Bloating occurs when the stomach feels swollen, often causing a level of discomfort in the sufferer. Swelling in the stomach may or may not be visible, but the sufferer feels as though his stomach is enlarged and tight. Most times bloating treatments include simple, over-the-counter medicines. For long-term bloating, a doctor may prescribe medication to help prevent or ease the symptoms.
When bloating becomes painful or happens frequently, it's important for the sufferer to see his doctor to talk about bloating treatments. It could be a symptom of a digestive problem or other ailment triggering the bloating. Often a few tests can indicate any problems and the doctor can prescribe medication based on the results. If no problems are found, the doctor may prescribe a medication to treat the bloating and will monitor the patient's progress.
For cases of bloating that occur infrequently, the sufferer can try over-the-counter remedies. Several liquid medications and pills are designed to treat bloating. If gas is thought to be the cause of the bloating, medicine designed to provide gas relief can help.
A change in diet may also prove beneficial. The sufferer should keep a food diary and write down what he eats each day. If eating certain foods, or eating at certain times of the day, causes bloating, he should alter his schedule and diet around that. Drinking lots of water will also help reduce bloating. For those who do not want to take over-the-counter medications, certain herbal remedies such as peppermint oil are thought to help reduce bloating in some patients.
Another option is to take a daily supplement containing probiotics. Probiotics are known as good bacteria that help the body and may decrease the number of bad bacteria. If bad bacteria is causing the bloating, probiotics can help rid the stomach of these and relieve symptoms. Probiotics are also thought to help increase digestive health even if bloating is not a common problem.
While bloating treatments can reduce or sometimes eliminate the symptoms all together, it's best to understand what causes the bloating in the first place. If other symptoms occur along with the bloating, it may indicate a digestive disorder such as irritable bowel syndrome. Specific medications for this disorder may prove more helpful in some patients than regular bloating treatments. Often secondary symptoms can point the doctor in the right direction for finding the cause and providing adequate bloating treatments.