Bloating is any abnormal general swelling, or increase in diameter of the abdominal area. As a symptom, the patient feels a full and tight abdomen, which may cause abdominal pain sometimes accompanied by increased borborygmus or more seriously the total lack of borborygmus. Bloating may have several causes, the most common being accumulation of liquids and intestinal gas

Ascites is the proper medical term for abdominal bloating caused by excessive accumulation of liquid inside the cavity. Specific medical conditions like Crohn's Disease or bowel obstruction can also contribute to the amount of stomach bloating experienced. Gas and bloating is a sign that food is not being ingested correctly by the body. An inadequate intake of water will cause excessive stomach bloating. Water benefits the body by aiding with digestion because it supports a majority of the body's daily functions. Fatty foods cause a formation of fat cells to develop throughout the body and contribute to bloating as well. A build up of fat cells slows down the body's ability to empty the stomach. Dairy products also contribute to excessive cramps, gas, and bloating. Persons who are intolerant to lactose products experience this effect more than others.

Once these foods are digested, the bloating will fade. The most common symptoms associated with bloating include pain in the abdominal cavity, chest pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and bloody or darkened stools. Others include difficulty swallowing or belching, abdominal fullness or indigestion, and excessive gas after eating or drinking. Unexplained weight loss can also be experienced as the amount of food ingested reduces due to a poor appetite and stomach discomfort.

Stomach bloating also causes the body to feel fatigue, breathing problems, and pain.Pains that are due to bloating will feel sharp and cause the stomach to cramp. These pains may occur anywhere in the body and can change locations quickly. They are so painful that they are sometimes mistaken for heart pains when they develop on the upper left side of the chest. Pains on the right side are often confused with problems in the appendix or the gallbladder. One symptom of gas that is not normally associated with it is the hiccup. Hiccups are harmless and will diminish on their own; they also help to release gas that is in the digestive tract before it moves down to the intestines and causes bloating. Important but uncommon causes of abdominal bloating include ascites and tumors