Suspected gas pains could also be caused by other health problems. Masoud advises that there are ways to determine whether your belly pain is from gas or another cause.
“Patients may differentiate gas pain from other types of abdominal pain by the pattern of the pain’s onset and its resolution,” Masoud says. “More serious conditions like appendicitis or gallbladder issues often involve continuous pain and localized tenderness, and passing gas or bowel movements does not relieve it.”
Dr. Sharma recommends seeing a healthcare provider if the symptoms linger, particularly if you’re also experiencing nighttime symptoms, fatigue, and are older than 50. If you have extreme belly pain, it’s usually a sign of a health problem that needs immediate medical attention.
Masoud says that additional symptoms such as unintentional weight loss, persistent vomiting, and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding may also signal a different kind of problem.
If your bloating and pain persist beyond the time the food you’ve eaten passes through your digestive system, “a careful clinical assessment and thorough history — and sometimes imaging or lab tests — can help determine the problem,” he adds.
Here are nine health conditions that may be causing your abdominal bloating or pain.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a chronic condition that impacts the stomach and intestines, causing abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. Research into its causes is ongoing, but IBS impacts how the digestive tract responds to food intake and other stressors.
Food and stress can trigger flare-ups of IBS symptoms, which include:
- Belly pain, bloating, and cramps when you pass stool
- Changes in the appearance of stool
- Defecating more or less often than usual
Functional Dyspepsia
Functional dyspepsia is a form of chronic indigestion. Healthcare professionals typically diagnose it when they can’t find any other obvious cause for your upper GI symptoms (above the belly button and below the solar plexus).
Some theories suggest that stomach acid, food allergies, poor diet, medication side effects, and Helicobacter pylori infections may contribute to the problem.
Functional dyspepsia can cause bloating, pain, gas, excessive belching, and fullness. Other symptoms might include:
- Heartburn
- Pain the upper part of your abdomen
- Occasional vomiting
These symptoms often occur at the same time and might not have specific triggers. Symptoms may come and go but can last for weeks or months at a time before resolving.
Gallbladder Disease
The gallbladder is an organ that stores bile, a digestive fluid, and sends it to the GI tract to support digestion. When inflammation, infection, stones, or a blockage affect the gallbladder, it’s known as gallbladder disease. Types of gallbladder disease include:
- Gallstones, which can lead to cholecystitis or a bile duct blockage (cholangitis)
- Rarely, gallbladder and bile duct tumors
The most common symptom of gallbladder disease is an intermittent pain known as biliary colic. While gas pain generally spreads across the whole belly, biliary colic is often described as a gnawing or gripping pain underneath the upper right-hand side of the rib cage. This pain may also spread to the upper back.
Gallstones, one of the more common types of gallbladder disease, may cause pain that lasts from several minutes to a few hours, as well as these other symptoms:
- Sudden, rapidly intensifying pain below the breastbone
- Back pain between the shoulder blades
- Pain in the right shoulder
- Nausea or vomiting
Peptic Ulcers
Peptic ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of the GI tract. Common causes of peptic ulcers include the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to manage pain or infection with a specific bacteria (H. pylori ).
Ulcers may be asymptomatic (about half are), but they can also cause a burning pain, paired with a feeling of fullness, that comes on shortly after eating and can last for hours.
They may also lead to bloating, belching, appetite loss, nausea, and vomiting.
Some people may not have symptoms unless further complications develop. Without treatment, peptic ulcers can bleed and lead to blood in the stool.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
GERD, also known as acid reflux, is a chronic condition in which the contents of the stomach flow backward into the esophagus.
This happens when a ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes and opens inappropriately. People who are overweight or who smoke, drink alcohol, or take over-the-counter pain relievers may have an increased risk of developing GERD.
Beyond heartburn, which is GERD’s hallmark symptom, other issues may include:
- Regurgitation, in which stomach contents come back up through the esophagus and into the throat or mouth
- Belching
- Chest pain
- Nausea
- Swallowing difficulties
- A chronic cough or sore throat
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
IBD is an umbrella term for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both of those health issues involve long-term inflammation in the GI tract. Crohn’s disease is inflammation of the digestive tract’s lining, and ulcerative colitis involves inflammation and sores along the lining of the large intestine and rectum.
Symptoms of IBD vary depending on which type it is, the severity, and the location of the inflammation. Along with abdominal pain and cramping, IBD can also cause:
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Blood in the stool
- Loss of appetite
- Unexpected weight loss
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a painful medical problem in which the appendix becomes inflamed and fills with pus. In the United States, it’s one of the leading causes of sudden, severe abdominal pain that requires surgery.
Appendicitis causes gas, bloating, and a very distinct pain that differs from gas pain. The symptoms, onset, and progression can vary. Its features include the following:
- It might develop suddenly and start on the right side of the belly.
- It could start around the belly button and shift into the right lower abdomen.
- It worsens when you cough, walk, or make other sudden movements.
Other symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Appetite loss
- A fever that may rise as the illness grows worse
- Constipation or diarrhea
Bowel Obstruction
A bowel obstruction occurs when scar tissue or a mass blocks the intestines, meaning that the contents of your digestive tract can’t move through freely. It can result from many factors, including injuries, surgical scars, and a range of health conditions such as a hernia, IBD, diverticulitis, or tumors.
If you have a bowel obstruction, you might feel fullness, bloating, and gas pain. The pain and cramps in your belly might also be severe and constant, and you might also experience the following:
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Loud sounds coming from your abdomen
Seek urgent treatment if you suspect you have symptoms of a bowel obstruction.
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is a condition that occurs when small pouches, called diverticula, grow in the inner layers of the colon and protrude through weak spots in its outer layer. The development of these pouches is called diverticulosis, which may not cause health issues. Diverticulitis, however, is a health concern, and it happens when the diverticula become infected or inflamed.
Diverticulitis often causes moderate to severe abdominal pain and a distended abdomen. Pressing on the area where the pain is often causes extreme pain and discomfort.
Masoud says that whereas gas pain can be hard to pinpoint, diverticulitis pain is usually precise and located on one side of the abdomen. It might feel like sharpness or burning.
Other symptoms might include:
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