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Bloating excessive gas. Understanding Excessive Gas and Bloating: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions

by alexxlab

Why do some people experience frequent gas and bloating. What are the main causes of excessive gas production. How can diet and eating habits contribute to bloating. When should you see a doctor for persistent gas and bloating.

The Science Behind Gas Production in the Human Body

Gas is a natural byproduct of the digestive process. It primarily occurs in two areas of the digestive system:

  • The stomach: Gas here is often caused by swallowing air while eating or drinking
  • The intestines: Gas is produced when gut bacteria ferment undigested carbohydrates

While some gas is normal, excessive gas can lead to discomfort, bloating, and embarrassment. Understanding the root causes can help manage these symptoms effectively.

How Much Gas is Normal?

Studies have shown that the average person passes gas 13-21 times per day, producing about 0.6-1.8 liters of gas. However, this can vary widely based on diet and individual factors. Excessive gas becomes a concern when it causes persistent discomfort or interferes with daily life.

Common Culprits: Foods That Increase Gas Production

Certain foods are known to increase gas production in the digestive system. These include:

  • High-fiber foods: Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and peas
  • Carbonated beverages: Sodas and beer
  • Sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners
  • Dairy products (for those with lactose intolerance)
  • Gluten-containing foods (for those with gluten sensitivity)

While many of these foods are healthy and beneficial, they can cause discomfort in some individuals. Moderation and gradual introduction of high-fiber foods can help minimize gas production.

The Role of FODMAPs in Gas Production

FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols) are a group of carbohydrates that can be difficult for some people to digest. Foods high in FODMAPs include:

  • Apples
  • Honey
  • Milk
  • Beans
  • Lentils
  • Beer

For individuals sensitive to FODMAPs, reducing intake of these foods may help alleviate gas and bloating symptoms.

Food Intolerances and Their Impact on Digestive Health

Food intolerances can significantly contribute to excessive gas and bloating. Unlike food allergies, which can be life-threatening, food intolerances typically cause digestive discomfort. Common food intolerances include:

  • Lactose intolerance: Difficulty digesting dairy products
  • Gluten sensitivity: Intolerance to gluten found in wheat and other grains
  • Sulfite sensitivity: Intolerance to sulfites found in potato chips, wine, and canned vegetables
  • Histamine intolerance: Difficulty processing histamines in aged cheeses, avocados, and fermented foods

Identifying and managing food intolerances can significantly reduce gas and bloating symptoms. Keeping a food diary and working with a healthcare professional can help pinpoint problematic foods.

Distinguishing Between Food Intolerance and Food Allergy

Food intolerances and food allergies are often confused, but they are distinct conditions:

  • Food intolerance: Typically affects the digestive system and causes discomfort
  • Food allergy: Involves the immune system and can cause severe, potentially life-threatening reactions

If you suspect a food allergy, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention.

Eating Habits That Contribute to Excessive Gas

Sometimes, it’s not what we eat but how we eat that leads to excessive gas. Common habits that can increase gas production include:

  • Eating too quickly
  • Chewing gum
  • Talking while chewing
  • Drinking through a straw

These habits often lead to swallowing excess air, which can contribute to gas and bloating. Making mindful changes to eating habits can help reduce these symptoms.

The Importance of Mindful Eating

Practicing mindful eating can significantly reduce gas and bloating. This involves:

  • Eating slowly and chewing thoroughly
  • Avoiding distractions while eating
  • Listening to your body’s hunger and fullness cues

By adopting these habits, you can improve digestion and reduce the likelihood of excessive gas production.

