What causes stomach acid and bloating?

Acid reflux and stomach bloating may be caused by gastritis, gastric ulcers, improper diet, or environmental factors.

1. Gastritis

When suffering from gastritis, patients may experience excessive gastric acid secretion, insufficient gastric motility, and intestinal microbial imbalance due to inflammatory stimulation, leading to symptoms such as acid reflux and stomach bloating.

2. Gastric Ulcer

Gastric ulcers often lead to gastrointestinal disharmony, weakness of the liver and stomach, and excessive gastric acid secretion. In such cases, impaired local flow of qi may result in the aforementioned symptoms.

3. Improper Diet

If one frequently eats improperly—such as overeating, binge eating, or consuming large amounts of gas-producing foods—the stomach may become overloaded with undigested food or excess gas, increasing the digestive burden and causing acid reflux and bloating.

4. Environmental Factors

If, due to work or physical conditions, one is unable to engage in moderate physical activity after meals over a long period, reduced gastrointestinal motility may prevent the proper expulsion of digested gases, resulting in the aforementioned discomforts.