What causes stomach bloating and gas. How can you alleviate bloating symptoms at home. When should you see a doctor for persistent bloating. What dietary changes can help reduce gas and bloating. Which over-the-counter treatments are effective for bloating relief.

Understanding Bloating and Gas: Causes and Symptoms

Bloating is a common digestive issue characterized by a sensation of fullness or tightness in the abdomen. While often associated with excess gas, the relationship between bloating and gas production is not always straightforward. Some individuals may experience bloating without an actual increase in intestinal gas, suggesting heightened sensitivity to normal gas levels.

What are the main causes of bloating? Common culprits include:

• Excess gas production
• Digestive disorders
• Food intolerances
• Constipation
• Hormonal changes
• Swallowing air

Is bloating always a cause for concern? While often uncomfortable, bloating is typically not a serious medical condition. However, persistent or severe bloating may indicate an underlying health issue that requires attention.

Exercise and Posture: Natural Ways to Relieve Bloating

Can physical activity help reduce bloating? Engaging in regular exercise can be an effective way to alleviate bloating and promote the passage of gas through the digestive system. Additionally, maintaining good posture throughout the day can help minimize gas retention.

How does posture affect bloating? When lying on your back, the body tends to retain more gas. To combat this, try to stay active and upright as much as possible during the day. Simple activities like walking or gentle stretching can make a significant difference in reducing bloating discomfort.

Incorporating Movement into Your Daily Routine

What are some easy ways to increase physical activity for bloating relief?

1. Take short walks after meals
2. Practice yoga or gentle stretching exercises
3. Use a standing desk for part of your workday
4. Take the stairs instead of the elevator
5. Do light housework or gardening

Over-the-Counter Medications: Pros and Cons

Are over-the-counter (OTC) medications effective for treating bloating? While many people turn to OTC remedies for quick relief, their efficacy can vary. Two common options are simethicone (Gas-X) and activated charcoal, but clinical trials have shown mixed results when used independently.

How can OTC medications be used more effectively? Some studies suggest that combining these treatments or using them with other substances like magnesium oxide or loperamide (Imodium) may yield better results. However, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare provider before combining medications.

Popular OTC Options for Bloating Relief

• Simethicone-based products (Gas-X, Mylanta)
• Activated charcoal supplements
• Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol)
• Antacids (Tums, Rolaids)

Probiotics and Digestive Health: A Promising Approach

Can probiotics help alleviate bloating? While research is ongoing, there is growing evidence to suggest that probiotic supplements may be beneficial in reducing stomach bloating. Probiotics are live microorganisms that can help maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria, potentially improving digestive function.

Which probiotic formulations have shown promise? In clinical studies, the probiotic formula VSL#3 demonstrated effectiveness in reducing bloating symptoms in both adults and children. However, it’s important to note that different probiotic strains may have varying effects on individuals.

Choosing the Right Probiotic Supplement

What factors should you consider when selecting a probiotic for bloating relief?

• Strain diversity and potency
• CFU (Colony Forming Units) count
• Shelf stability and storage requirements
• Third-party testing and quality assurance
• Specific strains researched for bloating relief

Digestive Enzymes: Targeting Specific Food Intolerances

How can digestive enzyme supplements help with bloating? For individuals who have difficulty digesting certain foods, enzyme supplements may offer relief. While most digestive enzyme supplements are designed for people with medical conditions affecting enzyme production, some OTC options can aid in the digestion of commonly problematic foods.

Which foods are most likely to benefit from enzyme supplementation? Dairy products and legumes are two food groups that frequently cause digestive issues for many people. Lactase supplements (such as Lactrase or Lactaid) can help with dairy digestion, while alpha-galactosidase supplements (like Bean Relief or Beano) may assist with legume digestion.

Common Digestive Enzyme Supplements

• Lactase for dairy intolerance
• Alpha-galactosidase for bean and legume digestion
• Lipase for fat digestion
• Amylase for carbohydrate breakdown
• Protease for protein digestion

Herbal Remedies: Traditional Solutions for Modern Digestive Issues

Can herbal remedies provide relief from bloating? Many traditional herbal remedies have been used for centuries to address digestive discomfort, including bloating. While scientific research is still catching up to anecdotal evidence, some herbs have shown promise in alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms.

Which herbs are most commonly associated with bloating relief?

• Peppermint: Known for its soothing effects on the digestive tract, peppermint oil has shown potential in relieving symptoms of IBS, including bloating.
• Ginger: This versatile root may help with various upper GI symptoms, including bloating and constipation.
• Fennel: Often used to reduce gas and bloating, fennel seeds can be chewed or brewed into a tea.
• Chamomile: This calming herb may help relax the digestive system and reduce bloating.