Medical Conditions Associated with Gas and Bloating

While diet and eating habits play a significant role in gas production, certain medical conditions can also contribute to excessive gas and bloating. These include:

  1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A chronic condition affecting the intestines, with gas and bloating as common symptoms
  2. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which can damage the gastrointestinal tract
  3. Constipation: Can lead to difficulty passing gas and increased bloating
  4. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO): Excessive bacterial growth in the small intestine leading to increased gas production

Understanding these conditions is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment of persistent gas and bloating issues.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Gas

IBS is a common digestive disorder that affects millions worldwide. Key points about IBS and gas include:

  • Up to 90% of IBS patients report gas pain or bloating
  • Symptoms can be triggered by certain foods, stress, or hormonal changes
  • Management often involves dietary changes, stress reduction, and sometimes medication

If you suspect you have IBS, consult with a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment options.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Gas and Bloating

While occasional gas and bloating are normal, persistent or severe symptoms may indicate an underlying issue. It’s important to consult a doctor if gas and bloating are accompanied by:

  • Changes in stool consistency or frequency
  • Significant weight loss
  • Persistent constipation or diarrhea
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Prolonged abdominal pain
  • Chest pain
  • Loss of appetite or feeling full quickly

These symptoms could indicate more serious digestive or intestinal conditions that require medical attention.

Diagnostic Procedures for Persistent Gas and Bloating

When evaluating persistent gas and bloating, doctors may recommend various diagnostic procedures:

  • Stool tests: To check for infections or malabsorption issues
  • Blood tests: To screen for celiac disease or other conditions
  • Breath tests: To diagnose lactose intolerance or bacterial overgrowth
  • Endoscopy or colonoscopy: To visualize the digestive tract and check for abnormalities

These tests can help identify the underlying cause of persistent gas and bloating, leading to more effective treatment strategies.

Strategies for Managing Excessive Gas and Bloating

While the causes of excessive gas and bloating can vary, there are several strategies that can help manage these symptoms:

  1. Dietary modifications: Identify and avoid trigger foods
  2. Gradual increase in fiber intake: To allow your body to adjust
  3. Proper hydration: Drink plenty of water throughout the day
  4. Regular exercise: To promote healthy digestion and bowel movements
  5. Stress management: Practice relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga
  6. Probiotic supplements: To support a healthy gut microbiome
  7. Over-the-counter remedies: Such as simethicone for gas relief

Remember, what works for one person may not work for another. It may take some trial and error to find the most effective strategies for your individual situation.

The Role of Probiotics in Digestive Health

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can support digestive health. They may help reduce gas and bloating by:

  • Improving the balance of gut bacteria
  • Enhancing digestion of certain carbohydrates
  • Reducing inflammation in the digestive tract

While more research is needed, many people find probiotics helpful in managing digestive symptoms. Consult with a healthcare provider to determine if probiotics might be beneficial for you.

Understanding the causes of excessive gas and bloating is the first step towards finding effective solutions. By making mindful dietary choices, adopting healthy eating habits, and addressing any underlying medical conditions, most people can successfully manage these common digestive issues. Remember, persistent or severe symptoms should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

Why Am I So Gassy? 4 Causes of Gas and Bloating

Almost everyone feels gassy and bloated sometimes. But some people experience it frequently and wonder why it’s happening so often.

Gas in the stomach is frequently caused by swallowing air while eating and drinking, which is generally released by burping. In the intestines, gut bacteria produce gas while digesting carbohydrates such as fiber, starches, and sugars, a process known as fermentation.

Passing gas can often eliminate the gas that’s in the digestive tract. However, excessive fermentation may result in lots of gas trapped in the digestive system, causing gas pain or bloating.

4 Causes of Gas and Bloating

1. Consuming certain foods and beverages

Foods that are high in fiber can increase gas production, especially if you eat a lot of fiber when you aren’t used to it. Examples of high-fiber foods include:

  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Whole grains
  • Beans and peas

Fiber supplements such as Metamucil may also increase gas.

Other foods or drinks that can increase gas include carbonated beverages such as soda and beer. Sugar substitutes like artificial sweeteners have been known to cause excessive gas production.

2. Food intolerances

People who eat foods they can’t tolerate will produce more gas because they can’t digest and break down the foods effectively. This is different than food allergies, which can be life-threatening.

Lactose, the sugar in dairy products, and gluten, which is found in wheat and other grains, are two common food sensitivities. Different types of foods can cause food intolerance, especially those containing sulfites, histamines, or FODMAPs.

