How common is colorectal cancer. What are the risk factors for developing colorectal cancer. Why are screenings important for early detection. What are the latest guidelines for colorectal cancer screening. How does obesity impact the risk of colorectal cancer.

Understanding Colorectal Cancer: Incidence and Impact

Colorectal cancer, encompassing both colon and rectal cancers, is a significant health concern affecting millions of Americans. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports that approximately 1 in 20 individuals will develop this type of cancer during their lifetime. As of the most recent data from 2013-2015, over 1.3 million people in the United States are living with colorectal cancer.

The American Cancer Society’s projections for 2018 estimated nearly 100,000 new cases of colon cancer and more than 43,000 new cases of rectal cancer diagnosed annually in the United States. These figures underscore the importance of understanding this disease, its risk factors, and prevention strategies.

Colorectal Cancer’s Share in Overall Cancer Cases

Colorectal cancer accounts for about 8 percent of all new cancer cases in the country, according to the NCI. This statistic highlights the prevalence of this particular form of cancer and emphasizes the need for increased awareness and preventive measures.

The Crucial Role of Colorectal Cancer Screenings

Regular screening tests play a vital role in preventing colorectal cancer and detecting it early when it’s most treatable. These tests allow healthcare professionals to assess individuals who may not exhibit any symptoms of the disease, potentially catching issues before they become more serious.

Why are screenings so important?

• They enable doctors to detect and remove colorectal polyps before they become cancerous.
• Screenings can identify colon and rectal cancers at early stages when treatment is most effective.
• Early detection significantly improves survival rates.

When colorectal cancer is found at the local stage, before it spreads beyond the colon or rectum, the five-year survival rate is approximately 90 percent. However, only about one-third of all colorectal cancers are currently detected at this early stage, largely due to low screening rates.

Evolving Guidelines for Colorectal Cancer Screening

Recommendations for colorectal cancer screening have evolved in recent years, reflecting new research and changing patterns in disease incidence. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which sets policy for Medicare and private insurers under the Affordable Care Act, recommends that colorectal screening for people at average risk begin at age 50.

However, in May 2018, the American Cancer Society revised its guidelines, shifting the recommended starting age to 45. This change was prompted by an analysis of data revealing an increasing incidence of colorectal cancer among younger Americans.

What factors influenced the change in screening guidelines?

1. Rising rates of colorectal cancer in younger populations
2. New research on risk factors, including obesity
3. Improved understanding of disease progression

The Impact of Obesity on Colorectal Cancer Risk

Recent research has shed light on the relationship between obesity and the risk of developing colorectal cancer, particularly in younger individuals. A study published in October 2018 in the journal JAMA Oncology tracked the health of over 85,000 women for 22 years and found a significant correlation between body mass index (BMI) and colorectal cancer risk before age 50.

How does obesity increase colorectal cancer risk?

• Higher BMI is associated with greater inflammation in the body
• Obesity can lead to insulin resistance, which may promote tumor growth
• Excess body fat can alter hormone levels, potentially influencing cancer development

This research underscores the importance of maintaining a healthy weight as a preventive measure against colorectal cancer, especially for younger adults who may not have previously been considered at high risk.

Understanding Gas in the Digestive Tract

While not directly related to colorectal cancer, understanding gas in the digestive tract is important for overall gastrointestinal health. Gas is a normal byproduct of digestion and is produced in two primary ways: by swallowing air and through the breakdown of certain foods by bacteria in the colon.

What causes gas in the digestive system?

1. Aerophagia (swallowing air) during eating, drinking, or other activities
2. Bacterial fermentation of undigested carbohydrates in the large intestine

Most people produce between 1 to 4 pints of gas daily and pass gas approximately 14 times a day. While sometimes uncomfortable or embarrassing, gas is generally not dangerous and is a sign of a normally functioning digestive system.

The Composition and Characteristics of Digestive Gas

Digestive gas is primarily composed of odorless vapors, including carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and sometimes methane. The unpleasant smell associated with flatulence is typically due to small amounts of sulfur-containing gases produced by bacteria in the large intestine.

What determines the smell of digestive gas?

• The types of foods consumed
• The balance of gut bacteria
• Individual digestive processes

Understanding the normal composition and characteristics of digestive gas can help individuals differentiate between typical gastrointestinal function and potential signs of more serious conditions, such as colorectal cancer.

Dietary Factors Influencing Gas Production

While gas production is a normal part of digestion, certain foods are more likely to cause excessive gas. Carbohydrates, particularly those that are not fully digested in the small intestine, are the primary culprits. When these undigested carbohydrates reach the large intestine, they are fermented by gut bacteria, producing gas as a byproduct.

Which foods commonly cause gas?

• Beans and legumes
• Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage
• Dairy products (especially for those with lactose intolerance)
• High-fiber foods
• Artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols

Being aware of these gas-producing foods can help individuals manage their digestive comfort. However, it’s important to note that many of these foods are also highly nutritious and shouldn’t be avoided entirely unless advised by a healthcare professional.

Distinguishing Between Normal Gas and Potential Health Issues

While gas is typically harmless, changes in gas patterns or associated symptoms can sometimes indicate underlying health issues. It’s important to be able to differentiate between normal digestive processes and potential signs of more serious conditions, including colorectal cancer.

When should you be concerned about digestive gas?

• Persistent or severe abdominal pain
• Changes in bowel habits
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blood in stool
• Chronic constipation or diarrhea

If you experience any of these symptoms alongside changes in your typical gas patterns, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare provider. While these symptoms don’t necessarily indicate colorectal cancer, they warrant further investigation to rule out serious conditions.

Preventive Measures for Colorectal Health

Maintaining good colorectal health involves a combination of lifestyle choices, regular screenings, and awareness of potential risk factors. By adopting certain habits and staying vigilant about changes in your digestive health, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing colorectal cancer.

How can you promote colorectal health?

1. Adhere to recommended screening guidelines
2. Maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise
3. Limit alcohol consumption and avoid smoking
4. Consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
5. Stay physically active
6. Be aware of your family history and genetic risk factors

By incorporating these preventive measures into your lifestyle, you can take proactive steps towards protecting your colorectal health and reducing your risk of developing colorectal cancer.

The Future of Colorectal Cancer Research and Treatment

As our understanding of colorectal cancer continues to evolve, researchers are exploring new avenues for prevention, detection, and treatment. Advancements in genetic testing, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies are offering new hope for patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

What are some promising areas of colorectal cancer research?

• Liquid biopsies for early detection and monitoring
• Personalized medicine based on genetic profiling
• Novel combinations of existing treatments
• Microbiome research for prevention and treatment
• Artificial intelligence for improved diagnosis and treatment planning

These emerging areas of research hold the potential to revolutionize our approach to colorectal cancer, potentially leading to more effective prevention strategies, earlier detection methods, and more personalized treatment options in the future.

As we continue to unravel the complexities of colorectal cancer and digestive health, it’s clear that a multifaceted approach involving regular screenings, healthy lifestyle choices, and ongoing research is crucial. By staying informed about the latest developments in colorectal cancer prevention and treatment, individuals can take an active role in protecting their health and well-being.

What Is Colon and Rectal Cancer? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

How Common Is Colon Cancer?

Around 1 in 20 Americans will develop colon cancer or rectal cancer at some point in their lives, based on the most recent data (2013–2015) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). (2)

This data also estimates that more than 1.3 million people are living with colorectal cancer.

Looking at projections for 2018, the American Cancer Society estimates that close to 100,000 new cases of colon cancer and more than 43,000 new cases of rectal cancer are diagnosed in the United States annually.

Colorectal cancer makes up about 8 percent of all new cancer cases in the country, according to the NCI.

The Importance of Colon Cancer Screenings

Getting regular screening tests is essential for preventing colorectal cancer.

These tests allow doctors to look for this cancer in the general population, assessing people who have no symptoms of the disease.

Screenings can help doctors detect and remove colorectal polyps before they become cancerous. It takes 10 to 15 years for new polyps to turn into cancer, according to the ACS.

Screenings can also detect colon cancer and rectal cancer early, when these diseases are most treatable.

If colorectal cancer is found at the local stage, before it spreads beyond the colon or rectum, the five-year survival rate is around 90 percent.

Unfortunately, only a little more than one-third of all colon cancers and rectal cancers are found this early, in large part due to low rates of screening.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which sets policy for Medicare and private insurers under the Affordable Care Act, recommends that colorectal screening for people at average risk begin at age 50.

But in May 2018, the American Cancer Society revised its guidelines and shifted their recommendation to 45. (3)

The change was prompted by an analysis of data revealing increasing incidence of colon cancer and rectal cancer among younger Americans.

New research puts at least some of the blame for this problem on rising obesity rates.

A study published in October 2018 in the journal JAMA Oncology tracked the health of over 85,000 women for 22 years and found that the higher a woman’s body mass index (BMI), the greater her risk of developing colorectal cancer before age 50. (4)

Gas in the Digestive Tract

Not what you’re looking for?

What is gas in the digestive tract?

Gas in your digestive tract is made when:

• You swallow air
• Some foods are broken down by the good bacteria in your colon

Everyone has gas. It may be painful and embarrassing, but it is not dangerous. Your
body gets rid of gas by burping or by passing it through your rectum. Most people
make about 1 to 4 pints of gas a day. It is common to pass gas about 14 times a day.

Most gas is made up of vapors that do not smell. These include carbon dioxide, oxygen,
nitrogen, hydrogen, and sometimes methane. The bacteria in your large intestine give
off gases that have sulfur. These gases have a bad smell.

What causes gas in the digestive tract?

Gas in your digestive tract is caused by 2 things:

• Swallowing air (aerophagia). This can happen when you eat or drink too
  quickly, chew gum, smoke, or wear loose dentures. Having postnasal drip can also
  cause this. Most air that you swallow leaves your stomach when you burp or belch.
  Some of the gas that is left is absorbed into your small intestine. A small amount
  goes into the large intestine. It is passed through your rectum.

