What causes bloating and gas?

  • Swallowing air while eating, drinking, or chewing gum
  • Gas-producing foods — beans, lentils, cabbage, onions, and carbonated drinks are common culprits
  • Lactose intolerance or other food intolerances
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
  • Constipation, which can trap gas and worsen bloating

For most people, bloating and gas are uncomfortable but harmless, and settle with simple dietary adjustments.

When to see a doctor See Dr. Gattani if bloating is persistent, keeps getting worse, or comes with unexplained weight loss, blood in the stool, or a change in bowel habits that lasts more than a couple of weeks. New, persistent bloating in women over 50 is also worth a prompt check, since it can occasionally be linked to less common gynaecological causes that need a different kind of evaluation.

What to expect at the clinic

Dr. Gattani will ask about your diet, timing of symptoms, and bowel habits. If a food intolerance or SIBO is suspected, a hydrogen breath test can help identify the cause. If there are any warning signs, a colonoscopy may be recommended to rule out other conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Often, yes — but persistent bloating unrelated to specific foods, or bloating that doesn't improve with dietary changes, is worth getting checked.

"Leaky gut" is a popular term describing increased permeability of the intestinal lining. It isn't a formally recognised diagnosis in mainstream gastroenterology, though the underlying concept of intestinal permeability is an active area of research. If you're having ongoing digestive symptoms, it's generally more useful to be properly evaluated for conditions with clear diagnostic criteria — such as IBS, specific food intolerances, or SIBO — rather than to treat "leaky gut" as a stand-alone diagnosis.

Yes. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is a recognised cause of bloating and gas, and can be checked with a hydrogen breath test.

If it's persistent, worsening, or comes with weight loss, blood in the stool, or a lasting change in bowel habits, it's time for a proper evaluation rather than waiting it out.