What are the symptoms of painful gas? What are the causes of painful gas? How can you treat painful gas? Find the answers to these questions and more in this comprehensive article.

Painful Gas: Symptoms and Causes

Gas is a natural byproduct of healthy digestion, as bacteria in the large intestine break down carbohydrates. The average person produces 0.6 to 1.8 liters of gas per day, which is typically passed through burping or flatulence. While gas is not usually painful, some people may experience painful gas for various reasons.

Painful gas can manifest as a dull ache or a series of sharp, stabbing pains in the chest or abdomen. It may also be accompanied by a feeling of fullness, bloating, and burping. Several factors can contribute to painful gas, including:

• Swallowing excess air (e.g., from eating or drinking too fast, chewing gum, smoking)
• Consuming foods that produce gas, such as cruciferous vegetables, beans, whole grains, and dairy products
• Postnasal drip
• Constipation
• Chronic pain or tension

Food Intolerances and Painful Gas

Certain food intolerances can also contribute to painful gas. These include:

• Celiac disease: An autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the small intestine when gluten is consumed.
• Lactose intolerance: Difficulty digesting the sugar lactose, which is found in most dairy products.
• Dietary fructose intolerance: Trouble digesting the sugar fructose, which is found in many fruits and some vegetables.

Other Conditions Linked to Painful Gas

Painful gas may also be a symptom of other health conditions, such as:

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

SIBO occurs when there is an excess of bacteria in the small intestine, which can result in abdominal bloating, pain, diarrhea, weakness, and fatigue.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

GERD is a condition where stomach acid regularly travels up from the stomach into the esophagus, causing symptoms like heartburn, chest or abdominal pain, bloating, belching, and a sour taste in the mouth.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS is a chronic condition that affects the intestines and may involve abdominal pain and cramping, bloating, excessive flatulence, constipation, and diarrhea.

Treating Painful Gas

Over-the-counter medications can help alleviate painful gas, such as:

• Alpha-galactosidase (e.g., Beano, Digesta, Gas-Zyme 3X), which helps break down naturally occurring sugars that can cause gas
• Simethicone (e.g., Mylanta Gas, Gas-X), which helps gas move more quickly through the digestive tract
• Lactase, which helps the body break down lactose for those who are lactose intolerant

Additionally, making lifestyle changes can help prevent or reduce episodes of painful gas, such as:

• Quitting smoking, which can cause a person to swallow excess air
• Eating smaller meals throughout the day and avoiding or eliminating foods and drinks that trigger gas

Preventing Painful Gas

To prevent painful gas, it’s important to identify and avoid any foods or drinks that seem to trigger your symptoms. Keeping a food diary can help you pinpoint problem items. Additionally, try to eat slowly, avoid carbonated beverages, and quit smoking if applicable. If lifestyle changes don’t provide relief, it’s a good idea to consult a healthcare provider to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

Managing Painful Gas in Infants and Children

Painful gas can also affect infants and children. In addition to the above tips, parents may consider the following for their little ones:

• For infants, gas-relief drops containing simethicone may provide some relief.
• For children, lactase supplements may help if they are lactose intolerant.
• Avoiding carbonated beverages, chewing gum, and eating too quickly can also help prevent painful gas in children.

If a child experiences persistent, severe, or concerning gas-related symptoms, it’s important to consult a pediatrician.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Most episodes of painful gas are not a cause for serious concern and can be managed with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter remedies. However, if the following symptoms occur, it’s a good idea to see a healthcare provider:

• Persistent or severe abdominal pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Rectal bleeding
• Difficulty swallowing
• Symptoms that interfere with daily activities

A healthcare provider can help determine the underlying cause of painful gas and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Painful gas: Symptoms and treatments

Gas is a product of healthy digestion. It occurs when bacteria break down carbohydrates in the large intestine.

Experts estimate that the average person produces 0.6 to 1.8 liters of gas every day. Gas leaves the digestive tract when a person burps or passes gas, which a typical healthy person does 12–25 times a day.

Though intestinal gas is not usually painful, painful gas is not necessarily a cause for concern.

This article describes what painful gas feels like and some of the short- and long-term causes. It also explores ways to reduce the amount of gas and ease any associated pain in adults and babies.

Painful gas can occur with cramping. A person may feel a dull ache or a series of sharp, stapping pains in the chest or abdomen.

