Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

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abdominal distention Swelling of the abdomen,
sometimes referred to as bloating. Doctors evaluate
abdominal distention as a clinical indicator for
a wide range of health conditions. The most common
cause of transitory abdominal distention is
excessive intestinal gas resulting from eating too
fast, which results in swallowing of air along with
the food. The BACTERIA in the COLON that ferment
high-fiber carbohydrates such as vegetables, fruits,
and legumes (beans) also produce intestinal gas
during digestion. Infants often swallow air when
nursing or bottle feeding, which can cause noticeable
abdominal distention rather rapidly. “Burping”
the infant relieves the distention. Abdominal
distention due to EATING HABITS dissipates as the
meal moves through the gastrointestinal system.
Completely chewing food before swallowing,
especially meats and high-fiber foods, helps slow
eating, prepare food for digestion, and reduce the
amount of air that enters the gastrointestinal system.
Menstruating women often experience transitory
abdominal distention in the few days before
and during MENSTRUATION, a result of fluid retention
related to hormonal changes taking place in
the body. Abdominal distention is a normal feature
of PREGNANCY. In early pregnancy the distention
and corresponding discomforts may mimic
gastrointestinal causes, though as the pregnancy
continues the characteristic abdominal enlargement
becomes apparent. Extreme OBESITY may
mask this presentation, however, resulting in the
appearance of generalized abdominal distention
rather than characteristic pregnancy. Abdominal
distention often is an early sign of ECTOPIC PREG-
NANCY, a life-threatening condition in which the
fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube instead
of the UTERUS. Doctors commonly test for pregnancy
in women of childbearing age who seek
treatment for abdominal distention.
Abdominal distention that develops gradually
and persists may signal health conditions that
require medical attention. The most common
cause of prolonged abdominal distention is
OBESITY, in which excessive body fat accumulates
in the central abdomen. The resulting distention
may cause the abdominal wall to protrude or
cause generalized thickening through the midsection
(the “spare tire” presentation of ABDOMINAL
ADIPOSITY). Weight reduction results in the gradual
recession of abdominal adiposity. ASCITES is a form
of abdominal distention that results from fluid
accumulating in the peritoneal cavity. Chronic
LIVER disease, HEART FAILURE, and chronic KIDNEY
disease are among the health conditions associated
with ascites. Less commonly, abdominal distention
may signal tumors, UTERINE FIBROIDS, OVARIAN CYST,
and other growths affecting the abdominal organs.
Abdominal distention is a symptom in numerous
gastrointestinal conditions including IRRITABLE
BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS), MALABSORPTION disorders,
and intestinal obstruction.
The doctor should evaluate abdominal distention
that persists or in which there is accompanying
PAIN, FEVER, or GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING.
Palpation (feeling the abdomen), BARIUM SWALLOW
and BARIUM ENEMA, X-ray endoscopic procedures
such as gastroscopy and COLONOSCOPY, ULTRASOUND,
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) SCAN, MAGNETIC
RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI), and paracentesis (withdrawing
fluid from the abdominal cavity through
the abdominal using a needle and syringe) are
among the common diagnostic methods the doctor
may use to identify the cause of abdominal
distention. Treatment targets the underlying conditions.