Viscerosomatic Disturbance

Viscerosomatic Gut Bloating

Share

Viscerosomatic Gut Bloating: Everybody has healthy bacteria in the gut, but it can get thrown off balance with unhealthy bacteria that start taking over. Stress, viruses, and antibiotics can disrupt healthy bacteria levels. The bacterial balance known as the microbiome in the intestines is an essential factor in body wellness. The connection between intestinal and overall health is an important one as the gut is responsible for producing serotonin, a primary chemical necessary for emotional wellbeing. A viscerosomatic reflex is an organ/s causing pain to show up in the area where the injured, infected, dysfunctional organ is or, as referred pain in other areas of the body. Stress and unhealthy foods contribute to weight gain, organ stress, and chronic pain.

Viscerosomatic Gut Bloating

Bloating

Bloating is the feeling of pressure or gas in the abdomen. Distention refers to the physical expansion of the abdomen. However, these symptoms can present separately or in combination. Bloating can be a symptom on its own but often presents alongside other gastrointestinal disorders like:

After eating, flatulence, belching, bloating, and distention are a normal part of the digestive process. These issues are not considered problems until they cause pain and/or disrupt everyday life.

Stress

Stress can cause inflammation in the digestive tract, increasing pain receptors and distress-related bloating. Stress can disrupt the normal microbiome, creating intestinal dysbiosis and bacterial overgrowth. This can lead to digestive problems and symptoms that include bloating. This can be partly from excess gas production causing the sensation of bloating and physical distention combined with stress, creating an increased perception of bloating.

Foods Can Cause Inflammation

Animal products can cause inflammation because meat, poultry, and fish contain endotoxins/lipopolysaccharides found in the outer membrane of bacterial cells. These compounds are classified as toxins as they can cause health problems. No matter how these foods are cooked or prepared, the endotoxins are still present, absorbed into the body, and can trigger immune responses like inflammation. Eggs can cause inflammation because they contain high levels of cholesterol and arachidonic acid, which is an acid that is part of the inflammatory response. Excess cholesterol in the blood can trigger inflammation as well.

Dairy products can also trigger the inflammatory response in individuals that don’t produce the lactase enzyme, which breaks down the lactose in dairy products, are intolerant of casein and whey, two proteins in cow milk, or from the hormones and antibiotics given to cows to stimulate milk production and prevent infection. Dairy consumption has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and inflammatory conditions that include:

  • Acne
  • Asthma
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Multiple sclerosis

Other Causes of Bloating

Other health conditions can present with visceral gut bloating and distention. This includes disorders and other underlying causes that include:

  • Medications
  • Obesity
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Menstruation
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Type-2 diabetes
  • Autoimmunity

Musculoskeletal disorders can increase bloating and abdominal distention and can be triggered by stress. Two include:

Abdominal Muscle Dysfunction

  • These are abnormal contractions of the diaphragm and belly muscles that can occur after eating that can cause the nervous system to create a sense of bloating.
  • This viscerosomatic reflex leads to unhealthy postures and enlargement of the abdominal muscles that can worsen bloating sensations.
  • Exercises can be recommended to retrain the muscles to contract, usually after eating, which can help reduce bloating.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

  • Stressful situations naturally cause muscles to tighten, leading to increased contractions in the pelvic floor muscles.
  • These muscles control the bladder, bowel, and sexual function.
  • Overly contracted/tight muscles can create a condition known as high-tone pelvic floor dysfunction.
  • The opposite can happen when the pelvic floor muscles become too relaxed. This can make it difficult to have regular bowel movements.
  • Increased tone and/or over-relaxed muscles can lead to various symptoms, including bloating.

Chiropractic and Health Coaching

The nervous system controls the digestive process. Properly aligning the spine releases the stress and strain on the bones, muscles, and nerves to work correctly. Chiropractic body adjustments, diet/lifestyle adjustments, supplemental recommendations, and exercises can reduce the underlying causes of viscerosomatic gut bloating. Digestive problems such as:

  • Chronic heartburn
  • Gas
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Bloating
  • Irritable bowel syndrome

Chiropractic offers a medication-free approach to treating digestive issues.


Descompresion Espinal DRX9000


References

Dragan, Simona, et al. β€œDietary Patterns and Interventions to Alleviate Chronic Pain.” Nutrients vol. 12,9 2510. 19 Aug. 2020, doi:10.3390/nu12092510

Fifi, Amanda C, and Kathleen F Holton. β€œFood in Chronic Pain: Friend or Foe?.” Nutrients vol. 12,8 2473. 17 Aug. 2020, doi:10.3390/nu12082473

Lacy, Brian E et al. β€œManagement of Chronic Abdominal Distension and Bloating.” Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology: the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association vol. 19,2 (2021): 219-231.e1. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2020.03.056

Mari, Amir et al. β€œBloating and Abdominal Distension: Clinical Approach and Management.” Advances in therapy vol. 36,5 (2019): 1075-1084. doi:10.1007/s12325-019-00924-7

Rice, Amanda D et al. β€œDecreasing recurrent bowel obstructions, improving quality of life with physiotherapy: Controlled study.” World journal of gastroenterology vol. 24,19 (2018): 2108-2119. doi:10.3748/wjg.v24.i19.2108

Post Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Viscerosomatic Gut Bloating" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*

Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card

Recent Posts

Beginner Workouts: Simple Exercises for a Healthier You

Can beginner workouts help individuals who want to improve their health by helping them lose… Read More

October 11, 2024

Surgical Decompression: A Solution for Nerve Root Encroachment

Individuals experiencing persistent pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling in the back could be suffering from… Read More

October 10, 2024

The Importance of Staying Hydrated and How to Do It

Can individuals maintain proper hydration levels in their bodies to prevent spinal pain and other… Read More

October 10, 2024

Daily Vegetable Consumption: The Key to a Healthy Diet

Does an individual's ideal daily intake of vegetables depend on age, sex, and activity level?… Read More

October 9, 2024

Peptic Ulcers and NSAIDs: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

For individuals with chronic pain conditions, what are the risks of developing peptic ulcers? NSAIDs… Read More

October 8, 2024

The Importance of Concussion Tests for Brain Injury Evaluation

What type of concussion tests are there to help establish the extent of head injuries… Read More

October 4, 2024