Incorporating Herbal Remedies into Your Routine

How can you use herbs to address bloating symptoms?

1. Drink peppermint or ginger tea after meals
2. Chew on fennel seeds
3. Add fresh ginger to your cooking
4. Try peppermint oil capsules (under medical supervision)
5. Use chamomile tea to promote relaxation and digestion

Dietary Approaches: The Low-FODMAP Diet and Beyond

How can dietary changes help reduce bloating? Many cases of stomach bloating occur when poorly digested carbohydrates ferment in the colon. The low-FODMAP diet has gained popularity as an effective approach for managing bloating and other digestive symptoms.

What are FODMAPs? FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols. These are types of carbohydrates that can be difficult for some people to digest, leading to fermentation in the gut and subsequent bloating.

Key FODMAP Food Groups to Consider

• Oligosaccharides: Found in legumes, onions, garlic, and wheat
• Disaccharides: Such as lactose, found in dairy products
• Monosaccharides: Including fructose, found in apples, pears, and honey
• Polyols: Present in stone fruits, cauliflower, and some sugar substitutes

How should you approach a low-FODMAP diet? It’s generally recommended to start by eliminating all high-FODMAP foods for a set period (typically 2-6 weeks) and then gradually reintroduce them to identify specific triggers. This process should ideally be guided by a registered dietitian to ensure nutritional adequacy.

Additional Dietary Strategies for Bloating Relief

What other dietary approaches can help reduce bloating?

1. Increase fiber intake gradually to promote regular bowel movements
2. Stay hydrated to support digestive function
3. Eat slowly and mindfully to reduce air swallowing
4. Consider food intolerance testing to identify personal triggers
5. Incorporate probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and kefir

When to Seek Medical Attention: Red Flags and Concerns

While occasional bloating is common and often resolves on its own, persistent or severe symptoms may warrant medical attention. When should you consult a healthcare provider for bloating?

Be alert for the following red flags:

• Severe or persistent abdominal pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Changes in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea)
• Blood in stool
• Fever accompanying bloating
• Nausea or vomiting
• Bloating that interferes with daily activities

What diagnostic approaches might a doctor use? Depending on your symptoms and medical history, your healthcare provider may recommend:

1. Physical examination
2. Blood tests
3. Stool analysis
4. Imaging studies (such as ultrasound or CT scan)
5. Endoscopy or colonoscopy
6. Hydrogen breath test for lactose intolerance or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

Potential Underlying Conditions

What medical conditions might cause chronic bloating?

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Celiac disease
• Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
• Gastroparesis
• Pancreatic insufficiency
• Ovarian cancer (in women)

Remember, while these conditions can cause bloating, many cases of bloating are not associated with serious underlying issues. However, persistent or concerning symptoms should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

Lifestyle Modifications: Holistic Approaches to Digestive Health

Beyond diet and medication, what lifestyle changes can help manage bloating? Addressing bloating often requires a multifaceted approach that considers various aspects of daily life. By implementing certain lifestyle modifications, you may be able to reduce the frequency and severity of bloating episodes.

Stress Management Techniques

How does stress impact digestive health? Stress can have a significant effect on the digestive system, potentially exacerbating bloating and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Incorporating stress-reduction techniques into your routine may help alleviate these issues.

What are some effective stress management strategies?

• Meditation and mindfulness practices
• Deep breathing exercises
• Regular physical activity
• Adequate sleep and rest
• Engaging in hobbies and enjoyable activities
• Seeking support from friends, family, or a mental health professional

Meal Timing and Eating Habits

Can meal timing affect bloating? The timing and manner in which you consume meals can impact digestive comfort. Consider the following tips:

1. Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day
2. Avoid eating large meals close to bedtime
3. Chew food thoroughly to aid digestion
4. Take time to relax and focus on your meal
5. Limit consumption of carbonated beverages and chewing gum

Hydration and Fluid Intake

How does proper hydration impact bloating? Staying well-hydrated is crucial for maintaining healthy digestion and preventing constipation, which can contribute to bloating. However, it’s important to consider not just the quantity but also the timing and type of fluids consumed.

What are some hydration best practices for reducing bloating?

• Drink water consistently throughout the day
• Limit fluid intake during meals to avoid diluting digestive enzymes
• Choose still water over carbonated beverages
• Consider herbal teas like peppermint or ginger for added digestive benefits
• Monitor alcohol and caffeine intake, as these can contribute to dehydration

Alternative Therapies: Exploring Complementary Approaches

What alternative therapies might help with bloating? While scientific evidence varies, some individuals find relief from bloating through complementary and alternative medicine approaches. It’s important to discuss these options with a healthcare provider before incorporating them into your treatment plan.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine

How might acupuncture help with digestive issues? Acupuncture, a key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine, involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body. Some studies suggest that acupuncture may help regulate digestive function and reduce symptoms like bloating.

