what causes a hard stomach and gas
The stomach and the intestines have a limit to what they can comfortably fit and exceeding this limit causes a feeling of intense discomfort as the organs distend to allow the digested material through. Dietary choices can also contribute to a hard bloated stomach after eating. Foods rich in fiber will tend to cause bloating due to the process required to digest them. Alternatively, the manner in which food is consumed can also cause bloating.
Subscribe to our Digestive Health e-newsletter to stay up to date on digestive health topics. Excess upper intestinal gas may result from swallowing more than a usual amount of air while eating, drinking or chewing gum. Lower intestinal gas is the normal byproduct of bacterial action on food that is not broken down until reaching the colon.