Abdominal Distension in Elderly: Causes, Risks, and What Helps

When older adults experience abdominal distension, a feeling of fullness or swelling in the belly that doesn’t go away. Also known as bloating, it’s not just discomfort—it can signal something deeper, especially in seniors. It’s not normal aging. Many assume it’s just slow digestion, but in people over 65, persistent distension often links to medication side effects, reduced gut motility, or hidden conditions like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or even early-stage cancer.

Constipation in older adults, a frequent trigger of abdominal swelling is one of the biggest culprits. As people age, muscles in the colon weaken, physical activity drops, and many take medications—like opioids, anticholinergics, or calcium channel blockers—that slow things down. Fiber supplements help, but they can make bloating worse if fluid intake is low. Gastrointestinal problems in aging, including reduced stomach acid and slower transit time, mean food sits longer, ferments, and produces gas. This isn’t just about diet—it’s about how the body changes. Many seniors also have undiagnosed lactose intolerance or fructose malabsorption, which fly under the radar because symptoms look like "normal" aging.

What’s often missed? Medications. A 72-year-old on three or four prescriptions might not realize that their daily pill routine is causing the bloating. Blood pressure drugs, antidepressants, and even some supplements like iron or calcium can directly impact gut function. And here’s the catch: doctors rarely connect the dots. If someone’s belly is swollen and they’re not pooping regularly, the first question should be: "What are you taking?" Not "Are you eating enough fiber?"

Abdominal distension in the elderly isn’t something to brush off. If it’s new, worsening, or paired with weight loss, pain, or vomiting, it needs checking. Simple tests—a stool exam, blood work for inflammation or anemia, or even an abdominal ultrasound—can rule out serious causes. For many, small changes make a big difference: walking after meals, drinking water before meals, avoiding carbonated drinks, and timing laxatives right. It’s not about fancy treatments. It’s about understanding how the body changes and adjusting accordingly.

Below, you’ll find real guides on medications that cause bloating, how to manage gut health in seniors, and what supplements actually help—or hurt—digestion in older adults. No fluff. Just clear, practical info that matches what people are actually experiencing.