• Breaking down of some undigested foods by good bacteria found in the large
  intestine (colon).
   Carbohydrates are nutrients found in sugar, starches, and
  fiber. Some carbohydrates are not digested or absorbed in your small intestine. When
  food is not digested it passes into your large intestine. The undigested food is then
  broken down into small parts by good bacteria in your colon. This process makes
  hydrogen and carbon dioxide. In some cases it also makes methane gases. These gases
  are passed through your rectum.

Who is at risk for gas in the digestive tract?

Some health problems can cause you to make more gas in your digestive tract. These
include:

• Being
  unable to digest sugar (lactose) in milk products, called lactose intolerance
• Irritable bowel syndrome, an intestinal problem
• Having
  inflammation in the intestines, such as inflammatory bowel disease
• Stomach disorders such as peptic ulcer disease and heartburn or GERD (gastroesophageal
  reflux disease)
• Health problems that cause constipation

What are the symptoms of gas?

Each person’s symptoms may vary. The most common symptoms of gas are:

• Belching.

  Belching during or after meals is normal. But belching too often can be a
  problem. You may be swallowing too much air. And you may be letting the air out
  before it enters your stomach. Chronic belching may also mean that you have an upper
  GI (gastrointestinal) disorder such as peptic ulcer disease, GERD, or gastritis.

• Passing gas
  or flatulence.
  Passing gas through the rectum is called flatulence. It is
  normal to pass gas 14 to 23 times a day.

• Abdominal
  pain.
  Gas in your intestine may be painful. When it collects on the left side
  of your colon, the pain may seem like heart disease. When it collects on the right
  side of your colon, the pain may feel like gallstones or appendicitis.

• Abdominal
  bloating.
  In most cases, this happens when the muscles of your intestine
  don’t move or contract in the normal way. This type of problem is called an
  intestinal motility disorder. Irritable bowel syndrome is a motility disorder. These
  disorders can make you feel bloated, even when you are not.

Other health issues that may cause abdominal bloating include:

• Splenic-flexure syndromes, a chronic disorder that may be caused by gas trapped at
  bends in the colon.
• Crohn’s disease, colon cancer, or any disease that causes a blockage in your intestine.
  Internal hernias or scar tissue (adhesions) from surgery.
• Fatty foods can delay stomach emptying and cause bloating and discomfort. They may
  not cause too much gas.
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

There are a few rare, chronic gas diseases that cause belching. These include:

• Meganblase syndrome. This causes chronic belching. It happens after eating big, heavy meals. You will swallow
  a large amount of air. You will also have a big bubble of gas in your stomach. This
  will make you feel very full and have trouble breathing. These symptoms feel like
  a heart attack.

• Gas-bloat syndrome. This can happen after surgery for GERD. The surgery creates a one-way valve, or flap,
  between your food pipe (esophagus) and your stomach. This valve lets food and gas
  go into your stomach.

The symptoms of gas may look like other health problems. Always see your healthcare
provider to be sure.

How is gas in the digestive tract diagnosed?

In some cases you may have gas symptoms because of a serious health problem. Always
see your healthcare provider to be sure.  

Your
healthcare provider will look at your past health and give you a physical exam. The
following tests may also be done:

• Abdominal
  X-ray.
  An X-ray machine sends a beam of radiation through the abdomen. The
  image is recorded on special film or a computer.
• Colonoscopy.

  This test checks for colorectal cancer, polyps, and other colon disease.
  Colonoscopy is recommended if you are age 50 or older, or maybe even earlier if you
  have a family history of colorectal cancer. A colonoscopy looks at the entire length
  of the large intestine. This test can often help find abnormal growths, inflamed
  tissue, ulcers, and bleeding. A long, flexible, lighted tube (colonoscope) is
  inserted in through your rectum and up into your colon. Your healthcare provider uses
  the tube to see the lining of the colon and to take a tissue sample (biopsy). He or
  she may also be able to fix some problems that are found.

• Food diary.

  You may be asked to keep a diary of what you eat and drink for a certain time
  period. You may also need to count the number of times you pass gas during the
  day.

• Sigmoidoscopy. This test checks the inside of the last part of your large
  intestine. It helps to tell what is causing diarrhea, belly pain, constipation,
  abnormal growths, and bleeding. A short, flexible, lighted tube (sigmoidoscope) is
  put into your intestine through the rectum. This tube blows air into your intestine
  to make it swell. This makes it easier to see inside.
• Upper GI
  (gastrointestinal) series or barium swallow.
  If you have chronic belching,
  you are swallowing too much air. This test checks the organs at the top of your
  digestive system. It checks the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small
  intestine (duodenum). You will swallow a metallic fluid called barium. Barium coats
  the organs so that they can be seen on an X-ray. 
• Blood
  test.
  Depending on your symptoms, a blood test for celiac disease may be
  done.

How is gas in the digestive tract treated?

Your healthcare provider will make a care plan for you based on:

• Your age, overall health, and past health
• How serious your case is
• How well you handle certain medicines, treatments, or therapies
• If your condition is expected to get worse
• What you would like to do

You can reduce some of your gas pain by:

• Changing
  your diet.
  Don’t have soda or other fizzy (carbonated) drinks. Don’t take any
  foods that might give you gas.
• Taking
  medicines. There are many over-the-counter medicines
  for gas.
  
• Reducing the
  amount of air you swallow. 
  Don’t chew gum or suck on hard candies. Try to eat
  more slowly. If you wear dentures, have your dentist make sure they fit well.

Can gas in the digestive tract be prevented?

You can’t stop all gas in the digestive tract. But you can reduce the amount of gas
made in your digestive system. Don’t take foods or drinks that seem to give you more
gas. And follow your healthcare provider’s advice.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

In
most cases, having gas in your digestive tract is not serious. But you should call
your
healthcare provider if:

• Your
  symptoms increase or change
• You have
  new symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, or weight loss
• You are
  vomiting
• You have
  blood in the stool, or black, tarry stool
• You have pain that does not go away
• Treatments you tried before don’t work now

Key points about gas in the
digestive tract

• Everyone has gas in their digestive tract.
• Gas in your digestive tract is created when you swallow air. It is also caused by
  the breakdown of some foods by good bacteria in your colon.
• Your body gets rid of gas by burping or by passing it through your rectum.
• Most foods with carbohydrates cause gas.
• The most common symptoms of gas are burping, passing gas, belly or abdominal bloating,
  and abdominal pain.
• You can reduce gas pain by changing your diet, taking medicines, and reducing how
  much air you swallow.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:

• Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.
• Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
• Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider
  tells you.
• At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines,
  treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives
  you.
• Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also
  know what the side effects are.
• Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
• Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
• Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or
  procedure.
• If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that
  visit.
• Know how you can contact your provider if you have questions.

Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN

Medical Reviewer: John Hanrahan MD

Medical Reviewer: L Renee Watson MSN RN

© 2000-2021 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional’s instructions.

Not what you’re looking for?

Strategies for the Relief of Bloating and Gas

US Pharm. 2009;34(12):16-22. 

Patients often consider pharmacists as professionals to whom they can confide embarrassing medical problems in the hope that the pharmacist will provide some assistance. One such problem is abdominal bloating, often thought to be due to excess intestinal gas. However, patients may also experience abdominal discomfort they attribute to gas, but can be caused by several serious medical conditions. 

Prevalence of Bloating and Gas

The prevalence of intestinal gas and bloating is unknown, as reliable large-scale studies do not exist. However, bloating and flatulence (defined as excessive air or other gas in the stomach and/or intestines) are two of the most common complaints for which patients seek medical care.¹ 

Manifestations of Bloating and Gas

Bloating and gas can cause several complaints or coexist with them. Patients complain of excessive belching (eructation).² Belching is a normal response during or after a meal, especially one that was eaten so rapidly that the patient also swallowed air. However, some patients swallow air intentionally to facilitate belching, a practice that can develop into an unconscious habit. Thus, if people burp excessively, they may be chronic air swallowers. Patients may deny that they swallow air as a nervous habit, forcing physicians to give them a mirror to observe the episodes themselves. 

Flatulence is a common and logical consequence of intestinal gas. Average patients with no pathology or underlying medical condition produce 1 to 4 pints of intestinal gas per day and flatulate 14 to 23 times daily.^2,3 

Abdominal distention is an increase in abdominal girth that is frequently ascribed to excessive intestinal gas.^2,4 This perception is often incorrect, as many such patients have normal amounts of gas. Rather, investigators believe that these patients have a heightened awareness of intestinal gas. Thus, even normal volumes of gas cause troublesome symptoms. 

Abdominal pain is another complaint often thought to be due to gas.^2,3 It may arise from either side of the colon, mimicking such conditions as heart disease, gallstones, and appendicitis. 

Possible Causes of Bloating and Gas

Various sources of excess gas have been identified, including air swallowing, diet, lactose intolerance, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 

Aerophagia: Aerophagia, or air swallowing, has long been thought to be responsible for bloating and gas, as previously described.^5,6 But there had been little evidence to support the hypothesis, as logical as it sounds. However, in 2009, investigators confirmed the hypothesis by assessing swallowing frequency in general and air swallowing frequency in particular in patients with suspected aerophagia.⁵ They identified a group of patients with typical complaints of bloating, abdominal distention, flatulence, and/or excessive belching. Abdominal x-rays confirmed the presence of excessive abdominal gas, the presumed source of the complaints. The researchers carried out 24-hour pH-impedance monitoring on subjects, discovering that swallowing frequency for the 24-hour period was normal (741 +/- 71 episodes), but the number of air swallows and gastric belches was excessive (521 +/- 63 and 126 +/-37, respectively). Thus, the advice presented in this month’s Patient Information section regarding air swallowing may be beneficial for these patients. 

Diet: Diet is a major cause of bloating and gas. One of the most common dietary issues is eating foods that cannot be digested in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract due to a lack of the necessary enzymes.^1,2 

If certain food residues (mostly carbohydrates) reach the large intestine, normal bacterial residents utilize them as food sources, producing carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and sometimes methane as by-products.^1,2 Exactly which foods cause gas varies from person to person. Some patients’ bowel microorganisms destroy hydrogen, lessening their intestinal gas burden.² Nevertheless, some foods are universally identified as gas producers. 

