Abdominal bloating is when the stomach feels full of gas and may become distended (sticks out).
The pressure or tightness in the abdomen can feel anywhere from mildly uncomfortable to really painful.
Bloating can happen after drinking alcoholic beverages for a variety of reasons.
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People who drink regularly may experience effects such as excess gas or even weight gain.
Alcoholic beverages can cause irritation or inflammation of the stomach lining.
The irritation might be a condition called reactive gastropathy.
This disruption of the stomach lining with the use of alcohol can become chronic (ongoing).
The most obvious might be carbonated drinks, such as beer or soda.
Champagne, sparkling wine, and hard seltzer also contain carbonation that can lead to bloating.
Taking in the carbonation leads to gas in the upper digestive system.
This excess gas could lead to bloating in the stomach and belching (burping).
Beer is carbonated, so it can lead to excess gas in the stomach and bloating.
Mixing alcoholic drinks with carbonated beverages (soda or seltzer) could also result in excess gas.
Sugar alcoholssuch as fructose, lactose, raffinose, and sorbitol are found in foods such as fruit.
you might Also Gain Weight From Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol has several effects on the body.
One of these is the potential forunwanted weight gain.
This potential for weight gain from heavier drinking might be especially true in teenagers and older adults.
Alcoholic beverages are usually considered empty calories.
How Long Does Alcohol Bloating Last?
For example, drinking several beers in one night might lead to longer-lasting bloating.
When there is actual irritation in the stomach from drinking, bloating or other symptoms might last longer.
Drinking alcoholic beverages every day may extend the acute effects and continue the cycle of symptoms.
This could lead to chronic gastritis as the alcohol continuously damages the stomach lining.
The stomach may become less effective at absorbing nutrients.
People who drink excessively may also not eat enough.
These effects can result in ongoing bloating and complications, such as nutritional deficiencies.
Other ways to reduce acute bloating quickly include:
Is Alcohol Bloating Preventable?
The only foolproof way to stop bloating from alcohol is not drinking in the first place.
Other than that, choosing drinks less likely to cause bloating is another option.
Drinking slowly and avoidingbinge drinkingmay also help lessen any potential symptoms.
However, even uncarbonated wine or spirits may cause bloating or other symptoms.
Alcohol is an irritant.
When Should You Seek Help for Drinking?
There are some ways to reduce bloating, but individual results will vary.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Gastritis & gastropathy.
University of Chicago Medicine.What alcohol is gluten-free?
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of celiac disease.
Merck Manual Professional Edition.
MyHealth Alberta.Medicines or vitamins that can cause gas, bloating, or burping.
Northwestern Medicine.How to beat the bloat.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding alcohol use disorder.
