The abdominal distension we discuss today is closely related medically to functional abdominal bloating or aerophagia. While it is easy to assume it is simply intestinal gas, the amount of air consciously or unconsciously swallowed is often surprisingly large.
Aerophagia literally refers to the excessive swallowing of air. The carbon dioxide produced when drinking carbonated beverages is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract or expelled through belching, and large amounts of air easily enter alongside it. Chewing gum also increases saliva secretion and swallowing frequency, becoming a primary contributor to unintentionally increased aerophagia. Furthermore, the habit of eating rushed meals causes one to inhale significant amounts of air with food, and habits like mouth breathing due to nasal congestion or psychological factors like anxiety and tension can also trigger aerophagia. Unconsciously swallowing saliva more frequently during severe stress follows the same pattern.
Swallowed air travels down the esophagus into the stomach, and as the stomach fills with air, one feels abdominal distension. The stomach stretches like a balloon, stimulating receptors on the stomach wall that send signals to the brain, leading to an uncomfortable sensation of abdominal distension. While some of this air is expelled back out through belching, the rest passes through the small intestine and large intestine, distending the bowels, increasing abdominal girth, and causing rumbling bowel sounds. In severe cases, elevated abdominal pressure can progress beyond discomfort into pain.
Because the intestines are highly sensitive organs, this excessive influx of air can also affect normal intestinal motility, or peristalsis. When the bowel becomes overstretched by air, it affects the nervous system via the gut-brain axis, which can create a vicious cycle by making bowel motility irregular or lowering the pain threshold. Symptoms may overlap with or worsen other digestive system disorders such as acid reflux or irritable bowel syndrome. This can become a factor that goes beyond mere discomfort to degrade quality of life.
Therefore, when identifying the causes of abdominal distension and belching, modern medicine comprehensively considers not only diet, but also daily lifestyle habits and psychological state. Reducing excessive air intake is crucial for restoring healthy gastrointestinal tract function and maintaining whole-body balance, rather than just relieving symptoms. It mirrors the qi circulation discussed in the Donguibogam. Everything in the body is connected. Now is the time to start making mindful changes for your body.
