Lifestyle stresses: Bloating
Fake tanning
Our lives are faster, busier and more varied than previous generations, and sometimes our bodies react in surprising ways. Combat stress-related bloating with our expert advice
Breathing
If you bloat when you’re stressed, blame your lungs. “We breathe faster under stress and are more likely to breathe through our mouth, increasing the amount of air that enters the gut,” says Dr John Hunter, an IBS specialist at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge. He thinks that up to 20 per cent of IBS sufferers could blame breathing.
Stressbuster: Breathe slowly and steadily. Try a physiotherapist who specialises in breathing (physiohypervent.org) for details. Cut down on fizzy drinks and anything containing the sweetener sorbitol. If bloating does start, peppermint tea or oil capsules can deflate things.
Get more advice on other lifestyle stress-related illnesses:
Wine consumption
Bad skin
Thinning hair
Bleeding gums
Immunity
Heart palpitations
Aches and pains
Sex drive
Sleepless nights