Abdominal Massage

Can massage techniques alleviate bloating? Gentle abdominal massage may help stimulate digestion, reduce gas, and promote bowel movements. While more research is needed, some individuals find this technique helpful for managing bloating symptoms.

Hypnotherapy

Is hypnotherapy effective for digestive issues? Gut-directed hypnotherapy has shown promise in managing symptoms of IBS, including bloating. This approach aims to use the mind-gut connection to improve digestive function and reduce discomfort.

Tracking and Identifying Triggers: The Power of Self-Awareness

How can tracking your symptoms help manage bloating? Keeping a detailed food and symptom diary can be an invaluable tool in identifying personal triggers for bloating. This approach allows you to recognize patterns and make informed decisions about your diet and lifestyle.

Creating an Effective Food and Symptom Diary

What should you include in your tracking journal?

• Foods and beverages consumed (including portion sizes)
• Timing of meals and snacks
• Intensity and duration of bloating symptoms
• Stress levels and emotional state
• Physical activity
• Sleep quality and duration
• Medications or supplements taken

How long should you track your symptoms? Aim to maintain your diary for at least 2-4 weeks to identify clear patterns. Share this information with your healthcare provider or dietitian to help guide your treatment plan.

Utilizing Technology for Symptom Tracking

Can apps help with managing bloating symptoms? Several smartphone applications are designed to help track diet, symptoms, and potential triggers. These digital tools can make it easier to maintain consistent records and identify patterns over time.

What features should you look for in a symptom-tracking app?

What to Do and When to See a Doctor

A bloated stomach is the sensation of having an overfull stomach. It may or may not be accompanied by a distension, which is a visibly increased and tight stomach. 

Bloating is most often linked to excess gas, but the connection between abdominal bloating and gas is not perfectly understood. Some people with bloating symptoms do not have an actual increase in intestinal gas and simply may be more sensitive to it. The composition, rather than the amount, of gas could also be significant.

Causes of bloating include:

Bloating is most often not serious, but it can be very uncomfortable. 

Remedies and Treatments for Bloated Stomachs

While stomach bloating will often resolve on its own, the following measures may help reduce bloating or address its underlying causes: 

Exercise and Posture

Physical exercise can help reduce bloating and clear gas from the body. Posture adjustment can also help. The body retains more gas when you are lying on your back, so try to stay active throughout the day.

Over-the-Counter Medication

Both simethicone (Gas X) and activated charcoal are marketed as gas-reducers. The two have proven ineffective and/or inconsistent when used on their own in clinical trials. However, there is some evidence to suggest that they may work when combined or when used with magnesium oxide or loperamide (Imodium).

Probiotics

The use of probiotics to help with digestive issues is common but little studied. Still, there is some evidence that using probiotics can help reduce stomach bloating. The formula in VSL#3 proved to reduce bloating in both adults and children in clinical studies.

Digestive Enzymes

One common cause of stomach bloating is the inability to digest certain foods. Most digestive enzyme supplements are effective only for people who cannot produce enzymes for medical reasons. However, over-the-counter enzymes have proven to help with the digestion of two commonly problematic foods: dairy and legumes (such as beans). 

If you have a hard time digesting the sugars in these foods, you might benefit from lactase supplements (such as Lactrase or Lactaid) for dairy or alpha-galactosidase supplements (such as Bean Relief or Beano) for legumes. 

Herbal Remedies

Peppermint has a long history as a digestive aid in folk medicine, and peppermint oil could give some relief to people with IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome. In early research, peppermint leaf proved to have a releasing effect on gastrointestinal (GI) tissue in animals and may help with bloating, but there has not yet been sufficient clinical research done on humans.

Ginger is another herb that may help with upper GI symptoms, such as stomach bloating, and constipation.

If dealing with stomach bloating, you can try eating some ginger or drinking a cup of peppermint tea for an easy potential home remedy.

Diet

Stomach bloating often occurs when poorly digested carbohydrates begin to ferment in the colon. Many people who commonly suffer from bloating have benefited from a low-FODMAP diet, or a diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. 

You could try cutting out some or all of the following foods:

• Oligosaccharides: found in legumes, onions, garlic, wheat
• Disaccharides: such as lactose and found in dairy 
• Monosaccharides: such as fructose and found in apples, pears, and honey
• Polyols: found in most stone fruit, cauliflower, chewing gum, and candies

One option is to remove FODMAP foods that you suspect of creating bloat one at a time. If your stomach bloating causes significant distress, you could also try a strict elimination diet, removing all FODMAP foods and then slowly reintroducing them to your diet to discover which can be consumed comfortably. 