Carbohydrate-containing foods are among the most common culprits in causing intestinal gas, whereas fatty foods and proteins are seldom responsible.^1,2,7Raffinose is one such complex sugar, being found in the indigestible seed coatings of beans, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, other vegetables, and whole grains.² Fructose is another offender, found in onions, artichokes, pears, and wheat; it is also used as an artificial sweetener. Sorbitol is also an artificial sweetener, but it is a naturally occurring component of apples, pears, peaches, and prunes. Sorbitol is a cause of “Halloween diarrhea,” a phenomenon experienced by many children who consume large amounts of candy on Halloween night. Numerous patients also report that psyllium ingested to ensure regularity causes gas (e.g., Metamucil, Konsyl). These patients may benefit by switching to methylcellulose, an FDA-approved fiber supplement that is not fermented by colonic bacteria (e.g., Citrucel). 

Lactose Intolerance: Lactose intolerance (LI) is another type of carbohydrate malabsorption, discussed separately because of its different etiologies.¹ Lactase found in the brush border cells of the small intestine is essential for breaking lactose down into its component sugars for absorption. Lactase deficiency is the underlying defect behind LI. 

There are two major types of LI. They share the same consequences, in that undigested lactose reaches the intestinal tract, where the colonic microbiota digest it, producing gas, diarrhea, bloating, borborygmus, and a host of other complaints, beginning as early as 30 minutes after ingestion.^8,9 The more common type of LI is the primary form, experienced by most of the world’s peoples, including those of African, Native American, and Asian heritage. In primary LI, lactase activity drops sharply after weaning from breast milk, until it is virtually absent. Drinking milk or ingesting dairy products causes the symptoms to begin. 

Some people also suffer from secondary LI. They normally produce lactase as adults, but an environmental insult or surgical procedure compromises their ability to do so. Possible causes of secondary LI include chemotherapy, diarrheal diseases, small intestine resection, or celiac disease.¹ Pharmacists can direct patients with suspected LI to lactase-containing supplements (e.g., Lactaid) or lactose-free dairy products. 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: IBS causes abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.^10-12 About 20% of Americans suffer from IBS, perhaps due to colonic hypersensitivity to specific foods or in response to stressful situations.¹¹ Pharmacists should refer patients with suspected IBS to a physician for a full evaluation, but they can also advise patients to keep a food diary to help identify dietary causes of IBS. Elimination of certain foods and drinks (e.g., chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, cola, tea, peppers, onions) may be all that is needed to provide relief. 

Nonprescription Products

Pharmacists can recommend two types of nonprescription products other than lactose-intolerance products. One group of products contains simethicone, a nontoxic and hypoallergenic ingredient that is FDA approved as safe and effective in breaking down bubbles or froth in the GI tract, although the total amount of gas remains the same.¹ Simethicone’s usefulness may be due to several factors. Some patients may experience abdominal discomfort as normal amounts of intestinal gas move through them. Reducing froth may allow the gas to pass through more readily. Further, patients using simethicone may be able to eliminate gas in several larger episodes, reducing the perception of excessive gas. Products with simethicone include Mylanta Gas, Phazyme, and Gas-X. The dosage is typically 1 or 2 units as needed after meals and at bedtime. 

Alpha-galactosidase is another means to prevent bloating and gas.^1,13 This is an enzyme derived from Aspergillus niger, and it has the ability to break down the oligosaccharide linkages that humans cannot digest. The patient is then able to absorb the single-component sugar residues. In research exploring the enzyme’s efficacy, subjects ingested two meals of meatless chili composed of several types of beans, cabbage, cauliflower, and onions.¹⁴ They were given either a placebo or the commercially available alpha-galactosidase product, known as Beano. Beano reduced the number of flatulence events at all times except for 2 hours postingestion. The effect was most pronounced 5 hours after the meal.¹⁴ 

To use Beano solution, the patient places approximately 5 drops on the first bite of troublesome food, such as beans, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, grains, cereals, nuts, seeds, and whole-grain breads.¹³ That amount usually covers a half-cup serving of food. If the meal consists of two or three servings of the food, the patient should place 10 to 15 drops on the meal. However, if the patient still experiences flatulence, the amount can be adjusted upward until an effective dose is reached. The patient may also swallow or chew a Beano tablet with the first bite of food or crumble it onto the first bite. One tablet usually digests a half-cup serving; more tablets can be used for larger portions. Patients cannot cook with Beano because of heat-induced enzyme degradation. Patients with galactosemia should consult a physician prior to use since enzymatic degradation of oligosaccharides produces galactose. Beano is labeled only for patients aged 12 years and above. While it appears to be safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding, there are no studies to confirm that observation. At one time, the manufacturer recommended that patients allergic to molds not use Beano, but the present view is that the caution is not supported by medical literature.¹³ 

Addition Diets

Pharmacists can also advise patients to undergo an addition diet.¹⁵ With this method, the patient eliminates all foods and drinks that are thought to produce symptoms. If symptoms improve, the patient continues the diet for several days until reaching a perceived normal level, a state known as normoflatulence.¹⁵Then one new food or drink is added, and the patient records the results in a diary, paying particular attention to the intensity of the symptoms. Patients should discontinue any troublesome food for the duration of the addition diet and add another suspected food or drink after 48 hours. After several weeks of following this simple procedure, the patient begins to build a profile of difficult foods. Eventually all suspected foods will be identified, and the patient will have a much better idea of how to choose foods and drinks, even when visiting a restaurant. 

PATIENT INFORMATION

Swallowing Air

When you swallow air, it must either be burped up or expelled as gas. Several problems can cause one to swallow air. Dentures that do not fit well cause you to swallow more saliva, which is mixed with air bubbles. If this is a possible cause, you should see the dental professional who fitted your dentures to have them adjusted. If you have postnasal discharge, you tend to swallow more than normal, allowing more air to enter your stomach. Judicious use of a nasal decongestant (e.g., Sudafed, Afrin) may help. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes and using chewing tobacco can increase salivation and contribute to excessive bloating, as can talking too much. 

Some people belch excessively, either as a nervous habit or perhaps as a source of humor. To accomplish intentional belching, the person often first swallows air, followed by the belching. However, he or she seldom releases all of the swallowed air, and it becomes flatulence. 

Dietary Issues

Eating too rapidly causes you to swallow extra air. You should slow your eating and chew the food thoroughly before swallowing it. Chewing gum and sucking on hard candy also increase the amount of swallowed air, so these practices should be reduced. 

An easy way to help minimize bloating and gas is to focus on carbonated beverages (e.g., Coke, Pepsi). Manufacturers intentionally add carbonation to all of these sodas to give the products their “fizz.” When the bottle or can is agitated before being opened, everyone knows what the result will be—a great deal of bubbly drink on the floor. As a person drinks the beverage, the carbonation bubbles enter the stomach. If they are not belched out, they become excess flatulence. Many people could reduce gas problems dramatically by simply eliminating all carbonated beverages. If a person refuses to take this simple step, perhaps he or she can be convinced to allow the drinks to sit out on the counter at room temperature for several hours, which allows them to go flat and thus reduces the amount of swallowed gas. 

The same advice can be given to beer drinkers. Beer contains gas, as indicated by the frothy head that develops when it is poured. You should completely eliminate it from your diet to see if your symptoms improve. 

A major dietary cause of gas is beans, as well as other foods with indigestible components, such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli. Your intestinal bacteria use these components as foods, producing gas as a by-product.  

Lactose intolerance also contributes to gas and bloating. It is best to avoid dairy products or to take supplements that contain lactase, such as Lactaid. 

Consult Your Pharmacist

There are several OTC products you can take to help relieve symptoms. Your pharmacist can assist you by advising on the use of simethicone (e.g., Gas-X, Mylanta Gas, Phazyme), which eases elimination of gas. Beano, a product that reduces the amount of gas, is a liquid solution that can be applied directly to food or taken as a tablet prior to eating 

Remember, if you have questions, Consult Your Pharmacist. 

REFERENCES

1. Pray WS. Nonprescription Product Therapeutics. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.

2. Gas in the digestive tract. NIDDK. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gas/. Accessed October 29, 2009.

3. Gas—flatulence. MedlinePlus. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003124.htm. Accessed October 29. 2009.

4. Agrawal A, Whorwell PJ. Review article: abdominal bloating and distension in functional gastrointestinal disorders—epidemiology and explorations of possible mechanisms. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2008;27:2-10.

5. Hemmink GJ, Weusten BL, Bredenoord AJ, et al. Aerophagia: excessive air swallowing demonstrated by esophageal impedance monitoring. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009;7:1127-1129.

6. Azpiroz F. Intestinal gas dynamics: mechanisms and clinical relevance. Gut. 2005;54:893-895.

7. Hernot DC, Boileau TW, Bauer LL, et al. In vitro fermentation profiles, gas production rates, and microbiota modulation as affected by certain fructans, galactooligosaccharides, and polydextrose. J Agric Food Chem. 2009;57:1354-1361.

8. Saulnier DM, Kolida S, Gibson GR. Microbiology of the human intestinal tract and approaches for its dietary modulation. Curr Pharm Des. 2009;15:1403-1414.

9. Ozdemir O, Mete E, Catal F, et al. Food intolerances and eosinophilic esophagitis in childhood. Dig Dis Sci. 2009;54:8-14.

10. Gasbarrini A, Lauritano EC, Garcovich M, et al. New insights into the pathophysiology of IBS: intestinal microflora, gas production and gut motility. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2008;12(suppl 1):111-117.

11. Irritable bowel syndrome. NIDDK. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibs/. Accessed October 29, 2009.

12. Rana SV, Sharma S, Sinha SK, et al. Incidence of predominant methanogenic flora in irritable bowel syndrome patients and apparently healthy controls from North India. Dig Dis Sci. 2009;54:132-135.

13. Beano FAQs. GlaxoSmithKline. www.beanogas.com/FAQ.aspx. Accessed October 29, 2009.

14. Ganiats TG, Norcross WA, Halverson AL, et al. Does Beano prevent gas? A double-blind crossover study of oral alpha-galactosidase to treat dietary oligosaccharide intolerance. J Fam Pract. 1994;39:441-445.

