According to Dr Harshavardhan Rao, a gastroenterologist, bloating is frequently dismissed as trivial but can be a red-flag for serious gut problems. When bloating is persistent, especially with symptoms like weight loss, appetite drop or dark/black stools, it may signal peptic ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease or even early gastrointestinal cancer.

He emphasises that diagnosing gut distress today requires more than routine tests—it includes advanced tools like high-definition endoscopy, capsule cameras and AI-enhanced imaging to detect subtle inflammation, lesions or bacterial overgrowth.

Dr Rao advises these practical steps: track your symptoms and triggers with a “symptom diary”; under expert guidance, trial elimination of irritant foods (not self-directed detoxes); review your stress, sleep and medications as they often impact digestion; and seek specialist care if symptoms persist beyond a few weeks.