Foods that contain sulfites include:

  • Potato chips
  • Beer and wine
  • Canned vegetables
  • Pickled foods

Foods that contain histamines include:

  • Aged cheeses
  • Avocados
  • Citrus fruits
  • Fermented foods – like sauerkraut and kimchi

Foods that contain FODMAPs include:

  • Apples
  • Honey
  • Milk
  • Beans
  • Lentils
  • Beer

3.

Eating habits

Some habits, such as eating too quickly, chewing gum, and talking while chewing, lead to increased swallowed air and gas build-up in the stomach. Drinking through a straw can cause you to swallow more air than drinking without one.

4. Medical conditions

Gas discomfort and bloating can be caused by medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, constipation, and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – IBS is a chronic condition that affects the intestine. Gas and bloating are common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As high as 90% of IBS patients report gas pain or bloating.
  • Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease – Inflammatory diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease damage the gastrointestinal tract’s inner lying, leading to indigestion and obstruction of gas passing.
  • Constipation – Constipation can cause difficulty passing gas due to blockage. Feces can harden and accumulate in the colon, increasing the bowel volume and causing bloating. Constipation can be intermittent or persistent.
  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) – Increased bacterial growth in the small intestine may lead to excessive gas production. When gut bacteria from the colon enter the small intestine, the balance of gut bacteria is disrupted, resulting in increased gas production.

When Should I See a Doctor?

Occasional gas and bloating are typical and may resolve on their own. However, severe gas and bloating could signal underlying digestive or intestinal conditions. It is essential to see a doctor if gas pain and bloating are persistent and interfere with daily life.

Seeing a doctor is important if the gas and bloating are accompanied by:

  • A change in stool consistency
  • A change in bowel movement frequency
  • Significant weight loss
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Prolonged abdominal pain
  • Chest pain
  • Loss of appetite or feeling full quickly

Don’t suffer from unnecessary gas pain or bloating. Schedule an appointment today!

 

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Related:

  • Gas and Bloating: When You Should See a Doctor
  • 6 Diet Changes to Ease Gastrointestinal Issues
  • Gas and Bloating

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Bloating | MC “MedicASS”, Voronezh

Bloating felt as pressure, heaviness, fullness. This symptom may indicate not only excessive gas formation, but also the pathology of the abdominal organs.

Why bloating occurs

Physiological bloating occurs due to the accumulation of more than 1.5 liters of gases in the intestines and is accompanied by belching, increased discharge of gases along with diarrhea. Flatulence provokes animal protein, coarse fiber, gluten, lactose, carbohydrates. Increased gas formation occurs in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and are prone to overeating.

In addition to physiological causes, flatulence occurs with the following pathologies:

  • food allergy;
  • lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance;
  • celiac disease;
  • intestinal dysbacteriosis;
  • irritable bowel syndrome;
  • helminthiases;
  • gastroparesis;
  • inflammatory diseases of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis.

In addition to gas, bloating is provoked by stool, fat or liquid. Feces linger in the intestines with constipation, atony, or obstruction.

Ascites is an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. The condition can be a sign of diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver and kidneys. With ascites, the skin on the abdomen is stretched, shiny, the diameter of the navel is increased.

Bloating can be a sign of the growth of benign and malignant tumors located in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), organs of the reproductive system, and kidneys.

How to determine the cause of bloating

If bloating occurs intermittently or continuously, the abdomen increases, and weight decreases, you should seek medical help from a general practitioner or gastroenterologist. To prescribe a treatment regimen, a specialist needs to conduct a thorough examination of the patient.

First of all, the doctor takes an anamnesis. You should tell him about complaints, dietary habits, daily activity, medications taken, genetic predisposition to cancer.

Inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion of the abdomen. Women are excluded from pregnancy. The doctor prescribes a clinical and biochemical blood test, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis.

How bloating is treated

To get rid of gases and feces, you need a correction of nutrition and sufficient physical activity. In some cases, carminative and laxatives are prescribed.