15. Clearfield HR. Clinical intestinal gas syndromes. Prim Care. 1996;23:621-628.

16. Adolf Hitler had poor table manners and suffered flatulence. Telegraph. February 17, 2009. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4678840/Adolf-Hitler-had-poor-table-manners-and-suffered-flatulence.html. Accessed October 29, 2009. 

To comment on this article, contact [email protected].

How to Get Rid of Gas and Bloating Symptoms

Nothing can compare to the anxiety of suddenly and publicly releasing the gas that has built up inside of you. We’ve all been there. Whether you do the all-too-familiar shuffle to keep it in or you find a way to leave the room to find relief, being gassy or feeling bloated are experiences that every human can share. So, why are we so gassy? Let’s talk about gas, bloating, and what you can do about it. 

The Causes of Gas and Bloating 

Gas and bloating are caused by a variety of different things. One of the most common causes is overindulging in food or drink. If you have a food intolerance, you may also get extra gassy. Eating high-fiber foods, like beans and green vegetables, can contribute to bloating because those foods do a number on the digestive system. The little bubbles in fizzy beverages can add air to your stomach and give you gas as well. Even something as simple as swallowing air when you eat too fast can make you feel gassy. 

When Gas and Bloating Are Symptoms 

Often, the gas and bloating you are experiencing are merely symptoms of a greater condition. You may actually be experiencing an upset stomach, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea or nausea after eating. Or, you may have a more chronic condition, like an intestinal disease. It’s helpful to understand the underlying problem, so you know how best to treat it. 

How to Find Gas and Bloating Relief 

If you know what causes your gas, then take steps to avoid those triggers. Try eating a well-balanced diet and avoiding food allergens. For occasional gas caused by upset stomach, heartburn, nausea or indigestion due to overindulgence in food or drink, give Pepto Bismol a try. Pepto Bismol is the #1 Pharmacist Recommended Upset Stomach Brand† and helps relieve your symptoms fast.* 

If you find that you are gassy more times than not, you should probably see your doctor. He or she can help diagnose the problem and recommend a plan of action to treat it. 

†Based on Pharmacy Times 2018 Survey (Upset Stomach Remedies Category) 

*Use as directed for relief of upset stomach due to overindulgence in food and drink, including heartburn, nausea, gas, belching and fullness. 

How to get rid of gas immediately? 23 natural remedies

Intestinal gas builds up in the digestive tract of every human being. Gas is just one of the products of food being broken down and digested, often leading to burping, belching, and flatulence.

Gas pains are a very common problem and affect all of us at some point, while some people have this problem on a daily basis. Gas pains are often accompanied by uncomfortable bowel sounds emanating from the intestinal tract.

Having gas is usually not a point of concern for most people but can be an indication of other bowel health issues.

Related: Gas pain in chest: What causes pain in chest when stomach is bloated and how to get rid of it

How to get rid of gas immediately and naturally

Hot water

Drinking warm or hot water can help get rid of gas immediately. Your body uses less energy to break down food when warm water is consumed, which allows for improved digestion and less gas.

Yogurt

Eating yogurt can relieve gas pain immediately. Yogurt contains probiotics, which help promote a healthy gut. On the other hand, if you have a lactose intolerance, yogurt can cause the problems you’re trying to solve.

Ginger

Eating ginger root or drinking it in a tea can help relieve bloating. Ginger is a natural carminative, which is an agent that relieves gas.

Lemon juice

Drinking lemon juice can be a great choice for getting rid of gas instantly. Citric acid found in lemons helps break down gas-causing foods when they enter the digestive tract.

You can drink a small glass of lemon juice mixed with some water to relieve gas. Or you can mix lime juice with baking powder in water to relieve gas. This mixture further helps to break down food and improve digestion.

Deep breaths

Deep breathing can help ease stomach pain when practiced on a regular basis. Deep breathing increases blood flow, which provides additional oxygen to the digestive tract. This is needed for healthy digestion along with eliminating bloating and gas.

Peppermint

Peppermint is known to settle the stomach and relieve gas quickly. Peppermint can help prevent spasms and cramping of the digestive organs. It also helps to stimulate the gallbladder to release more bile and improve digestion.

Antibiotics

While these drugs should be taken under the guidance of a trained medical professional, antibiotics can be an effective treatment option in cases of uncontrollable and unbearable gas pains. Antibiotics can clear out gas producing bacteria found in the gut, but can also clear out healthy bacteria needed to keep the gut working properly. Antibiotics used for the treatment of gas pains should be taken with extreme caution.

Pass wind

The simplest solution for treating gas pains, but often the one most of us try to avoid. Passing gas is a natural bodily occurrence, but one that is often shunned by society. It is best to find a place where you are alone and then pass your gas when nobody is looking.

Move your body

Participating in regular exercise helps to move the muscles of the abdomen and subsequently the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. Exercise is a great way to help your body relieve gas faster and more quickly, reducing pain that is often associated with it.

Simethicone

An over the counter medication that goes under many different brand names such as Gas-X, Mylanta Gas, and Phazyme. It works by consolidating gas bubbles in the stomach, helping you expel them easily. It is advised to discuss the use of this type of medication with your doctor before incorporating them into your treatment plan.

Activated charcoal

Activated charcoal traps chemicals and prevents their absorption, which helps treat gas and bloating. Activated charcoal is made by heating charcoal in gas to create pores to trap chemicals. Other uses for activated charcoal include lowering cholesterol, preventing hangovers, and treating bile flow problems.

Black pepper

Black pepper is a carminative, which means it prevents gas and bloating from occurring.

To effectively treat gastric irritation, take powdered black pepper with jaggery. Black pepper can also be used in combination with buttermilk for synergistic effects.

Caraway seeds

Caraway seeds relieve bloating and gas and promote healthy digestion. Pour one to two teaspoons of crushed caraway seeds in a cup of boiling water and steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Consume this beverage a few times a day between meals to promote healthy digestion.

Buttermilk

Helps to heal gastric problems as well as keeping the gastrointestinal track fit and healthy. Freshly churned buttermilk is one of the best remedies for curing indigestion.

Cloves

Eating a few raw pieces can help relieve gas pain almost immediately. Cloves increase saliva production, peristalsis, boosts digestion, and can relieve heartburn. You can chew on cloves to obtain relief.

Clove oil is also effective at relieving gas, bloating, and other digestive issues.

Apple cider vinegar

Adding a few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to water can help relieve gas and bloating. Drinking apple cider vinegar when experiencing heartburn symptoms can halt heartburn too.

Cardamom

Cardamom helps accelerate the digestive process to help reduce gas. You can add cardamom to your favorite dishes or chew on it for gas and bloating relief.

Cinnamon

Adding cinnamon to tea can help treat gas. Large consumption of cinnamon can have a laxative effect.

Coconut water

A great source of electrolytes including protein, coconut water can provide relief for gas pain as well. You can drink coconut water on a regular basis to help reap its beneficial effects.

Celery leaves

Chewing on this vegetable stock raw can help relieve gastric pain and irritation. The chemicals in celery can prevent fluid retention, which contributes to bloating. Celery can help regulate bowels along with control gas.

Onion

Onions contain fiber, which regulates bowels and prevents gas and bloating. The fiber in onions promotes good bacteria in the gut. The extracted juice from an onion can give you relief from gastric problems.

Papaya

Papayas help prevent gas in the stomach. They are also high in fiber, which relieves bloating and regulates digestion.

Yoga and sleeping positions

Yoga can stretch the stomach and digestive tract to release trapped gas and relieve bloating. Yoga poses that relieve gas include wind-removing pose, supine twist, cat-cow pose, and happy baby.

The best sleeping positions to relieve gas include keeping your head elevated, sleeping on your left side, and lying face down.

Read more: Yoga and sleeping positions to relieve gas and bloating

How to prevent gas

Gas pain can just be a nuisance or be due to a medical condition such as celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome, possibly requiring the aid of a medical professional. But in general, preventing gas pain is something that can be prevented by altering lifestyle habits and diet. The following are some tips you can start doing today to prevent stomach pain:

• Stop chewing gum, as you tend to swallow more air doing so
• Avoid smoking
• Chew with your mouth closed to avoid swallowing excess air
• Cut out gas triggering foods from your diet
• Avoid straws, as they are sucking a lot of air in as well
• Incorporate more exercise into your daily routine
• Avoid the consumption of carbonated beverages and food known to cause stomach upset
• Eat fewer fatty foods
• Read labels
• Temporarily cut back on high-fiber foods

These 23 natural remedies can help you finally get relief from embarrassing gas and painful bloating.

Related: Gastritis diet: Foods to eat and avoid, dietary plan and recommendations

Flatulence causes & treatments – Illnesses & conditions

Excessive flatulence can usually be treated by making changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Several over-the-counter treatments are also available if your flatulence is becoming a problem.

Self care advice

Diet

You should try to avoid eating foods high in unabsorbable carbohydrates. For a list of these foods, see causes of flatulence. Certain processed foods should also be avoided as they can contain ingredients that cause flatulence, including:

• any foods with artifical sweeteners
• sugar-free sweets or chewing gum
• fizzy drinks

However, it’s still important to eat a healthy balanced diet, including at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Choose foods containing carbohydrates that are easy to digest. These include:

• potatoes
• rice
• lettuce
• bananas
• grapes
• citrus fruits, such as oranges
• yoghurt

It’s important to note that people react differently to certain foods, so some foods listed above may still cause flatulence. You may find it useful to keep a food diary to see whether certain foods make your symptoms better or worse.

You may also find it useful to eat 6 small meals a day rather than 3 large ones. Smaller meals are easier to digest and may produce less gas.

There’s some evidence to suggest drinking peppermint tea can help improve the symptoms of flatulence. There’s also some evidence that small amounts of ginger can help with digestion or an upset stomach, which may be causing flatulence. However, pregnant women should consult their doctor before taking ginger.

Swallowing air

When eating, make sure you chew food slowly to reduce the amount of air you swallow. This will also help with digestion. Avoid chewing gum as it can also cause you to swallow more air than usual.

