R/Distension
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dis·ten·sion
| \ di-ˈsten(t)-shən
\
: the act of distending or the state of being distended especially unduly or abnormally
Experiencing distension alongside that sensation can be normal, too.
—
Natasha Lavender, SELF , 14 Oct. 2020
Patients can have distension and bloating of the abdomen.
—
Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press , 16 Aug. 2019
Gastric distension caused by sparkling water’s CO2 bubbles can decrease the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, which can then promote acid reflux, Dr. Chowdhry says.
—
Carolyn L. Todd, SELF , 5 Apr. 2019
The first is speedily drawing water into your small intestine, causing gas, bloating, distension , and diarrhea.
—
Good Housekeeping , 4 Sep. 2017
All of this can cause spasms and distension in your large intestine during the digestive process, which can be pretty painful, Jamile Wakim-Fleming, M.D., a gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic, tells SELF.
—
Korin Miller, SELF , 14 Dec. 2017
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variants:
or distention \
dis-ˈten-chən
\
: the act of distending or the state of being distended especially unduly or abnormally
no noticeable distension of the abdomen — Benjamin Spock
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These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'distension.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback .
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Middle English distensioun , from Latin distention-, distentio , from distendere
“Distension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distension. Accessed 25 Jul. 2022.
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Key Takeaways
Stomach distension (the physical expansion of the stomach) and bloating (the feeling of pressure) are technically two different conditions. They can occur separately or together.
Chronic stomach distension and bloating are common, and even more common in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
There are numerous underlying causes of distention of the abdomen and bloating, including inflammation, bacterial overgrowth, food sensitivities, and more.
Occasional stomach distension and bloating are completely normal, but if they become chronic, painful, and disrupt your daily life they need to be addressed.
There are simple, natural ways to relieve both stomach distension and bloating.
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This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts.
Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strive to be objective, unbiased, honest and to present both sides of the argument.
This article contains scientific references. The numbers in the parentheses (1, 2, 3) are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific papers.
Written by Dr. Michael Ruscio, DNM, DC on
December 29, 2021
Have you ever finished a delicious meal, only to experience the uncomfortable feelings of bloating and stomach distension? It can be such a frustrating experience, but you’re not alone. In fact, 16-31% of Americans experience chronic bloating and distention of the abdomen [ 1 Trusted Source PubMed Go to source ].
While each of us has probably experienced both of these at some point in our lives, bloating and stomach distension shouldn’t be an everyday occurrence. If your symptoms have become chronic, cause you abdominal pain, and/or disrupt your daily life, it’s time to address them.
In this article, we’ll discuss what you need to know about the causes of stomach distension and bloating. We’ll also provide a step-by-step treatment guide for targeting the root causes of your symptoms so you can feel like yourself again.
If your stomach distension has become a common occurrence, it’s important to determine the root cause of your symptoms. In our practice, we start with foundational treatments. Using this step-by-step, bottom-to-top approach, we’ve consistently been able to help successfully treat the underlying causes of stomach distension.
Start with step 1 and move on to the next step only if your symptoms persist.
As I describe in Healthy Gut, Healthy You , diet and lifestyle changes are the foundation for healing most gut issues. While diet needs to be personalized, most people will benefit from getting back to basics when it comes to food.
Principles of a healthy diet include:
A good starting point is often the Paleo diet ; if you’re feeling great after a couple of weeks, then stick with it. If you still have some lingering symptoms, you may benefit from a low FODMAP plan .
The low FODMAP diet has been shown to improve a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms for people with IBS and other functional gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms:
In addition to the dietary changes, here are some important lifestyle considerations:
If you’ve made the above diet and lifestyle-related changes, but still haven’t achieved your desired results, consider adding probiotics. Probiotics are defined as microorganisms that provide health benefits to their host, and they’ve been shown time after time to be very effective for the treatment of bloating. Let’s look at some of the research on the benefits of probiotics when it comes to bloating and distension:
If you’re still struggling with distention of the abdomen and bloating after implementing steps 1 and 2, you may consider specialized digestive support in the form of an elemental diet, antimicrobials, antibiotics, digestive enzymes, and/or supplemental acid.
These therapeutics shouldn’t be added all at once. You should consider working with a practitioner to help you determine which digestive aid(s) are most likely to be helpful for you.
Pelvic floor dysfunction can be a culprit in bloating and distension of the abdomen. If you have ruled out any other medical cause, worked through the first three steps, and still struggle with these symptoms, it may be worth it to consult with a pelvic floor therapist.
A non-randomized clinical trial found manual therapy to break up scar tissue in the abdomen and pelvic floor improved bloating and stomach distension for people with small bowel obstructions. In addition, an observational study where patients wer
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