Why is my belly big and also hard?

Generally, a bloated and hard abdomen may be caused by improper diet, obesity, functional dyspepsia, intestinal obstruction, cirrhosis, and other reasons. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive symptomatic treatment under a doctor's guidance. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Improper Diet

Consuming high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sugar foods over a long period while lacking dietary fiber intake may lead to constipation and indigestion, causing the abdomen to become enlarged and firm. It is recommended to improve eating habits by consuming more fiber-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, while reducing intake of greasy, spicy, and irritating foods.

2. Obesity

Obesity is a common cause of a large and hard abdomen, especially when excessive fat accumulates in the abdominal area. The abdominal skin and muscle layers may be stretched by the fat layer, resulting in a distended and firm abdomen. Increasing physical activity appropriately in daily life, such as running, swimming, aerobics, etc., can help burn excess fat and alleviate the aforementioned symptoms.

3. Functional Dyspepsia

Heightened visceral sensitivity, local gastric environmental factors, and psychological or mental influences may cause dysfunction of the stomach and duodenum, leading to indigestion and a sensation of abdominal distension and firmness upon palpation. Under a doctor's guidance, prokinetic medications such as domperidone tablets, mosapride citrate, and trimebutine maleate tablets may be used for treatment.

4. Intestinal Obstruction

Post-surgical intestinal adhesions, colorectal tumors, and other factors may lead to intestinal obstruction. Intestinal obstruction can cause intestinal distension, accompanied by symptoms such as pain and vomiting, resulting in abdominal distension and hardness. Under a doctor's guidance, medications such as cisapride tablets, omeprazole enteric-coated capsules, and pantoprazole sodium enteric-coated capsules may be used for treatment.

5. Cirrhosis

Diseases such as viral hepatitis and alcoholic liver disease may lead to cirrhosis. When cirrhosis progresses to a certain stage, ascites may develop, causing fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity, resulting in a distended and hard abdomen, often accompanied by symptoms such as jaundice, spider angiomas, and palmar erythema. Under a doctor's guidance, medications such as furosemide injection, bumetanide tablets, and Anluoxue Capsules may be used for treatment.

In daily life, it is important to maintain good living and dietary habits and undergo regular physical examinations to detect and address related issues promptly.