Gas can also occur with:

• a feeling of fullness in the abdomen
• flatulence, a buildup of gas that leads to discomfort
• bloating
• burping

A number of factors can cause painful gas, including:

• swallowing excess air, as a result of:
  • eating or drinking too fast
  • drinking carbonated beverages
  • drinking through a straw
  • chewing gum
  • sucking on hard candy
  • wearing ill-fitting dentures
  • smoking
• eating foods that can cause gas, such as:
  • cruciferous vegetables
  • beans
  • whole grains
  • dairy products
• postnasal drip
• constipation
• chronic pain or tension

People who experience frequent bouts of gas may find it helpful to track what and when they eat and drink. Keeping a record can help a person identify and avoid foods and drinks that trigger abdominal discomfort.

For some people, painful gas is a recurrent problem. It may result from any of the following health issues.

Food intolerances

A food intolerance involves difficulty digesting a particular component of food. For example, a person may have:

• Celiac disease: This autoimmune disorder causes inflammation in the small intestine whenever the person consumes gluten. It can cause the small intestine to absorb fewer nutrients from the diet.
• Lactose intolerance: This involves difficulty digesting lactose, a sugar in most dairy products.
• Dietary fructose intolerance: This involves trouble digesting fructose, a sugar in most fruits and some vegetables.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is the medical name for having excess bacteria in the small intestine.

It result from having low stomach acid or reduced muscle contractions or coordination within the small intestine.

The symptoms of SIBO can differ from person to person, but some include:

• abdominal bloating or expansion
• abdominal pain or discomfort
• diarrhea
• weakness
• fatigue

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) involves stomach acid regularly traveling up from the stomach into the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.

The most common symptoms of GERD are heartburn and acid reflux, but it can also cause:

• pain in the chest or abdomen
• bloating
• belching
• a sensation of food getting stuck in the esophagus
• a sour taste in the mouth
• bad breath
• a chronic sore throat

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition that affects the intestines. Experts are not sure of the exact cause, but it may involve:

• food passing through the large intestine too quickly or too slowly
• oversensitivity of the nerves in the intestines
• stress
• a genetic predisposition

The symptoms of IBS may be constant or may come and go. Bouts of symptoms may last days, weeks, or even months and involve:

• abdominal pain and cramping, which may pass after a bowel movement
• abdominal bloating or swelling
• excessive flatulence
• constipation
• diarrhea
• an urgent need to pass stool

Over-the-counter medications can help alleviate painful gas. Some examples include:

Alpha-galactosidase

Alpha-galactosidase is an enzyme that the body needs to break down naturally occurring sugars in beans, grains, and vegetables. A person takes it before eating.

Alpha-galactosidase is available under the following brand names:

• Beano
• Digesta
• Gas-Zyme 3X

Simethicone

Simethicone is a drug that helps gas move more quickly through the digestive tract. This can help ease bloating and abdominal pain and discomfort.

Simethicone is available under the brand names Mylanta Gas and Gas-X. The latter is available by prescription for children and infants.

Lactase

Lactase is an enzyme that helps the body break down lactose.

People who are lactose intolerant may benefit from taking lactase pills or drops with meals or snacks that contain dairy.

However, lactase may not be suitable for children under 3 years of age or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

To prevent or treat episodes of painful gas, a person can try:

• Quitting smoking: Smoking causes a person to swallow excess air.
• Changing eating habits: Aim to eat smaller meals throughout the day, and go slowly. Also, it can help to avoid or eliminate foods and drinks that trigger gas, such as:
  • beans
  • dairy
  • foods high in fiber
  • broccoli and cauliflower
  • foods high in difficult-to-digest carbs, called FODMAP foods
  • carbonated drinks
• Walking or moving around: Gentle activity can help gas travel within the body and pass. Yoga, walking, stretching can help.
• Heat: A heating pad or a warm bath can relax the abdominal muscles, allowing gas to escape more easily.

Babies can also experience painful gas. A 2011 study suggested a connection between excessive crying, colic, and high levels of intestinal gas in infants.

A baby who is experiencing gas may:

• fuss
• cry
• draw their legs into their belly
• arch their back
• clench their fists

The 2011 study also found that switching colicky infants to a low-lactose formula resulted in an improvement in symptoms.

To prevent painful gas in babies, try:

• feeding infants before they get too hungry, so that they do not swallow excess air as a result of crying
• making sure that the baby is in a good position and has a good latch during feeding, to prevent them from swallowing excess air
• burping babies during and after feedings

Gas can collect in different parts of the colon. The location of the gas can cause symptoms that mimic those of certain health problems.