You should also give up smoking, if you smoke. Smoking can cause you to swallow more air than usual, and tobacco smoke can irritate your digestive system. See stop smoking for more information and advice about quitting smoking.

Exercise

Getting plenty of exercise can help improve the functioning of your digestive system and bowel. It has also been shown to help with bloating and the passage of gas.

Medications and other remedies

There are several over-the-counter remedies that can help treat the symptoms of flatulence, some of which are described below.

Charcoal tablets

Charcoal tablets are a type of medication available over the counter from pharmacists. The charcoal absorbs gas in the digestive system, which helps reduce symptoms.

Charcoal tablets may not be suitable for you if you are currently taking other medication. This is because the charcoal might absorb the medication and make it less effective. If you are taking other medication, ask your GP or pharmacist for advice before taking charcoal tablets.

Clothing containing activated charcoal, or charcoal pads placed inside clothing, can help absorb foul-smelling gas released during flatulence. These products can be purchased online.

Simethicone is another over-the-counter medication that can also sometimes help with gas problems.

Dietary supplements

Alpha-galactosidase is a dietary supplement that may help improve the digestion of carbohydrates and reduce symptoms of flatulence. It’s found in a product called Beano, which has been shown to have some effect in reducing flatulence and is available from some pharmacists and health food shops.

Probiotics may also be useful in treating flatulence. Probiotics are a dietary supplement, usually sold in liquid or capsule form, which encourages the growth of “friendly bacteria” in your digestive system.

The “friendly bacteria” should help digestion and reduce the symptoms of flatulence, particularly in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Probiotic yoghurts may also help, but avoid those with artificial sweeteners or added fibre.

How to Avoid and Decrease Problems with Gas

1. CareNotes
2. How to Avoid and Decrease Problems with Gas

This material must not be used for commercial purposes, or in any hospital or medical facility. Failure to comply may result in legal action.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

How can I avoid or decrease problems with gas?

Problems with gas may be caused by certain foods, swallowing too much air, and certain medical conditions. Some of these conditions include surgery of the intestines, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is a condition that prevents your body from digesting lactose (sugar in milk). You may be able to relieve gas, bloating, and discomfort by avoiding foods that cause gas. Changes in eating habits and physical activity may also help.

What guidelines should I follow?

Not all common gas-forming foods affect everyone the same way. Try avoiding all gas-forming foods for a few weeks until you feel better. Next, try adding 1 gas-forming food back to your diet at a time. Continue to add 1 gas-forming food every few days until you find the foods that are causing problems for you. Avoid only the gas-forming foods that you know are causing problems for you. This will give you a bigger variety of foods to choose from so that you can eat a balanced diet. You may be able to tolerate small servings of some gas-forming foods.

Which foods are gas-forming?

• Vegetables and legumes:
  • Dried beans, such as kidney, pinto, garbanzos, lima, and navy
  • Dried peas, such as split peas and lentils
  • Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower
  • Cucumbers and green peppers
  • Onions, leeks, and chives
  • Pickles and sauerkraut
  • Radishes, rutabaga, and turnips
• Other foods:
  • Apples, pears, and peaches
  • Prunes and raisins
  • Large amounts of whole grain foods, such as whole-wheat bread or cereal
  • Beer, ales, and other drinks that contain alcohol
  • Carbonated drinks, such as soda
  • Mannitol and sorbitol are sugar alcohols that are added to food and sugar-free gums and candy
• Dairy foods: Milk and milk products such as cheese, yogurt, and ice cream can be gas-forming if you are lactose intolerant. Ask your healthcare provider if you have lactose intolerance and need to avoid dairy foods.

What other changes can I make?

• Do not use straws or drink from bottles with narrow openings. Drink less soda, beer, and other carbonated drinks.
• Eat and drink slowly. Do not chew gum or suck on hard candies.
• Do not increase your fiber intake too quickly. Increase the amount of fiber you eat slowly by eating 1 new high-fiber food every 2 or 3 days. This gives your body more time to get used to the fiber without causing gas problems. Most people can get used to a high-fiber diet over a period of several weeks.
• Ask your healthcare provider about lactase enzyme pills if you have lactose intolerance. These pills help break down lactose. You may also want to try lactose-free milk products. These can help you decrease the gas and bloating caused by lactose.
• Physical activity may help you pass gas if you have problems with bloating.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2021 Information is for End User’s use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. All illustrations and images included in CareNotes® are the copyrighted property of A.D.A.M., Inc. or IBM Watson Health

Learn more about How to Avoid and Decrease Problems with Gas

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

effective remedy for bloating and flatulence

Increased gas production in the intestine is accompanied by complaints such as: bloating, distension, distention, abdominal pain and excess gas from the rectum (of course, at the most inappropriate moment for this). Complaints can be extremely persistent, therefore, for many specialists, a person who is worried about bloating is an “uncomfortable” patient. In addition, increased gas production in the intestine makes it difficult to conduct a number of instrumental studies.In all these situations, there is a simple and effective solution.

When there is an excess of gas

Gas is a natural component of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). During the day, about 2 liters of gas enter the gastrointestinal tract, most of which is resorbed through the intestinal wall. Every day another 600 ml of gas is released through the rectum, although individual fluctuations are possible. Normally, about 200 ml of gases remain in the gastrointestinal tract. What then leads to increased gas production and discomfort?

Gas in the intestine is a dispersed system – a foam formed by many gas bubbles in a liquid.The process of gas formation in the intestine can be enhanced by:

• Certain eating habits. A diet high in fermentation-causing foods can lead to gas and bloating, pain and diarrhea.
• Disorders of digestion and absorption. Deficiency of enzymes, bile acids, changes in gastrointestinal motility lead to an increase in the process of gas formation.
• Dysbacteriosis. An increase in the number of bacteria in the small intestine due to impaired motor activity of the intestine and the passage of contents, an excess of undigested food in the intestinal lumen during overeating leads to excessive production of gases by the bacterial flora.
• Accompanying illnesses. Impaired absorption of gases occurs with circulatory disorders, mechanical disruption of gas transit through the intestine due to adhesions and strictures, with functional disorders of the intestine.

Symptoms of flatulence

An increased amount of gas in the intestines is perceived as unpleasant painful symptoms. Bloating is accompanied by bursting or paroxysmal pain (they are called “gas or intestinal colic”).Excessive or fetid evacuation of gases is also common.
The therapeutic approach for flatulence should be comprehensive and include the treatment of the underlying disease. However, this process is long and complicated, and help is needed “here and now”. Therefore, with increased gas formation and bloating, symptomatic agents are also used – a drug based on simethicone. Often its designation is enough to solve the problem. But even in cases where complex treatment of gastrointestinal diseases accompanied by flatulence is necessary, simethicone can be safely used in combination with other drugs.This is possible due to the chemical inertness of the substance.

Help immediately

The drug CIMET capsules containing simethicone appeared on the pharmaceutical market of our republic in 2018. It quickly gained popularity thanks to its proven efficacy and convenient delivery form (40 and 80 mg softgels).
The capsule SIMET , getting inside the gastrointestinal tract, quickly spreads over the surface of gas bubbles.This reduces their surface tension and contributes to the destruction of the membrane of the bubbles, due to which the gas can be absorbed by the intestinal wall or excreted in a natural way. As a result, the amount of gases and foam in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract decreases and, accordingly, the abundance of symptoms caused by them decreases.

Medicine for children and adults against bloating

Due to its physicochemical properties, CIMET is a chemically and physiologically inert substance.It is non-toxic and has no systemic effect. Therefore, CIMET can be used for the symptomatic treatment of gastrointestinal disorders caused by increased gas production, including in pregnant and lactating women, children over 6 years old and adolescents.

The most common causes of flatulence and bloating in schoolchildren are irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia. Most often they lead to: overeating and abuse of carbonated drinks (causes a violation of the processes of digestion of food), and an improper diet (contributes to a change in the motility of the gastrointestinal tract).Accordingly, to eliminate the symptoms of flatulence, it is recommended CIMET , and to eliminate the causes, normalize the diet.
Both children and adults SIMET are prescribed 2 capsules at a dosage of 40 mg or 1 capsule at a dosage of 80 mg 3-4 times a day during or after meals, as well as before bedtime. Accept CIMET until complaints are eliminated.

Clear picture

Another area of ​​application of SIMETA is to improve the results of instrumental visualization.It is known that gas in the intestine is one of the reasons for the uninformative results of abdominal ultrasonography (US), endoscopic and colonoscopic examinations, as well as abdominal computed tomography and capsule endoscopy. Preliminary preparation for instrumental examinations of the abdominal organs using SIMETA can significantly improve the image quality and facilitate the diagnosis. To prepare for the diagnostic procedures SIMET take 2 capsules 40 mg or 1 capsule 80 mg 3 times a day 1 day before the examination, and 2 capsules 40 mg or 1 capsule 80 mg in the morning on the eve of the examination.

RAW MATERIALS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SYMETH IS PRODUCED AND PURCHASED IN GERMANY

The appearance of CIMETA capsules expands the doctor’s arsenal and increases the availability of treatment for patients.
There are medical contraindications and side effects.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have a possible or planned pregnancy, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.

PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

BEFORE USING A MEDICINAL PRODUCT
(based on the materials of the magazine “Aptekar”)

Radon and its effects on human health

What is radon?

Radon is an odorless, colorless and tasteless radioactive gas.Radon is formed during the natural radioactive decay of uranium, which is present in all rocks and soils. Radon can also be present in water.

Being released from the ground into the air, radon decays with the formation of radioactive particles. When we breathe, these particles are deposited on the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract, which can damage the DNA of the cells and can lead to the development of lung cancer.

The concentration of radon in the ambient air quickly drops to very low levels and is generally not hazardous.The average level of radon concentration in the atmospheric air ¹ ranges from 5-15 Bq / m ³ . However, indoors, as well as in poorly ventilated areas, concentrations are higher, with the highest concentration levels occurring in mines, caves and wastewater treatment plants. In buildings such as homes, schools and offices, radon levels can vary greatly, from 10 Bq / m ³ to over 10,000 Bq / m ³ .Taking into account the properties of radon, it can be concluded that people in such buildings, perhaps without realizing it themselves, live or work in conditions of very high radon concentrations.

