The surprising reasons why our stomachs swell up suddenly

Like hundreds of thousands of people, you could be suffering from stomach bloat, which can be triggered by anything from fluctuating hormones to eating reheated pasta or bake potatoes

Sometimes it can be caused by an innocuous glass of water.

While most people's stomachs may swell just a couple of inches, others' can double in girth in just one day, only to 'deflate' overnight until the next attack

Often, bloating is caused by irritable bowel syndrome, a condition that affects a staggering one in seven people (caused by an oversensitive gut, it leads to problems with bowel function and can trigger bloating, as well as cramps, constipation or diarrhea). 

While most people’s stomachs may swell just a couple of inches, others’ can actually double in girth in just one day, only to ‘deflate’ overnight until the next attack. 

Causes

What triggers the bloating can vary widely — some patients literally put food in their mouths of have a glass of water and their stomachs will distend. 

It also could be link to stress. Other peak periods of bloating appear to coincide with meal times.

Someone could eat tomatoes one day and be fine, yet the same food will cause them to bloat a day later. 

The best thing is to look at it like a ‘points’ system, and you have to reach 100 points before you bloat. Your stress that day might account for 30 points and tomatoes 60. So you’ve not reached 100 and you’re fine. The next day, you’ll eat tomatoes but stress might account for 70, pushing you into the bloating zone.