For example, gas in the upper right colon can mimic gallbladder pain, while gas in the upper left colon can cause symptoms that resemble those of a heart attack.

Other conditions that cause symptoms that resemble painful gas include:

• Abdominal adhesions: These scar-like formations of tissue often develop after surgery. They can cause pain and bloating and may require specialist treatment.
• Abdominal hernia: This is a point of weakness in the abdominal wall, and muscle or fat may bulge out of it. It can cause bloating and pain and may require surgical repair.
• Colon cancer: Persistent abdominal pain and cramping can be symptoms of colon cancer.
• Ovarian cancer: Abdominal pain and bloating can indicate ovarian cancer. If symptoms continue daily for more than a few weeks, consult a doctor.

It is normal for gas to cause occasional discomfort or pain, which usually resolves on its own or with home care techniques.

However, severe or persistent painful gas may indicate an underlying medical issue.

Also, see a doctor if painful gas accompanies:

• difficulty eating
• changes in bowel habits
• blood in urine or stool
• unexplained weight loss
• fatigue
• the onset of any new symptoms

Gas is a normal product of healthy digestion, but it can sometimes trigger pain, bloating, belching, and flatulence. This typically goes away on its own, with home care, or with over-the-counter medication.

However, if painful gas is severe or persistent, see a doctor. This is especially important because gas-related symptoms can mimic those of more serious health issues.

What Is Pancreatitis? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, a gland that sits behind the stomach and near the first section of the small intestine, the duodenum.

The pancreas has two main, essential functions in the body:

• It secretes digestive enzymes to help the intestines digest food.
• It helps regulate blood sugar levels by producing the hormones insulin and glucagon.

Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas’s enzymes start digesting pancreatic tissues. This can cause swelling, bleeding, and damage to the pancreas. Gallstones, heavy alcohol use, and certain kinds of medication can cause pancreatitis.

There are two main types of pancreatitis: acute and chronic. “Pancreatitis” is often used synonymously with “acute pancreatitis,” because this form of the disease — which appears suddenly and is short-lived — is the most common. (In this article, the term pancreatitis will refer to acute pancreatitis.)

Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatitis

Within the pancreas, cells called acinar cells produce proenzymes, which are inactive substances that turn into enzymes through metabolic processes.

These proenzymes travel to the small intestine via the pancreatic duct, where they are converted into active forms. Once active, the enzymes get to work digesting carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and other food substances.

But if the acinar cells become damaged or the pancreatic duct is injured or blocked, the proenzymes may accumulate within the pancreas and activate prematurely.

When this happens, the enzymes digest cell membranes in the pancreas, sparking an inflammatory response from the immune system.

Symptoms differ for acute and chronic pancreatitis.

Acute Pancreatitis Symptoms

• A sharp, sudden pain in the abdomen that you may also feel in your back, which is a defining symptom of acute pancreatitis
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Elevated heart rate
• Swollen abdomen
• Changes in color or texture of stool (such as appearing greasy or yellow)

People with acute pancreatitis usually don’t look or feel well; it’s important to seek medical treatment right away. (1)

Acute pancreatitis comes on suddenly and usually subsides within a week with treatment, although severe cases can last longer. It’s most often caused by gallstones or excessive alcohol consumption, but certain drugs or elevated triglycerides (a form of fat found in the blood) can bring on an attack.

Chronic Pancreatitis Symptoms

Chronic pancreatitis is most commonly the result of alcoholism. Individuals with chronic pancreatitis often have had several bouts of acute pancreatitis. The pain in the abdomen that accompanies acute pancreatitis — which radiates in your back and may worsen after eating — can still be present, but not as strong. Sometimes, though, there’s no pain at all.

Other symptoms of chronic pancreatitis may include greasy, light-colored stools, and weight loss. (1)

Learn More About the Symptoms of Pancreatitis

Causes and Risk Factors of Pancreatitis

The most common causes of acute pancreatitis are gallstones and alcohol.

Gallstones are pebble-like deposits that form in the gallbladder as a result of the hardening of two substances: cholesterol and bilirubin. Bilirubin is a byproduct of the breaking down of red blood cells that is found in bile. (This substance also contributes to jaundice.)

