Abdominal bloating occurs when the abdomen fills with air or gas. This may cause the area to appear visually larger. The abdomen may feel hard or tight to the touch. The condition can cause discomfort and pain. Causes Abdominal Bloating consuming foods known to cause gas in some people, such as milk products that contain lactose, broccoli, carbonated beverages, onions, and beans. When the gas moves through the digestive tract, pain can result Crohn’s disease, a condition that causes intestinal inflammation gastroenteritis or a viral and/or bacterial infection of the stomach and bowel. This is typically accompanied by diarrhea. intestinal obstruction where the intestine is blocked and digested material cannot move through the digestive tract. This is an emergency medical condition. irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Conditions such as acid reflux and indigestion can cause abdominal bloating and abdominal pain. In these cases, the pain is typically on the stomach’s upper portion, not the lower part. Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms in addition to abdominal pain and bloating: bloating and/or abdominal pain after eating nearly every meal nausea painful bowel movements