286- Abdomino-Phrenic Dyssynergia (APD)

What is Abdomino-Phrenic Dyssynergia (APD) or Visible Abdominal Distension?

Abdominal distension occurs when the abdominal or belly area visibly expands. In most patients, distension develops during daily activity and tends to lessen or disappear after a night’s rest. Many people with gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses experience visible abdominal distension.

Bloating or Distension? What’s the Difference?

Bloating is described as the feeling of swelling or a buildup of pressure in the abdomen. Sometimes it can be described as the feeling of an inflated balloon in your stomach or intestines. Distension, however, is the visible increase in the width of your abdominal girth, or the area between your hips and chest. Feeling bloated is not always accompanied by the physical symptom of distension.

Author(s):
Elizabeth Barba, 
Fernando Azpiroz
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