7 Causes of Distended Stomach in the Elderly and How to Overcome It

Finding a distended abdomen in the elderly is not difficult. Older people tend to store more fat than young children. But in fact, fat is not the only cause of distended stomach in the elderly.

There are also several diseases that can cause swelling in the abdomen, so that the stomach becomes swollen. One of them, ascites, is excessive accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity.

In addition to ascites, there are still several other conditions, which can be the cause of distended stomach in the elderly.
The condition may be a cause of distended stomach in the elderly

Fat, hormones and other diseases, here are 7 causes of gastric distension in the elderly that you need to know.

1. Ascites

Ascites or accumulation of fluid in the stomach can occur as a result of liver disorders, such as cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can occur if your liver is damaged or seriously injured.

When ascites appears for the first time, you may not experience any symptoms. However, over time, fluid will accumulate and your stomach will gradually become bigger and make you uncomfortable and tense.
2. Hormones and aging
If women are more likely to accumulate fat on the thighs and hips, the situation is different for men. Excessive fat accumulation in humans tends to manifest in the stomach area.

Men over the age of 40 will experience decreased testosterone production. Thus, excess calories owned will be stored as visceral fat.

Visceral fat, also called active fat, is fat stored in the abdominal cavity and can affect the function of hormones in the body. Visceral fat not only acts as a cause of gastric distension, but can also increase the risk of complications of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
3. Lifestyle that is less active

A less active lifestyle is also called a sedentary lifestyle. If you don't exercise enough or don't move enough, fat will accumulate in your stomach and fill it up.

Making a more active lifestyle doesn't mean you have to be an athlete or exercise all the time. What you need is 150 minutes a week or about 20 minutes a day to move more.
Start with simple movements, like walking more or climbing stairs.

4. Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance occurs when the body cannot digest lactose, the sugar found in cow's milk. Some symptoms can occur due to this condition, including bloating and flatulence.

These symptoms can then make a flatulence. If you see an enlarged stomach two hours after consuming milk and its processed products, you may be lactose intolerant.
5. irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disease of the digestive tract that causes cramps and abdominal pain. IBS can also cause bloating and flatulence. It also makes IBS one of the causes of gastric distension in the elderly.
6. Poor eating habits
Consumption of unhealthy foods or drinks can indeed trigger a buildup of fat in the body. However, certain types of food and drinks are more likely to cause a buildup of fat in the stomach.

This type of consumption includes soft drinks, energy drinks in containers and fruit-flavored beverage packaging. In addition, foods such as white bread and pasta, also called can trigger a buildup of fat in the stomach.
7. Bad habits
Having bad habits like smoking not only endangers the health of your lungs. This habit can also cause a buildup of fat in the stomach.

Besides smoking, the habit of sleeping late or sleeping too often can also cause a distended stomach. Stress, though not like that, can also cause a buildup of fat in the stomach.

Because when stressed, the body releases more cortisol, a hormone known to be associated with fat accumulation in the stomach.
How to reduce belly fat in the elderly

To get rid of a distended stomach in the elderly, you can proceed in several ways, for example:

1. Take care of yourself at home

Depending on the cause of the distended stomach, there are ways to overcome it. The following steps must be followed:

If a distended stomach is caused by overeating, just wait until digestion is complete.
To avoid bloating or overeating, you can also cut food into small pieces. In addition, you also have to eat slower.
If the distended stomach is caused by gas accumulation, avoid foods or drinks that contain gases such as soda, alcohol, coffee, cabbage, broccoli, and gum.
During this time, if your stomach swells due to lactose intolerance, avoid milk-based foods and drinks.

2. medical treatment

In the case of ascites, if the changes at rest and diet do not also overcome the distended stomach, you should immediately contact a doctor. In addition, the doctor can give a class of diuretic drugs to help the kidneys remove excess fluid in the body.

If ascites is severe enough, excess fluid in the abdomen will also be removed by the procedure of paracentesis or fluid collection.
3. Exercise regularly

For the distended abdomen that occurs due to accumulation of fat in the stomach, exercise is the most effective way to eliminate it. Do cardio sports like running, biking, swimming, or aerobics.

Cardiovascular exercise will also be better when combined with strength training, such as lifting weights, squats or push-ups.
4. to relax

If a distended stomach is produced from stress, methods such as meditation, deep breathing, and other ways to manage stress can help eliminate a distended stomach, exercise, and regulate eating habits.

Recognizing the causes of gastric distension in the elderly can help you find a more appropriate and effective solution for this condition. Not only does it eliminate fat deposits, exercise regularly and eat healthy food, it can also help you maintain your health in the long run.