Research indicates that gallstones cause 40 to 70 percent of acute pancreatitis cases. (2) Small gallstones — usually less than 5 millimeters — increase the risk of pancreatitis. (3)

It’s thought that gallstones cause pancreatitis by creating an obstruction in the pancreatic duct. This forces digestive enzymes back into the pancreas, which leads to inflammation.

Another common cause of acute pancreatitis — in about 30 percent of cases — is excessive alcohol consumption. (4)

It’s unclear just how alcohol causes the condition, but it’s thought that the way the pancreas processes alcohol may generate compounds that are toxic to the organ’s acinar cells.

Alcohol may also sensitize acinar cells to the effect of cholecystokinin, a hormone secreted by the duodenum that stimulates the release of digestive enzymes.

It’s hard to pin down just how many drinks will lead to acute pancreatitis. One study, which followed Swedish men and women for several years, found that the risk of acute pancreatitis increased 52 percent with every increment of five drinks consumed on one occasion. (5)

It’s worth keeping in mind that the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as four drinks in about two hours for women, and five drinks in about two hours for men. (6) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration defines heavy drinking as binge drinking for five or more days in one month. (7)

What Are Other Causes of Pancreatitis?

Medical students use the mnemonic “I GET SMASHED” to remember the following additional causes of pancreatitis:

• I for idiopathic (unknown causes)
• G for gallstones
• E for ethanol (alcohol)
• T for trauma
• S for steroids
• M for mumps — as well as other infections, such as Ascaris lumbricoides parasites, Coxsackie B virus, viral hepatitis, leptospirosis, and HIV — and malignancy (tumors)
• Autoimmune pancreatitis, which develops from an excess of IgG4 antibodies
• S for scorpion stings
• H for hyperlipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia (elevated levels of fat in your blood) and hypercalcemia (elevated blood calcium levels, which may cause calcium to deposit in the pancreatic duct or mediate the activation of pancreatic enzymes)
• E for ERCP, or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, an invasive diagnostic technique
• D for drugs

Which Drugs Cause Pancreatitis?

Drugs cause pancreatitis in various ways. They may, for example, be toxic to the pancreas, constrict the pancreatic duct, cause vascular problems, or affect the pancreatic processing systems.

Drug-induced pancreatitis is rare. It’s estimated that medication is only responsible for 1.4 to 2 percent of cases. (8) But there are many different drugs that can cause it.

According to research, there are published case reports of drug-induced pancreatitis for more than 40 of the top 200 most prescribed drugs. (9)

The report notes the six most common drugs or drug classes associated with pancreatitis:

• Statins, which lower cholesterol and includes simvastatin (Zocor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor)
• ACE inhibitors, which include enalapril (Vasotec) and lisinopril (Zestril), for hypertension and congestive heart failure
• Estrogens in oral contraception and hormone replacement therapy
• Diuretics, including furosemide (Lasix) and hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide)
• Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), including lamivudine (Epivir) and nelfinavir (Viracept) for HIV
• Valproic acid (Depakote, Depacon, Stavzor) for seizures

How Is Pancreatitis Diagnosed?

You’ll have a physical examination, and your doctor will order blood tests and imaging tests to confirm whether you have either acute or severe pancreatitis. During the physical examination, your doctor may feel your stomach to see whether your muscles are rigid or your stomach is tender.

The blood test, which can only point to pancreatitis — not diagnose it for certain — measures the amount of two digestive enzymes in the pancreas.

With the onset of acute pancreatitis, the levels of those enzymes are higher than usual — typically more than 3 times the normal level. (10) Other blood tests may measure kidney function and white blood cell count.

Your doctor may also order the following imaging tests to check for the presence of gallstones, inflammation, and other changes:

• X-rays
• Ultrasounds
• Computerized tomography (CT) scans
• Endoscopic ultrasounds (EUS)
• Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)

The EUS test involves inserting a lighted tube into your mouth and down into your intestine to check for blockage or damage.

The MRCP is a form of MRI in which you are injected with a dye that illuminates the pancreas and surrounding areas.

Chronic pancreatitis is diagnosed in the same way. The doctor may order different blood tests because digestive enzyme levels may appear normal with chronic pancreatitis. Stool tests are also common because chronic pancreatitis compromises the organ’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients, which creates changes in stool. (11)

Treatment and Medication Options for Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis that is mild can be treated with rest and pain medication taken at home. You may have to follow a low-fat, no-alcohol pancreatitis diet, as high-fat foods and alcohol can irritate the pancreas and cause pain. Other recommended lifestyle changes could include quitting smoking and losing weight.