Adverse health effects of radon

Radon is one of the main causes of lung cancer. It is estimated that radon causes between 3% and 14% of all lung cancers, depending on the national average level of radon concentration and smoking prevalence.

An increased incidence of lung cancer has been reported for the first time in miners working in uranium mines and exposed to very high concentrations of radon.In addition, studies in Europe, North America and China have confirmed that even low concentrations of radon, for example, often found in residential buildings, also pose health risks and contribute to the development of lung cancer in people around the world.

An increase in the average concentration of radon over a long period of time by 100 Bq / m ³ increases the risk of lung cancer by about 16%. The dose-response relationship is believed to be linear, meaning that the risk of lung cancer increases in proportion to increased exposure to radon.

Smokers are estimated to be 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer from exposure to radon than non-smokers. To date, the risk of developing other cancers or other adverse health effects has not been identified. At the same time, as a result of inhalation of radon, radiation can penetrate into other organs, but its level will be much lower than the level of radiation in the lungs.

Radon in buildings

Most people are most exposed to radon in their homes, where they spend a lot of time.However, indoor workplaces can also be a source of adverse impacts. The concentration of radon inside buildings depends on the following factors:

• geological features of the area, for example, the uranium content and the permeability of the underlying rocks and soils;
• pathways for radon to enter the building from the ground;
• emission of radon from building materials;
• The frequency of air mass changes in the room due to the intake of atmospheric air, which depends on the structure of the building, people’s habits in relation to the ventilation of the premises they occupy and the tightness of the building.

Radon enters buildings through cracks in floors or at the joints of floors and walls, unsealed technological openings around pipes or cables, small pores in walls erected from hollow concrete blocks, cavities in walls, as well as through internal gutters and drainage systems. The concentration of radon is usually higher in basements, basements and living quarters in contact with the ground. However, a significant concentration of radon in a building can also be observed above ground level.

Radon levels in neighboring buildings can vary greatly, and in the same building change every day and even every hour.Due to these fluctuations, the most preferred method for determining the average annual level of radon concentration in indoor air is to take measurements for at least three months. There are inexpensive and easy ways to measure radon levels in residential areas using small passive dosimeters. In order to ensure the consistency and reliability of the data required for decision-making, measurements should be made on the basis of national protocols.Short-term radon testing, which is carried out in accordance with national protocols, can be useful for decision-making in situations where time is critical, such as when selling a home or verifying the effectiveness of mitigation efforts.

Ways to Reduce Indoor Radon

There are proven, reliable and cost effective methods to prevent radon from entering buildings under construction and to reduce radon in existing housing stock.Measures should be envisaged to prevent radon contamination of structures under construction, especially in radon-hazardous areas. In many European countries, the United States of America and China, building codes include measures to protect buildings under construction from radon.

Here are just some of the generally accepted ways to reduce the concentration of radon in existing buildings:

• more intensive ventilation of the underground space;
• Arrangement of a radon drainage system in a basement or under a monolithic floor on a soil foundation;
• Preventing the entry of radon from the basement into living quarters;
• elimination of cracks and crevices in floors and walls;
• improvement of ventilation of the building, especially in the context of energy saving.

Passive radon mitigation systems can reduce indoor concentrations of this gas by more than 50%. The addition of forced ventilation provides an even more significant reduction in radon concentration.

Radon in drinking water

In many countries, drinking water comes from underground sources – springs, wells and artesian wells. Typically, the concentration of radon in water from these sources is higher than in water from surface water supplies such as reservoirs, rivers or lakes.

To date, epidemiological studies have not shown that drinking water containing radon increases the risk of stomach cancer. Radon dissolved in drinking water is released into the indoor air. As a rule, when radon enters the body by inhalation, the received dose of radon turns out to be higher than when it enters the digestive tract.

Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality [1] (2011) recommends setting screening levels for radon in water based on a national reference level for radon in the atmosphere.If there is reason to believe that a high concentration of radon may be found in drinking water, it is advisable to measure the radon content in the water. There are simple and effective ways to reduce the concentration of radon in drinking water, such as aeration or the use of granular activated carbon filters. Additional guidance can be found in Management of Radioactivity in Drinking-water [2] (2018).

WHO activities

The presence of indoor radon is a preventable risk that can be countered with effective national policies and regulations.The WHO Handbook on Indoor Radon: A Public Health Perspective [3] outlines policy options to reduce the health risks associated with indoor exposure to radon by:

• informing the public about indoor radon levels premises and associated health risks;
• Implementation of a national radon program aimed at reducing the risk for both the general population and the individual risk for people living in conditions of high radon concentration;
• establishment of the national average annual reference level of radon concentration in residential premises at 100 Bq / m ³ , however, if this level cannot be achieved due to the conditions prevailing in a particular country, then it should not exceed 300 Bq / m ³ ;
• Development of protocols for determining radon concentration in order to ensure the quality of radon testing and the consistency of the data obtained;
• Incorporation of provisions for the prevention of radon contamination into building codes to reduce radon levels in buildings under construction and the implementation of radon programs to ensure that these levels are below national reference values;
• Encourage the education of construction workers and provide financial support for radon removal from existing buildings;
• Consider including radon as a risk factor in national cancer and tobacco control strategies and strategies for indoor air quality and energy conservation.

These recommendations are in line with the International Basic Safety Standards [4] (2014), developed with support from WHO and other international organizations. WHO is promoting the implementation of radon safety standards that ultimately support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the achievement of its SDGs and targets, namely target 3.4 on noncommunicable diseases.Within the framework of the Global Health Observatory, WHO has formed a database on radon [5].

Notes

¹ The unit of measurement of radioactivity is the becquerel (Bq). One becquerel corresponds to one act of spontaneous change in the composition (act of decay) of one atomic nucleus per second. The concentration of radon in the air is equal to the number of radioactive decays per second in one cubic meter of air (Bq / m ³ ).

References

[1] Guidelines for drinking water quality, fourth edition (https: // www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/dwq-guidelines-4/ru/), Geneva, WHO (2011)

[2] Management of Radioactivity in Drinking-water, Geneva, WHO (2018)

[3] WHO Handbook on Indoor Radon: A Public Health Perspective, Geneva, WHO (2009)

[4] Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards, Vienna, IAEA (2014)
https: // www-pub .iaea.org / MTCD / publications / PDF / Pub1578_R_web.pdf

[5] WHO Global Health Observatory: Radon database on national policies and regulations

Flatulence.How to get rid of flatulence in the intestines? | Healthy life | Health

Every Tuesday AiF Health explains what signs may indicate that it is time for you to see a doctor. This week we will tell you what flatulence is and how gas production is treated.

This phenomenon is called flatulence. Flatulence – an excessive accumulation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract due to its increased formation or impaired excretion – refers to common syndromes of internal diseases.

It significantly complicates our life, but despite this, many patients, “embarrassed” of their condition, do not go to the doctor.

How many are there?

There are three main sources of gas in the intestine: air swallowed, gases generated in the colon lumen, and gases released from the blood. The gastrointestinal tract contains on average about 200 ml of gas. In healthy people, about 600 ml of gases are released through the rectum every day. The unpleasant smell of these gases is associated with the presence of compounds such as indole, skatole, hydrogen sulfide; they are formed in the large intestine as a result of the action of microflora on organic compounds undigested in the small intestine.The gases accumulating in the intestine are mucous foam, which covers the surface of the intestinal mucosa in a thin layer. This, in turn, makes it difficult for parietal digestion, reduces enzyme activity and disrupts the absorption of nutrients.

What is the reason?

Flatulence is observed in practically healthy people when overeating or eating foods, the digestion of which causes increased gas production.

As a result of flatulence, extraintestinal symptoms may appear: burning sensation in the region of the heart, heart rhythm disturbances, mood disorders, sleep disturbances, general weakness.Another cause of flatulence in the small intestine can be due to several medical and genetic problems, such as celiac disease (gluten intolerance) or sore gut. In these cases, anatomical abnormalities occur in the intestinal wall, which cause a slowdown in the digestive process and the absorption of gases.

Sometimes “stressful flatulence”, that is, excessive “talkativeness” of the intestine, provoke nervous situations that “awaken” stress hormones. Some experts even call irritable bowel syndrome “bowel depression”.Interestingly, the same hormonal imbalance is observed in clinical depression and gut depression.

What to do?

There are several principles underlying the treatment of flatulence. The first is to eliminate the cause of increased gassing. To do this, it is necessary to adjust the diet and cure the existing diseases of the upper digestive tract: the esophagus, stomach, bile ducts and pancreas. Diseases such as gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying) and chronic pancreatitis are treated with certain drugs or dietary supplements that contain enzymes.To diagnose these ailments, you need to undergo a colonoscopy or gastroscopy.

“Gas hazardous” products include: sauerkraut, onions, tomatoes, apples, pears, watermelons, mushrooms, peas, milk, carbonated drinks, products that cause fermentation processes (lamb meat, black bread, raisins), as well as kvass and beer ( in which fermentation occurs independently as a result of enzymatic processes).
The organization of a rational diet implies the exclusion of foods containing coarse fiber (cabbage, sorrel, grapes, gooseberries).Legumes and products that cause fermentation reactions (kvass, beer, carbonated water) are also excluded. We recommend fermented milk food, crumbly cereals (buckwheat, millet), boiled vegetables and fruits (carrots, beets), boiled meat only, wheat bread made from wholemeal flour with bran. Drinking coffee and chocolate is not recommended, you will have to give up exotic fruits. It is necessary to eat often and little, to avoid overeating. It should also be borne in mind that during a lively conversation at the table, air is swallowed with food.

Another principle of treatment is to remove accumulated gas from the intestines. For this, means are used, among which there are also known to our grandmothers: infusions of dill, fennel, cumin. You can also use absorbents that partially absorb the excess amount of gases. However, the effect of these drugs occurs after a considerable period of time after taking, and together with gases they can “grab” beneficial microorganisms, minerals and vitamins.

Since one of the reasons for increased gas formation is a violation of the intestinal microflora, treatment of dysbiosis is equally important.

