and past infections,” the doctor explained what is irritable bowel syndrome.

Furthermore, many people notice that certain triggers can worsen IBS symptoms, including hormonal changes during periods, foods like dairy or gluten, and stress. While the triggers may vary from person to person, IBS which shows up through recurring digestive problems that should not be ignored.

What are some signs of IBS?