Depending on how severe the case is, it may require a hospital stay, where you’ll receive intravenous (IV) fluids, and possibly insulin if your blood sugar or triglyceride levels are high. If a secondary infection is discovered, you’ll be prescribed antibiotics. If gallstones are determined to be the cause, you may have to have your gallbladder removed.

In both acute and chronic pancreatitis, surgery may be needed if there is dead or infected pancreatic tissue. In chronic pancreatitis, you may also need to take medicines and vitamins due to the impaired absorption of nutrients.

Learn More About Treating Pancreatitis

Prevention of Pancreatitis

Making certain lifestyle modifications can help reduce your risk for pancreatitis. This includes:

Limiting Alcohol Consumption This might even mean cutting it out entirely. The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is excessive alcohol consumption, and chronic pancreatitis most commonly is due to alcoholism.

Eating a Low-Fat Diet Avoiding fatty and fried foods can reduce your risk for gallstones, a leading cause of acute pancreatitis. High levels of triglycerides can also increase your risk for acute pancreatitis. Limiting foods high in simple sugars (sweets, sugary sodas) can help.

Exercising Regularly Being overweight increases your risk of gallstones, which puts you at greater risk for pancreatitis. But avoid crash diets, which can cause your liver to increase cholesterol production, which in turn increases your risk for gallstones.

Not Smoking Adults who smoked were 1.5 times more likely to develop acute or chronic pancreatitis than nonsmokers, according to a 2019 review. (13)

Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

1. Symptoms and Causes of Pancreatitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). November 2017.
2. Etiology of Acute Pancreatitis. UpToDate.com. April 27, 2022.
3. Diehl AK, Holleman DR Jr, Chapman JB, et al. Gallstone Size and Risk of Pancreatitis. Archives of Internal Medicine. August 1997.
4. Bartel M. Acute Pancreatitis. Merck Manual. September 2022.
5. Azodi OS, Orsini N, Andrén-Sandberg Å, Wolk A. Effect of Type of Alcoholic Beverage in Causing Acute Pancreatitis. British Journal of Surgery. November 2011.
6. Drinking Levels Defined. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
7. Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health [PDF]. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. December 2022.
8. Jones MR, Hall OM, Kaye AM, Kaye AD. Drug-Induced Acute Pancreatitis: A Review. Ochsner Journal. Spring 2015.
9. Kaurich T. Drug-Induced Acute Pancreatitis. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings. January 2008.
10. Gapp J, Tariq A, Chandra S. Acute Pancreatitis. StatPearls. November 4, 2022.
11. Stool Elastase. MedlinePlus. March 8, 2021.
12. Pancreatitis. MedlinePlus. March 17, 2016.
13. Tobacco Smoking and the Risk of Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies. Pancreatology. December 2019.
14. Acute Pancreatitis Risks and Treatment. National Pancreas Foundation.
15. Definition and Facts for Pancreatitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. November 2017.
16. Lin S, Hsu W, Lin CC, et al. Effect of Acute Pancreatitis on the Risk of Developing Osteoporosis: A Nationwide Cohort Study. PLoS One. June 12, 2017.
17. Deleted, January 19, 2022.
18. Afghani E., Pandol SJ, Shimosegawa T, et al. Acute Pancreatitis — Progress and Challenges. Pancreas. November 2015.
19. Yadav D, Lowenfels AB. The Epidemiology of Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer. Gastroenterology. June 2013.
20. Wilcox C, Sandhu B, Singh V, et al. Racial Differences in the Clinical Profile, Causes, and Outcome of Chronic Pancreatitis. American Journal of Gastroenterology. October 2016.
21. Cervantes A, Waymouth EK, Petrov MS. African-Americans and Indigenous Peoples Have Increased Burden of Diseases of the Exocrine Pancreas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. January 2019.

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Why flatulence appears and what to do about it

September 10, 2020

Likbez

Health

You may be talking too much while eating, or it may be a symptom of a serious illness.

Flatulence (from the Greek for “lifting up”, “bloating”) is a medical term for excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines. It is often confused with bloating. These states are really similar, but there is an important nuance.

Bloating is just a symptom of flatulence. Very common, but far from the only one and not even always mandatory.