So, if you have flatulence, go to the doctor and strictly follow all his prescriptions. Some procedures are not very aesthetic and pleasant, but they are so short-lived and effective that you will soon remember your “embarrassing” state with a smile.

Last Tuesday AiF Health told why lower back pain occurs and how to reduce spinal problems >>

90,000 Patient testimonials about stomach reduction operations

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Marina’s Youtube channel, where she talks about the operation and its results.

Patient interview

– Marina, good afternoon. Tell me, who are you by profession?

– Good afternoon. Now I am an inspector by profession.

– Interesting. What are you inspecting?

– I work for a company. We manufacture instruments for the analysis of blood and other materials. I am responsible precisely for the quality of the products that we produce, for the quality of these devices.

– Tell me, what was your weight before the operation?

– My maximum weight before surgery was 107 kg with a height of 160 cm.

– I know you and your husband were operated on?

– Yes, my husband is American, we operated with my husband, he weighed 170 kg.

– How old is your husband?

– I am 41 years old. Husband – 45.

– What is your weight now?

– Now I weigh 73 kg, but the weight continues to decline. I think that by the New Year I will be around 65 kg.

– What is your husband’s name?

– The husband’s name is Nate.

– How is Nate doing with the weight?

– We planned the operation for him from the very beginning, because in general we were not even concerned with completeness, but with diabetes mellitus, which was uncontrollable. He sat on insulin injections, very large ones. Even insulin did not lower his sugar. He has the case when the kidneys fail and a heart attack may occur. Sugar affects all organs in our body.
I don’t know the exact term, but the sugar was 20. He had a very high sugar, and we decided to have an operation, but in America they refused us everywhere.We fought in different instances to have such a bariatric operation performed in America.

We fought for about 5 years, probably. We went to various conferences, we asked. My husband and I both work, we have insurance policies here ( Marina and her husband live in America ). They do not provide such services on it, so they refused us everywhere. Due to high blood sugar, we decided to undergo surgery. I was just afraid of losing my husband at 40. I was just afraid to be alone.
And we contacted Boris Yuryevich, on the phone I found him by accident on the recommendation of other patients whom he had already operated on.I didn’t know anything about him. I had a bunch of questions and they gave me exhaustive answers, it was so nice to talk to him, as if I were talking to my father, honestly. He arranged so much, gave him confidence, and I told him our figures, my husband’s sugar figures.
I also had diabetes. I called many Russian doctors, and some told me that they would not operate with such sugar figures as my husband’s, because the sugar must first be lowered, otherwise it is very dangerous.
Boris Yuryevich was not scared, he said: “Come, I will lower his sugar, and we will perform the operation.” And now only four and a half months have passed since the operation, my husband has no diagnosis of diabetes mellitus at all. The diagnosis vanished.

– And what is his weight now?

– He was 170 kg, now he weighs 120 kg, but his height is 90 meters. Of course, he still has something to lose, but we will lose within two years, so only at the beginning of the process. But he has already lost 50 kg.And, of course, this is amazing. He became much more active, he began to play with the child, he runs, he does something. He is still young by himself, but he not only recovered sugar, he was on various drugs. He was on high blood pressure medications, on cholesterol medications. He had high cholesterol and was prescribed pills to lower it. The last time we did a blood test was that month. Our American family doctor was shocked because he had all the indicators of an ideal person, everything is stable.All the pills for blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol, absolutely everything were canceled from him. The only pills he is currently taking are vitamins. In America, in general, everyone is obsessed with vitamins, with complexes, with healthy eating and so on, because there are a lot of fat people here. Therefore, all that he drinks are vitamins. They are in the form of jelly, sweet in taste.

– How many years did you, Nathan, have weight problems?

– I began to gain weight at the age of 18. I was involved in great sports, I was in the Olympic swimming reserve school.I swam for 10 years, was in great shape, I had a gorgeous figure and never had problems with being overweight. And when I quit sports, after grade 10, I began to gain weight. I will not say that it is mad. I slowly gained, every year 3 kg, 5 kg.
And my husband was already overweight when I married him. But at school he was thin. Sometime after 18-20 years, he also began to gain weight. Single, burgers all the time, fast food all the time, unhealthy lifestyle. There is little traffic because you always move by car.In America you don’t move at all. I go out sometimes. I come home and my sister asks me: “What is the weather outside?” I say, “I don’t know.” Because I went out to the garage, got in the car and drove off. I don’t even walk down the street, I don’t have that opportunity. The food here is very cheap and very affordable. Lots of fatty meat. It is very quick and easy to prepare food, and that is probably why we gained weight. Ultimately we said that that’s enough.

– Have you tried any methods of weight loss before surgery, some kind of diet?

– Of course, of course.We tried it all the time and in fact diets helped. I dropped some even, in my opinion, I dropped 10 kg. We tried both diets and sports. We tried nutritionists, we even tried drugs, pills. My husband had a whole weight loss program. They send a program and every day they send you food that you should eat. The nutritionist calculates your food there. This is very expensive, I can tell you.
We spent about $ 300 a week to be fed properly. An individual menu is made up for you and ready-made food is sent.It’s very hard to stop. You still see somewhere, something else lies. It is very difficult to fight with yourself. My husband even dropped 20 kg, I remember. But you are in constant stress, you must constantly control yourself, absolutely constantly. It is emotionally difficult because you cannot fully function. You go to bed and dream about food. There are probably strong people who get results from this. I would like to see them in 5 years, whether they have supported their result in 5 years.Unfortunately, we can’t stand it.
And then I gave birth to a daughter, and the pregnancy also affected, then I gained even more. Ultimately, it can and can be lost, it is very difficult to keep this weight, because you have to constantly keep yourself within limits. Especially if people like us. There are people who are very thin, and they eat a lot and do not get fat. This metabolism is working properly or something. I think that obesity is a disease that must be fought. And it’s not just that we sit and eat a lot.We are sitting, my friend is thin and she eats more than me and I look, I’m in shock. She eats pasta, she has buns, something else. And I’m sitting on salads, and I’m already 100 kg, and I’m chewing all these salads. This is a disease. Obesity is a disease. It needs to be treated.

– You have already said how did you find out about Tsvetkov’s clinic from your acquaintances from someone?

– Yes, I found out in Odnoklassniki. There were plump girls who talked and were interested. There is a small forum and there they told who, where did the operations.They just shared. I was told about Boris Yurievich. In general, I originally planned to fly to Moscow to another doctor. But something happened to him, the clinic was not ready and I began to look for something else in a frantic rhythm. And I was just advised in Odnoklassniki. The girl said: “I didn’t do it, but my friend did it, and I was stunned by the result.” She walks so contentedly. She says: “If you want, I will put you in touch with her.” I say: “I already have no time, I already have tickets to Moscow, give the doctor a phone number.”
It turned out that Boris Yuryevich does not just perform operations, but he is engaged in laparoscopy. I like it. I watched a lot about him on the Internet, and there is even a video from Channel One about him, where he does other operations on the intestinal tract. And a lot of good reviews about him. And I didn’t regret it at all, it’s like my second father, I guess. Because before that I had problems not only with obesity, I had gallstones and I had seizures here in America.I grabbed an ambulance here and they just fed me some pills for heartburn. Drink it and it will pass. I have seizures, I have bile, I vomited. There was something with me every month.
I came to Russia, and he says to me: “Yes, dear, your stones are full of gallstones, let’s remove them.” And he removed me from one operation, he made me two operations at once. I am in America this is nonsense. Here they would have done one operation first, then they would have let you survive for a couple of months, then they would have had a second operation.This is double anesthesia. This is double anesthesia, it is very harmful to humans. And it’s so easy for me, all my attacks immediately stopped. I can’t even describe how grateful I am to this person. Because this person is a surgeon from God. These are golden hands.

– What operation did you have? How did the counseling and preparation for the operation go?

– Everything was very simple. First to Moscow, then from Penza we arrived in Samara, called Boris Yuryevich, he came down, led us to the luxurious wards.We were lying with my husband. I prepared my American husband, said: “You know, here in a hospital in Russia they are not as comfortable as in America.” I tried to prepare him. I didn’t know which hospital we would go to. When we got to the hospital to see him, my husband said to me: “What were you talking about? Normal hospital. Huge chambers. ” We were in a large chamber, even the American chambers are not standing next to us there. Boris Yuryevich came to us with an anesthesiologist.
At first, Boris Yuryevich and I spoke.He asked us what interests us, we asked him all the questions that interested us up to the position in which we would lie on the operating table. He answered all the questions. I asked: “Is there an operation tomorrow?” He said that I didn’t need anything, and my husband needed to prepare, since he had high sugar. And what they did, his team is of course incomparable. My husband’s sugar was measured every two hours, and if the sugar was high, he was given a unit of insulin. Every two hours he was stabbed, stabbed, he simply had no living space.He was injected with insulin, injected everywhere to reduce sugar.
Ultimately, after 10 hours of insulin shots, his blood sugar was lowered to a level that could be operated on. We did not sleep even at night, because the nurses came, controlled everything, injected him, controlled him again, injected him again. We are hungry. He said, “Go get whatever you want from the dining room.” We were generally stunned, because in America they are forced to starve for 10 days before the operation. He gave us a drug to clear our stomachs.We cleared our stomachs and at 10 am we have an operation. First with my husband, then with me. The operations were more than successful.

– What operation did you have?

– My operation was called “drain”. This is a gastro-resection of the stomach. My husband had an operation called “gastricbypass”. Or called gastric bypass surgery. We had slightly different operations, because my weight was not so crazy, and I did not have diabetes like him. Therefore, they simply reduced my stomach, cut it down.And my digestive tract was not changed. As my food went in a straight line, getting into the stomach, then into the esophagus, so it goes now. The stomach is a muscle, and it stretches. So when people eat a lot, they stretch their stomachs to an insane size. Therefore, it is necessary to fill the stomach constantly, until it is full, it will not give you a signal that you are full.
So now I have a small stomach, I am eating. The only thing is that I eat absolutely everything in small portions. True, no, my diet has changed, in terms of the fact that I can’t even see sweets and pasta.Somehow they are even unpleasant to me. Not that I can’t eat them, I just don’t like sugar with my brains now. The husband has a slightly different situation. His stomach was not just reduced. His digestive process was changed. When food enters the intestines, it begins to be absorbed by the intestines. They made a loop on this intestine, they left him only one and a half meters of suction. And the remaining one and a half meters of intestines were simply turned off, nothing was cut off. His sugar is not absorbed the way it used to be, so now there is no diabetes mellitus.

