Definition: An abdomen that is swollen or bloated is said to be distended. Distention can occur from overeating, eating gassy foods, swallowing too much air, and drinking carbonated beverages, but also as a symptom of different gastrointestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or a bowel obstruction.
Distention should be checked out by a doctor when it occurs along with other symptoms such as pain or abdominal tenderness, or if it worsens or doesn't get any better with time.
Pronunciation: dis-TEN-shun
Common Misspellings: distenshun, distension