What are the symptoms of flatulence

In addition to bloating, excess gas in the intestines can manifest itself in other signs:

• belching;
• frequent need to pass gases – more than 10 times a day;
• a loud gasping sound that is sometimes impossible to control;
• bad smell;
• uncontrollable grumbling, “overflow” in the abdomen;
• fast saturation.

Why flatulence is dangerous

In itself, this condition is not dangerous, except that it slightly reduces the quality of life. It’s embarrassing when, at an important meeting, you suddenly make yourself felt not with a sensible sentence, but with a loud rumbling in the stomach or even a fart.

However, in some cases flatulence may indicate a serious illness. And it’s important not to miss it.

What are the causes of flatulence

Excess gases in the intestines can appear in two ways:

• exogenous, when gases come from outside, for example, if we swallow excess air while eating or drinking;
• endogenous, when excess gases are formed inside the intestines as a side effect of digestion of food or the inability of the body to assimilate a particular product.

Here are the most common causes of flatulence.

External (exogenous)

1. You accidentally swallowed a lot of air

A small amount of it enters the intestines every time we eat or drink. The key word here is “small”. Such a volume of air inside the gastrointestinal tract does not affect well-being in any way.

But sometimes we swallow much more air than usual. It increases the pressure inside the intestines and leads to flatulence. This happens when you:

• chew gum;
• sucking on a lollipop;
• suck or bite on foreign objects, such as chewing on the cap of a pen or biting your nails;
• smoke;
• drink through a straw;
• chatting actively while eating.

2. You were very hungry and ate big chunks of food

This eating behavior in itself makes you swallow more air. In addition, large pieces expand the esophagus – and air enters the digestive tract in impressive volumes.

3. You have eaten a food that increases gas formation

Most often, increased formation of gases in the intestines is caused by foods high in fiber:

• legumes, in particular beans and peas;
• hard fruits such as apples or pears;
• vegetables, especially cabbages: white cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli;
• whole grain products: cereals, bread, bran.

4. You drank soda

First, the bubbles that you swallow increase the amount of gas in the intestines. Secondly, carbonated drinks, especially diet ones, contain sweeteners – sorbitol or xylitol, which increase gas formation.

Internal (endogenous)

1. You have constipation

Normally, intestinal gases, if they become too much, easily and imperceptibly exit through the anus. But when constipated, it is difficult for them to break out. The pressure in the intestines rises.

During the movement of feces, excess air under high pressure moves to the anus. So there is a grumbling in the stomach, and when the gases are released, this is accompanied by a specific loud sound.

2. You have a disturbed intestinal microflora

A change in the number or composition of bacteria in the small intestine leads to the fact that food is digested more slowly and worse, begins to ferment. This is how excess gases are formed. This condition can be caused, for example, by taking antibiotics.

3. You have a food intolerance

This means that the intestines cannot break down and assimilate certain foods, such as milk lactose or the gluten protein found in grain foods (cereals, bread, pasta). Fermentation begins, foul-smelling gases are released.

4. You have diabetes mellitus

Diabetes seriously impairs the digestive function: it impairs intestinal motility, changes its bacterial composition, and makes absorption of foods difficult. Flatulence is only one of the consequences of these disturbances.

5. You may be developing a gastrointestinal disease

Here are a few diseases that may have flatulence as a symptom (sometimes the only symptom in the early stages):

• gastroenteritis and other intestinal infections;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• stomach ulcer;
• duodenal ulcer;
• gastroparesis – a condition in which the muscles of the walls of the stomach weaken;
• autoimmune pancreatitis;
• gallstones;
• cholecystitis;
• diverticular disease.

What to do if you have flatulence

Flatulence caused by external causes is usually harmless and resolves on its own rather quickly. Therefore, if you suffer from gases only from time to time and you can associate this with, for example, drinking carbonated drinks or chatting while eating, there is nothing to worry about.

But if flatulence began to haunt you regularly – every day or several times a week, contact a gastroenterologist.

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, ask about your lifestyle and eating habits, perform an examination, and listen to your abdomen with a stethoscope. Perhaps he will offer to undergo an additional examination – to take blood and urine tests, to do an ultrasound of the abdominal organs.

If the results of the tests show that the causes of increased gas production are internal, associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it will be necessary to treat or correct the specific disease. When therapy is completed, problems with intestinal gases will disappear.

However, most often flatulence is the result of an unhealthy lifestyle, irregular or unhealthy diet. Your doctor will advise you on how to overcome this.

