Whom to consult: Should a woman with bloating concerns visit gastroenterologist or gynaecologist? Experts answer

Experts say getting diagnosed by the right doctor is half the battle won for a patient. With medical disciplines merging, it is difficult for common man to identify who is the right expert to consult for their ailment. This is the third article in a multi-part series examining whom to consult and when. Read the first article, ‘Whom to consult: Should diabetic go to an endocrinologist or dietician? Expert answers’, and second article, ‘Whom to consult: Should a person with kidney ailment go to nephrologist or urologist? Expert answers’

With the rise in mercury in the country, the problems of bloating are also rising. Summer bloating is real and there can be many reasons behind feeling puffy and uncomfortable during the hot weather. When temperatures go up, our body tries to regulate heat through sweating. This leads to water loss resulting in dehydration which may further cause bloating if we do not compensate for it by consuming enough liquids. A bloated stomach feels tight, full and could be painful. According to Cleveland Clinic, you might feel bloated even if you don’t have a distended abdomen. Bloating is usually a digestive issue, though hormones and stress also play a part. Sometimes there is an underlying medical condition.

But if hormonal and digestive both can be the causes behind bloating, which expert should a patient visit? A gastroenterologist or a gynaecologist?

Dr Anubha Singh, Medical Director and IVF Expert from Shantah Fertility Centre Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, clarified that bloating is not directly related to hormones. “There is no doubt that bloating is one of the symptoms of Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS) but it is minimal. The main reason for bloating is digestive issues. So the doctor to go to is a gastroenterologist,” she said.

According to the experts, main reason for bloating is either excess production of gas or delayed emptying of stomach or both. Dr Gaurangi Shah, Consultant General Medicine, PD Hinduja Hospital & MRC, said, “Excess gas production due to high protein diet causes protein indigestion, stomach infection, drug induced (antibiotics/cholesterol lowering drugs/pain killers) can be the reason for bloating. Again the doctor to consult is gastroenterologist.”

She added, “If a person doesn’t keep three-four hours of gap between dinner and sleeping time then he or she may develop acidity, gas, bloating, or reflux.”

“Other causes include reduced intestinal motility due to various conditions like hypothyroidism, low potassium level, post menopausal period (due to low estrogen level).” said Dr Shah.

How common is stomach bloating?

According to Cleaveland Clinic, between 10 per cent and 25 per cent of healthy people complain of occasional abdominal bloating. As many as 75 per cent describe their symptoms as moderate to severe. About 10 per cent say they experience it regularly. Among those diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it may be as much as 90 per cent. Up to 75 per cent of women experience bloating before and during their period. Only 50 per cent of people who experience bloating also report a distended abdomen.

How to prevent making bloating bigger than it is?

Adding adequate liquid to your morning routine can help in prevention of bloating. Dr Singh said, “Having green tea, drinking water before breakfast will help warming up your stomach.” She added that this may also encourage motility along your entire digestive tract and keep your digesting food from becoming too hard and compacted to pass through.

Dr Shah also said, “If a person is having high BP or diabetes and suddenly develops acidity or gas or upper abdominal discomfort, please go to near by hospital and get ECG done to rule out heart attack because 50 per cent heart attack present as acidity or gas.”