• This is the common (non-medical) term for distention of the abdomen.  Many benign conditions can cause bloating, such as overeating or lactose intolerance.  Some very serious medical conditions can also cause this condition, like Small Bowel Obstruction, Colon Cancer, liver cancer, and ovarian cancer.  Any abdominal distention that does not rapidly go away in less than 24 hours, or is associated with pain, nausea/vomiting, or rectal bleeding/black tarry stool needs immediate medical evaluation.

• Special information

- Ovarian cancer may have abdominal bloating as its only symptom -- so this should be checked for, in any woman who has persistent abdominal bloating.