You wake up fine. By noon, you’re bloated. By evening, your clothes feel tight, your energy is low, and you feel uncomfortable in your own skin. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and you’re not overreacting.

Bloating isn’t just annoying. It’s your body trying to speak to you. And at PureHealth Primary Care, we listen closely.

So Why Are You Still Bloated?

Let’s be clear: your doctor cares. But the system is fast-paced. Appointments are short. And sometimes, chronic symptoms like bloating are chalked up to stress or diet without deeper investigation.

We’re here to gently go further. Here are some of the evidence-based causes of chronic bloating we see every day:

1. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

When bacteria overgrow in the small intestine, they ferment your food—producing gas, discomfort, and visible bloating. SIBO is one of the most underdiagnosed causes of bloating today. A simple breath test can reveal it.

2. Gut Dysbiosis

Healthy digestion relies on a balanced gut microbiome. Antibiotic use, sugar, stress, and low fiber diets can disrupt this balance. Dysbiosis causes fermentation and inflammation, which leads to bloating.

3. Hormonal Shifts

Estrogen and progesterone impact gut motility. In perimenopause, PCOS, PMS, or thyroid disorders, hormonal fluctuations can slow digestion and increase water retention—resulting in that familiar bloat.

4. Food Sensitivities

You may not be allergic, but your gut could still react to certain foods—especially gluten, dairy, soy, and fermentable carbs (FODMAPs). These reactions can trigger inflammation, slow digestion, and cause gas buildup.

5. Stress and the Gut-Brain Axis

There’s a direct neural pathway between your brain and gut—the vagus nerve. High stress or trauma can impair gut motility, increase pain sensitivity, and even alter your microbiome. It’s a real, validated connection.

6. Slow Transit (Motility Issues)

If your gut isn’t moving properly, food ferments. That leads to gas, discomfort, and bloating. This may be due to hypothyroidism, diabetes, or post-infectious IBS.

What Testing Can Actually Help?

• SIBO Breath Test – to detect abnormal fermentation in the small bowel
• Stool Analysis – to evaluate microbiota, inflammation, and digestion markers
• Hormone Panel – especially if symptoms fluctuate with cycle or menopause
• Food Sensitivity Mapping – to uncover non-allergic triggers
• Thyroid and Metabolic Testing – to rule out slow transit contributors

Ways to Start Feeling Better—Today

• Chew food thoroughly and eat slowly
• Start meals with lemon water or digestive bitters
• Try a short-term low FODMAP plan (guided)
• Practice diaphragmatic breathing before meals
• Support your microbiome with fiber and a clinically appropriate probiotic