Here are some general tips:

• Eat slowly, chewing your food thoroughly. It is important not to swallow air with large pieces.
• Avoid chewing gum and hard candies.
• Drink less carbonated drinks.
• Try cutting out diet foods and drinks with sweeteners and monitor your condition. Perhaps flatulence in your case is caused precisely by artificial sweeteners.
• Divide food into small portions. Many foods that cause gas are an important part of a healthy diet. In order not to deprive yourself of, for example, fiber, try eating it in small portions. Perhaps this will solve the problem.
• Stop smoking or do it as little as possible.
• If you wear dentures, see your dentist to see if they fit well. Poorly fitting ones can lead to swallowing excess air while eating or drinking.
• Move more. Physical activity reduces the risk of constipation.

Read also 😟🚑💊

• Why the stomach hurts and what to do about it
• What is diverticulitis and how to treat it
• Gastritis: is it possible to eat dry food and not get sick
• What is irritable bowel syndrome and how to get rid of it
• Where does heaviness in the stomach come from and what to do about it

causes, what is dangerous, prevention and treatment

If you have been worried about increased gas formation in the intestines for a long time, you should take this problem more seriously and, if necessary, consult a doctor. When is bloating dangerous and how to deal with it?

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Health problems

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What do these symptoms mean?

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People don’t like to discuss this sensitive topic. However, in some cases it is necessary, otherwise it may be too late. How to understand when your flatulence is harmless and when not?

Contents of the article

Do not self-medicate! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

When is flatulence normal?

All people fart, less often or more often. Intestinal gases are an integral process of digestion, and they are always present, in greater or lesser quantities. Most often, it is just air that enters the stomach while eating along with food. Many foods, when digested, emit a large amount of gases. First of all, these are foods with a high combination of fiber and protein, such as legumes, followed by carbonated drinks.

Moderate gas formation in the intestines is completely normal: on average, a person emits up to 2 liters of gases per day. But if you have excessive flatulence or unusual symptoms, you need the help of a gastroenterologist. In each case, we will not talk about a one-time attack, but about recurring ones. Here’s what should concern you:

Types of intestinal gases

Too smelly gases

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You will be surprised, but our intestinal gases do not normally smell. Only 1% of the total volume of farts have the smell of hydrogen sulfide, and we simply do not feel them. If every fart has started to smell, and this is not related to smelly foods like garlic, curry, etc., and lasts longer than one or two days, there is reason to worry. If you’re farting exceptionally smelly, it could mean bacterial growth in your gut or food sensitivities like celiac disease or Crohn’s disease. In these cases, help is needed as soon as possible.

Painful bloating

If you experience abdominal pain and severe gas in the intestines, this means that the gases cannot pass. Blockages can be caused by tumors, ulcers, or inflammation of the appendix.

Excessive bloating

If you periodically notice increased bloating and gas formation in yourself, and this does not coincide with the menstrual cycle, you may have irritable bowel syndrome.

Gas in the stool

If your bowel movements are intermittent, with the release of intestinal gas, or there are voids in the feces in which there was gas, you may have problems with the pancreas.

Persistent flatulence

When you walk around continuously holding back from farting, this means excess flatulence or flatulence. The reason for this is the high content of fiber and sugar in your food. Another cause could be irritable bowel syndrome or colon cancer.

Sulfur-smelling belching

Sometimes intestinal gases come out the wrong way. If you burp and your mouth smells like rotten eggs, this could mean both irritable bowel syndrome and giardiasis, a parasitic disease.

Gas pain

Any burning or flatulence pain means anal fissures or hemorrhoids. The longer you ignore symptoms, the harder it is to treat later.

What to do with increased gas formation in the intestines?

Of course, with severe gas in the intestines, many will start with a change in diet and over-the-counter drugs. If this did not help quickly, in two or three days, or the symptoms recurred after some time again, you should see a gastroenterologist. Do not think that this is some kind of particularly sensitive topic for a specialist, you can be completely frank, this will facilitate the diagnosis.

To prevent flatulence, eliminate gas-producing foods from your diet, such as milk, grains and legumes, and most carbonated drinks. It is allowed to consume easily digestible healthy foods such as green vegetables and low-fiber fruits.

In case of frequent gas formation in the intestines, you should immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe a complex treatment for you, consisting of:

folk remedies based on herbal medicine.