7 Reasons You're Bloated — And How to Get Fast Relief

Feeling like your belly has expanded three sizes after eating a huge meal is not the most pleasant sensation, but at least you understand why the button on your jeans is threatening to pop. But when you feel uncomfortably bloated for no obvious reason, it can make you want to stay under the covers in your baggiest sweats.

“Bloating happens when gas gets trapped in a small section of your intestines,” says Scott Huber, MD, a gastroenterologist with Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. “For some people, like diabetics, the stomach just empties slowly, so they may feel bloated right after they eat, and some people might feel bloated after they’ve gained weight.” He points out that there is a difference between, ahem, passing gas and holding on to gas. “People think they shouldn’t pass gas, but that’s totally normal,” he says. “When you’re bloated, however, the gas makes you feel like your abdominal cavity is distended.”

Here are some common reasons why you may be bloated and how to get rid of it (if your bloating persists, or you’re experiencing additional symptoms such as fever or weight loss, check in with your doctor, who may test you for conditions such as celiac or inflammatory bowel disease).