In case of food allergy, intolerance to lactose and other organic substances, foods that provoke an unpleasant symptom are excluded from the diet. If bloating is caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, appropriate drugs are prescribed. Tumors and intestinal obstruction are treated surgically.

To alleviate the condition of the patient with ascites, perform a puncture of the abdominal cavity to remove fluid. Prescribe diuretics, minimize the salt content in the diet, and treat the underlying disease.

To make an appointment with a general practitioner or gastroenterologist at the Medical Center “MedicASS”, contact the administrator by phone +7 (473) 202-31-05 or use the online appointment form.

Bloating causes and treatment

Flatulence is a phenomenon that occurs due to increased accumulation of gases in the intestines. Flatulence can be a symptom of various pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, but often occurs in healthy people. The reason for this is overeating or eating foods that stimulate gas formation.

We will talk about ways to treat bloating below.

Main causes of bloating

Bloating, main pathological causes:

1. Suspected gluten intolerance.

2. Lactose intolerance. This is a decrease in the level of lactase (an enzyme that is necessary for the digestion of lactose).

3. Intestinal dysfunction.

4. Dysbacteriosis. This is a violation of the normal balance of intestinal microflora – the number of “beneficial” microorganisms decreases, and pathogenic ones increase.

5. Intestinal obstruction. With obstruction, constipation occurs, which is accompanied by bloating.

Physiological causes:

  1. Pregnancy.
  2. The use of products that stimulate gas formation (cereals, legumes).
  3. Senile flatulence.

Tolerate or deal with

In many cases, bloating does not require special treatment and only some nutritional adjustment is possible. For example, exclude from the diet foods that cause an increase in gas formation.

In some cases, the specialist may prescribe medicines or probiotics.

In addition, there are supplements that can help prevent bloating without significant lifestyle changes.

One such remedy is Lactoflorene Flat Stomach.

This is an excellent all-in-one formula that fights the flatulence problem. The components of Lactoflorene are aimed at various causes of bloating, help in solving this problem and help bring the microflora back to normal.

Contains:

  • Alpha-galactosidase. An enzyme that helps digest complex carbohydrates that cause gas;
  • Vegetable type extracts. They help to reduce the formation of gases in the gastrointestinal tract and contribute to their removal, cause an anti-stress effect;
  • Probiotics. Live bifido- and lactobacilli that help restore the balance of microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract. Live bacteria inhibit the activity of bacteria that form gases;
  • Beta-galactosidase (lactase). Enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of lactose. If it is present in insufficient volume, it can lead to its intolerance. As a result, when a person consumes dairy products, flatulence, discomfort, pain, and so on will occur;
  • Enzymes. They break down heavy foods that are difficult for the body to absorb.

Lactoflorene Flat Stomach has a special package – DUOCAM®, consisting of two separate chambers. The bag is divided into 2 parts marked “A” and “B”. In chamber “A” there are enzymes and plant-type extracts, and in chamber “B” bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. This approach prevents components from interacting prematurely. When you need to use the product, the components are mixed. This method of taking the drug guarantees the best effect.

Taking Lactoflorene A flat stomach can help you get rid of bloating without a major lifestyle change. It is enough to take 1 sachet of DUOCAM per day before meals. It is diluted in a glass of water. The course of admission is from 10 days to 30, then you can conduct another course.

It is also necessary to prevent bloating:

  • it is advisable to exclude foods that cause bloating from your diet. These include: beans, dairy products, foods containing a lot of fiber;
  • if there is lactose intolerance, then it is worth limiting the use of dairy products;
  • do not abuse fatty, salty, fried foods;
  • it is recommended to add more fresh vegetables and fruits, steamed dishes, cereals and low-fat foods to your diet;
  • keep the diet and eat at the same time;
  • undergo body diagnostics on time and visit a gastroenterologist.

If you follow simple rules, lead an active lifestyle, eat right and add Lactoflorene Flat Stomach to your usual diet, the digestive system will work normally, and increased gas formation will stop bothering you. The above recommendations will help maintain health, relieve you of pain and bloating.