Abdominal bloating is a common digestive system symptom. The main causes of abdominal bloating are gastrointestinal flatulence, ascites caused by various reasons, abdominal tumors, etc. Generally speaking, gastrointestinal bloating is caused by abdominal distention. Distention limited to the upper abdomen is more common due to gas accumulation in the stomach or transverse colon. Abdominal distension due to pneumatosis in the small intestine can be limited to the mid-abdomen, or it can be distension of the entire abdomen. Abdominal distension due to pneumocolon The bulge can be limited to the lower abdomen or left lower abdomen. In the case of pyloric obstruction, there may be gastric-shaped and peristaltic waves in the upper abdomen. In intestinal obstruction, intestinal-shaped and peristaltic waves may be seen, and bowel sounds may become hyperactive or weakened. Patients with peritonitis may experience tenderness and muscle tension. . Associated symptoms (1) Abdominal distension and abdominal pain: When accompanied by severe abdominal pain, the possibility of acute cholecystitis, pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, acute peritonitis, mesenteric vascular embolism or thrombosis, intestinal volvulus, intussusception and other pathological changes should be considered. (2) Abdominal distension with vomiting: It is more common in pyloric obstruction, intestinal obstruction and other lesions. Secondly, it can be seen in liver, biliary tract and pancreatic lesions. Vomiting can sometimes occur in functional lesions such as functional dyspepsia and aerophagia. (3) Abdominal distension with belching: common in aerophagia, functional dyspepsia, chronic atrophic gastritis, gastroptosis, ulcer disease and pyloric obstruction. (4) Abdominal distension with constipation: more common in habitual constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (constipation type), intestinal obstruction, left colon cancer, etc. (5) Abdominal distension with diarrhea: more common in acute intestinal infection, liver cirrhosis, chronic cholecystitis, chronic pancreatitis, malabsorption syndrome, etc. (6) Abdominal distension with increased anal flatulence: It is more common after food ferments in the intestines, excessive gas in the colon, irritable bowel syndrome, etc. (7) Abdominal distension accompanied by fever: more common in typhoid fever, acute intestinal inflammation, intestinal tuberculosis, tuberculous peritonitis and sepsis, etc. (8) Abdominal distension accompanied by intestinal-type or abnormal peristaltic waves: Abdominal distension accompanied by intestinal-type or abnormal peristaltic waves is more common in intestinal obstruction. If there is vibration sound in the stomach, gastric retention or pyloric obstruction is often considered. (9) Location of abdominal distension: Upper abdominal distension is more common in atrophic gastritis, functional dyspepsia, cirrhosis, pyloric obstruction, gastric dilatation or gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, etc. Middle and upper abdominal distension is more common in liver, biliary tract lesions, and hepatic flexure syndrome signs, etc.; distension of the left upper abdomen is more common in gastric diseases, splenic flexure syndrome, etc.; distension of the left lower abdomen is more common in colonic flatulence (such as megacolon); full abdominal distension is more common in excessive gas accumulation in the small intestine or colon, paralytic intestinal obstruction, etc. . Etiology and pathology Western medicine causes abdominal distension due to excess gas in the gastrointestinal tract. It is characterized by abdominal distension, pale skin, even exposed veins, and abdominal skin that is tight and bulging. The main causes and pathogenesis are as follows: (1) Food fermentation Normally, there are a lot of bacteria in the lower ileum and ascending colon. If chyme stays in this section of the intestine for too long for some reason, bacteria can cause the chyme to ferment, produce a large amount of gas, and cause abdominal distension. (2) Inhaling air when eating and inhaling a large amount of air due to poor talking or eating habits, which can cause flatulence. (3) Gas absorption disorder in the gastrointestinal tract Under normal circumstances, most of the gas in the abdominal cavity is absorbed through the blood vessels of the intestinal wall and excreted through the lungs. In some diseases, blood circulation in the intestinal wall is disrupted, which affects the absorption of gas in the intestinal cavity, causing abdominal distension. (4) Gas discharge disorder in the gastrointestinal tract. Due to some reasons, the intestinal peristalsis function is weakened or disappeared, so the gas in the intestinal cavity cannot be discharged from the body, thus causing abdominal distension. If the gas accumulated in the body cannot be expelled from the body, it will put pressure on the digestive system and cause discomfort such as bloating and even pain. Frequent flatulence (commonly known as farting), burping, and feeling bloated or painful are problems that occur almost every day for many people who live a fast pace and are under high pressure. There are two main sources of gas dispersed in the human digestive tract. One is external. Air enters the body, and when you talk endlessly, chew gum, drink from a straw, or swallow food in one gulp, a lot of air goes down with it. Another source is when bacteria in the large intestine break down food. After the food we eat enters the digestive system, it is broken down by various digestive enzymes. Finally, after about 90% of the digestion is completed, it is absorbed in the small intestine. Other foods that are not absorbed by the small intestine enter the large intestine and are broken down and utilized by the bacteria in the large intestine. Bacteria break down food and produce various gases.

