Painful at worst and always uncomfortable, bloating is one of the most disruptive digestive feelings we can experience. It's typically a feeling of fullness and pressure, and you may see your stomach swelling.
Bloating can have simple causes, from eating certain foods that cause bloating and stress to more complex ones involving hormones. For most, a build-up of air in the colon is the root of the issue, says Sophie Medlin, a consultant colorectal dietitian. "Your colon is 1.5m long and wraps around the left-hand side of your pelvis, up under your ribs and down to your right pelvis. You can imagine how uncomfortable this will be when it's filled with gas," she says.