– Who performed the operation on you? Boris Yuryevich himself?

– Yes, Boris Yuryevich himself performed an operation on us. He had a couple of assistants, but he did the operation himself.

– What were your first impressions after the operation? So you woke up, did you recover quickly, as you ate at first?

– You know, I woke up and I was stunned. I felt so good. I even asked what I had been injected that made me feel so good. I woke up and my husband was already running around the room.The nurses caught him, they said that he could not get up yet, but he tried to run to the toilet. I can say that the kind of anesthesia that was in this clinic was very cool. She was very light. After her, it was as if I just woke up. There was no dizziness, I had nothing. I had no pain. I got up, probably an hour after I woke up. Then more or less I moved away, because there is weakness in my legs.
The staff were top notch. We had a button to call a nurse, the nurses came running on the first call, and besides the fact that they came running, they also checked us without any call.Therefore, day and night, no one slept there, everything was comfortable. They brought warm blankets, they covered us, they brought extra pillows for us. They put pillows under our feet. The service was, I can tell you, at the highest level. Boris Yurievich is a very correct doctor. He visited us the next morning, waited until we left and that’s it. The next morning I was ready to jump, jump, go somewhere.
He said that even though he had American patients, he wanted to make sure everything was fine, he supported us for 9 days in the hospital to make sure everything was fine.He allowed us to eat, in my opinion, on the third day, but he did not want to eat. Before that, I didn’t want anything at all. He allowed us to eat broth, compote. We took broth and compote in a regular dining room. When we left a week later, he allowed us to eat any food. We bought yoghurts, mashed potatoes, which you fill with water.

– When were the first weight loss results noticed after the surgery?

– Minus 20 kg in a month. Results, the first week was minus 10 kg at once.

– How do you feel now, what is happening with concomitant diseases? You have already partially told.

– Many people ask me if I would do such an operation again if I started all over again. Do I regret that I had the operation. I wish I had done this before, because the way I feel now, I think I am 18 years old. I fly. I have already redone everything around the house, I have a surge of energy, there are no downsides at all. The only negative I have is that I am cold all the time.
I have lost my isolation in my body, and I am freezing all the time, the frost has become. I stopped sweating, because sooner I will climb the stairs, and it’s already three sweats from me, I’m already all wet. My back is wet, all wet, I’m already tired. I moved, galloped with the child. My quality of life has improved so much, I’m not lying. There is not a single minus. My food is so comfortable now. I feel like I can go to a restaurant with girls, girlfriends, colleagues. I can eat just like they all together.I eat any food. Absolutely any, even fatty, even sweet. I just eat very little. My portions, probably, if you remember how portions of a cutlet, a little mashed potatoes, or goulash were given in school canteens. These are my portions. They are small.
I do not have to be ashamed in a restaurant, what I eat, that I am hungry, and I have some kind of animal instinct, I put everything there. I can eat a little bit of everything. I absolutely do not limit myself to anything. I don’t have this hunger. I eat small portions, I am full.I just left after the New Year’s table, such a feeling. This has a beneficial effect on costs, we do not buy many products already.

– How did Nathan get out of diabetes?

– Yes. By the way, my husband had a problem, he drank a lot of Coca-Cola. He drank 3 liters a day. This is horror, because for him it was like a drug. He did not drink water at all. He drank only this water with gas. And now, thank God, I do not know what Boris Yuryevich did to his stomach, but he could not, he spat it out, could not even take a sip, because he says: “This is so ugly, it is so tasteless.”And now it has been almost 5 months since we returned from Russia, and he has never drunk this Coca-Cola. I think this is a big plus that they did this to my husband.

– You have already answered in principle. Are there any differences in lifestyle before and after surgery?

– Only pluses. I, of course, cannot shout on the street to all fat people that run to do the operation. But girls from Russia turn to me. Boris Yuryevich sends or I just have my own YouTube channel, you can watch the transformation.I’ll send you photos later. My transformations, there from a caterpillar to a butterfly, where at first everything is so caterpillar in folds, and then …
But I’m already happy. I understand that my weight will continue to decrease. We still have weight loss for 2 years. We are only 5 months after surgery. I understand that my weight will go down even lower, but I am so beautiful now, I like myself. Compliments at work. I am already happy with my weight, now 70 kg. There is a table of overweight people where they tell you that you are simply overweight or obese.I was obese in the third degree. Now I am slightly overweight and 5 kg, if I drop to 68 kg, I will already be at normal weight absolutely.

– Thank you very much Marina for the interview.

– Good. Thank you!

– All the best. Goodbye.

Gas or not? Gerontologists told what water to drink with meals

Back in 1767, the English chemist Joseph Priestley was able to saturate the solution with carbon dioxide and received the first bottle of artificial sparkling water.Such water bubbles in a glass, gives a foamy head and pleasantly tingles the tongue. But the effect of such drinks on the body is determined not so much by the presence of bubbles as by their original composition. On the air of the Russia 1 channel, the question of how mineral water affects the digestion process was answered by gerontologists – Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Vladimir Khatskelevich Khavinson and Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, President of the Russian Society of Anti-Aging Medicine Svetlana Vladislavovna Trofimova.

When determining the daily volume of fluid intake for a person, only ordinary drinking water should be taken into account! Once in the mouth, a piece of food is digested there, since saliva contains a large amount of special enzymes involved in digestion. Further, the gastric juice begins to affect the food, turning it into chyme. Within three to four hours, all food is in the stomach. Fluid intake does not in any way affect the rate of digestion. Consequently, the opinion that one should not drink water while eating is not confirmed.

Why is it good to drink water while eating? Water entering the stomach stretches it a little, and a feeling of satiety is created. Drinking one or two glasses of water can reduce the amount of food eaten, that is, we do not overeat.

What is the difference between carbonated water and non-carbonated water? Carbonated water contains carbon dioxide, which can be made artificially or it can be natural. Mineralnye Vody, Kislovodsk, Zheleznogorsk, Staraya Russa are famous Russian resorts with mineral springs.The consumption of such mineral waters is very beneficial!

What is the use of carbonated water containing various minerals? It normalizes the water-salt balance. Such water helps to activate all metabolic processes in our body, that is, it cleanses it. Natural mineral water normalizes digestion, it activates the production of enzymes in the body. Some mineral waters are indicated for joint damage, arthritis and arthrosis. It is recommended to drink it in the treatment of certain forms of bronchitis, the mineral salts contained in it contribute to the dilution of phlegm and a quick cure.During pneumonia, doctors often prescribe special waters. And, of course, such water helps to strengthen the immune system, since it contains iodine, which is necessary for the regulation of various functions of the endocrine organs. And the bromine contained in it is very soothing to the nervous system.

Combine regular water with sparkling water! Drink no more than 500 milliliters of mineral water per day. Too much water can cause ulcers, colic and bloating, and even increase blood pressure.

90,000 Bloating and gas formation – causes and treatment at ON CLINIC Ryazan

Excessive gas formation in the intestines, which is accompanied by severe discomfort in the patient, as well as an increase in the volume of his abdomen, is a common problem.If bloating is not a consequence of the presence of a large amount of legumes, cabbage and other gas-forming products in the diet, then it may be evidence of a violation of digestive processes and the presence of various diseases of the abdominal organs in the patient.

The process of gas formation in the intestine is normal if the volume of gases released per day does not exceed 0.75-1.5 liters. Gases are a waste product of bacteria in the intestines that break down food and help digest it.

Normally, the discharge of gas is not accompanied by unpleasant sensations, while bloating after eating, discomfort, bloating, heaviness and painful abdominal cramps are alarming symptoms, in the presence of which it is necessary to consult a gastroenterologist.

Bloating and gas: Causes

The most significant factors provoking the appearance of these unpleasant symptoms include:

• Eating foods high in coarse fiber.These can be legumes, cabbage and seaweed, tomatoes, apples, peppers and onions;
• Eating foods that enhance the processes of fermentation and putrefaction in the intestines. Bloating, gas formation and abdominal pain after eating can be, for example, a consequence of the presence in the diet of bread made from rye flour, as well as baked goods;
• In celiac patients, bloating is triggered by all gluten-containing foods – from starchy foods to sausages and sauces;
• lactose intolerance is the cause of bloating in adults and children after eating milk and dairy products;
• various disorders of the digestive processes can also be the result of dry snacks, “on the run” – especially in cases where the basis of these snacks is fast food.No less dangerous is the habit of talking while eating, as well as overeating and unhealthy diet with a high content of smoked, spicy, fatty, difficult to digest food;
• Many women report severe bloating during PMS, as well as in late pregnancy – when the fetus of an impressive size significantly presses on the intestines;
• quite often rumbling, bursting and discomfort in the abdomen are the result of dysbiosis – a disease that is accompanied by an imbalance of “beneficial” and pathogenic bacteria in the intestinal flora;
• Finally, bloating is a common phenomenon among patients suffering from increased anxiety, as well as people who are permanently under stress.

In addition, various pathologies are also related to the causes of bloating and increased gas production. These can be disorders in the production of digestive enzymes by the patient’s body, narrowing of the intestinal lumen or impaired patency, disorders of intestinal motility, as well as inflammatory processes that accompany, for example, IBS, pancreatitis, etc. In addition, persistent bloating may indicate the presence of worms in the patient’s intestines.

Treatment of bloating in the “ON CLINIC Ryazan”

First of all, the presence of swelling and discomfort in the patient is the basis for contacting a gastroenterologist. The doctor will take a history of the disease, examine the patient and direct him to pass the necessary tests, based on the results of which a diagnosis will be made.

Treatment of bloating and gas and the selection of tablets and other remedies for this unpleasant phenomenon depends on the reasons for its development.