Because the human body lacks enzymes to digest certain carbohydrates (such as oligosaccharides and polysaccharides), after ingestion of these foods, they are not digested in the small intestine. When they reach the large intestine, they are decomposed and utilized by intestinal bacteria, and then produce Lots of gas. Causes of Diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine: "Treatise on the Causes and Symptoms of Diseases: Abdominal Distention": "Abdominal distension is caused by external deficiency of Yang Qi and internal accumulation of Yin Qi. External deficiency of Yang Qi is affected by wind-cold evil Qi, wind-cold, Yin Qi. Cold accumulation in the internal organs. The spleen and stomach will be damaged due to improper feeding, excessive hunger and satiety, or malnutrition in children. Loss of health and movement, loss of lifting and lowering control, qi stagnation and inability to function normally, resulting in abdominal distension and fullness. (2) Emotional factors: Because spoiled children tend to be willful, do not get what they want, and are emotionally unhappy, the liver qi becomes stagnate and the qi movement becomes imbalanced, which can lead to shortness of breath and abdominal distension. (3) Accumulation of dampness and heat. Exogenous dampness and heat evils in summer and autumn cannot be dissipated and become stagnated in the middle burner, resulting in Qi stagnation and dysfunction of the ascending and descending functions of the spleen and stomach, resulting in chest tightness and abdominal distension. (4) Children with moderate colds eat too much cold drinks or wear too thin clothes and feel the cold evil. The cold evil goes straight to the spleen and stomach, making the spleen yang weak and unable to warm water and dampness. The water and grain essence cannot be transported and accumulate in the middle burner. Bloating. In addition, liver injury will cause qi and blood to stagnate, block the veins, and form accumulation. Prolonged illness damages the kidneys, insufficient kidney yang, inability to warm and nourish the spleen earth, evaporation of water and dampness, loss of kidney yin, and loss of nourishment by the liver, all of which can lead to abdominal distension. Common causes 1. Gastrointestinal diseases (1) Stomach diseases: Commonly seen in chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastroptosis, gastric dilatation and pyloric obstruction. (2) Intestinal diseases: common in intestinal tuberculosis, dysentery, intestinal obstruction and habitual constipation. (3) Others: gastrointestinal neurosis. 2． Liver, gallbladder and pancreatic diseases such as acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, chronic cholecystitis, cholelithiasis and pancreatitis, etc. 3． Peritoneal diseases are common in acute peritonitis, tuberculous peritonitis, etc. 4． Cardiovascular diseases are common in heart failure, mesenteric arteriosclerosis, mesenteric artery infarction, etc. Angina pectoris and arrhythmias can also cause abdominal distention reflexively. 5. Acute infectious diseases such as sepsis, severe pneumonia and typhoid fever. 6. Others can be seen in post-operative intestinal paralysis, emphysema, asthma, hypokalemia, malabsorption syndrome, myelopathy, drug reactions, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, adnexitis, connective tissue diseases and hypothyroidism. Abdominal distension is generally divided into the following types: 1. Bloating due to qi stagnation: the patient feels that the upper abdomen is full and blocked, connecting to the liver area and back, and may even cause pain due to distension. It is induced or aggravated by anger or emotional stimulation, accompanied by There are irritability, nausea and vomiting, belching after eating less, and even acid swallowing. The treatment is to relieve liver qi, harmonize the stomach and reduce irritability. 2. Abdominal distension due to spleen deficiency: As time goes by, hepatitis will lead to long-term loss of appetite, abdominal distension after eating less, aggravation after eating, accompanied by fatigue and weakness in the limbs, lack of breath and laziness, dry and loose stools, heavy lower abdomen, lukewarm limbs or mild edema. . The treatment is to invigorate the spleen and reduce swelling, promote clearness and reduce turbidity. 3. Abdominal distension due to blood stasis: The patient has persistent fullness in the lower abdomen, which is lighter during the day and heavier at night, with weight loss, pale complexion, bluish nails, dilated capillaries, crimson tongue and astringent pulse. Physical examination revealed hepatosplenomegaly and abdominal wall varicose veins. 4. Damp-heat abdominal bloating: distension in the epigastrium and lower abdomen, or even full abdominal bloating, which cannot be relieved if it continues, and will be worse if you eat more greasy food, accompanied by irritability, thirst and unwillingness to drink water, dizziness, nausea, dislike of greasy food, sticky and unpleasant stools, Foul-smelling farts, yellow and red urine, etc. Treatment is mainly to relieve dampness, and also to clear away heat, regulate intestines and regulate qi. In addition, there are deficiencies in the spleen and stomach, abdominal distension, and abdominal distension due to food accumulation. The clinical diagnosis should distinguish between deficiency of qi and blood, excess of cold and heat, and do not regulate qi at the first sight of abdominal bloating, in order to receive good curative effects. Edit this paragraph to seek medical treatment due to illness 1. Gastroenterology: Patients with abdominal distension, heat, acid reflux, worsening after eating, or diarrhea should be consulted by the Gastroenterology Department. 2． General Surgery: Patients with sudden onset of abdominal distension and pain, accompanied by vomiting or lack of gas or defecation, should be admitted to general surgery. Patients with chronic abdominal distension accompanied by right upper quadrant pain that worsens after eating greasy food should also be referred to general surgery. 3． Gynecology: Patients with frequent abdominal distension, backache, and excessive leucorrhea should be referred to the gynecology department. 4． Hepatitis Department: Patients with abdominal distension, oiliness, and jaundice should go to the Hepatitis Department for treatment. 5. Tuberculosis Department: Patients with frequent abdominal distension and low-grade fever should be referred to the tuberculosis department. 6. Cardiology: People with a history of heart disease and frequent abdominal distension should see a cardiology department. 7. Department of Neurology: Patients with lower limb paralysis and frequent abdominal distension should go to the Department of Neurology for treatment.