Constipation can also cause stomach bloating, and so a diet rich in fiber can help with both conditions. If you also have one of the following symptoms, you may be constipated:

• Incomplete or infrequent bowel movements
• Small, pebble-like stools
• Straining to start or complete bowel movements

You might also add kiwifruit to your diet, which has proven helpful in cases of bloating and constipation.

When to See a Doctor

Most stomach bloating will resolve on its own. However, you should see a doctor if it does not go away or if you notice any of the following symptoms:

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Does baking soda for bloating work? 11 bloating remedies that wor

Baking soda and water is the latest health fad on TikTok. This is what actually works.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has long been recommended as a home remedy for a variety of ailments—including indigestion and bloating. But it’s not just an old wives’ tale anymore. Baking soda for bloating is the latest health fad making the rounds on TikTok. But does it work? These are the bloating remedies that can actually help deflate your tummy.

Bloating is that full stomach feeling—when your abdomen feels inflated like a balloon with gas or air. You might even notice that your belly has swollen in size, which is called distension. This can be caused by overeating, gas trapped in your digestive tract, or gas forming in your small intestine after eating certain foods. Gluten or lactose are two common culprits that your digestive system may have difficulty breaking down. Burping, belching or passing gas might eventually alleviate the problem.

“Physiologically, you can feel bloated if you had a very big meal or a bunch of carbonated beverages,” says Ashkan Farhadi, MD, a gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center and director of MemorialCare Medical Group’s Digestive Disease Project in Fountain Valley, California. It’s also possible that something potentially more serious could be the cause of bloating, such as:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Gastroparesis, a condition where your stomach empties too slowly
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Crohn’s disease
• Constipation

“Bloating is one of those ubiquitous symptoms with many possible causes, including gastrointestinal and gynecologic,” says Alyssa Dweck, MD, a gynecologist and host of Business of the V podcast. If you’re not sure why you’re experiencing abdominal bloating, consult your healthcare provider. You need to know what you’re dealing with first. Once you determine the cause, you can begin exploring more targeted treatments.

RELATED: What is lactose intolerance?

How to get rid of bloating

1. Baking soda and water for bloating

Mix a little baking soda into a glass of water, and what do you have? A TikTok phenomenon. But what do the healthcare experts say about this potential remedy for bloating? “This is essentially a DIY antacid,” says Dr. Dweck, explaining that baking soda is basic in terms of its pH content. This neutralizes stomach acid along with bloating and discomfort. Dr. Dweck says, “It may work, and it’s likely safe in a pinch—but yuck!”

“It’s harmless,” Dr.  Farhadi agrees. “It could be helpful, but it’s going to be very temporary.” If you respond to the combination of baking soda and water, it’s likely that you have acid reflux and would also respond to antacids like Tums, which may be a more effective treatment.

If you really want to try it, mix ¼ to ½ teaspoon of baking soda into one cup of water and sip away. “This remedy is safe for short-term use for most adults, but not for young children or women who are pregnant,” says registered dietitian Nicole Lindel, RD, an advisor for Everlywell. “Adults should not use baking soda for longer than two weeks at a time.”

2.

Flat water

If you frequently drink a lot of soda or seltzer, you may be unintentionally adding extra gas to your gut. In that case, replacing those beverages with regular water or non-carbonated beverages can help. Carbonated beverages can also make acid reflux symptoms worse.  

3. Apple cider vinegar

There’s a dearth of clinical research on the matter, but plenty of anecdotal evidence says apple cider vinegar is a bloating remedy. Some people find that it helps with acid reflux, which can contribute to bloating. Try adding a tablespoon to a small glass of water when you feel bloated and see if you notice any improvements. “It doesn’t work for everyone,” Dr. Farhadi says. “It’s harmless. If you try it and it works, continue. If it doesn’t work, don’t push it.”

4. Smaller meals

You might adjust your eating habits to see if a change might reduce your abdominal bloating. “Rather than eating one or two large meals a day, eat smaller, more frequent meals every two to three hours,” says Lindel. Eliminate or reduce the foods that cause bloating. 

5. Exercise

Get moving! You may have noticed that doing crunches can cause flatulence, but that’s not the only activity that helps relieve gas. Walking, jogging or other exercise can help get gas moving through your digestive tract so it doesn’t remain in your belly and cause bloating.

6. Low FODMAP diet

FODMAPs are short-chain carbohydrates—that is, they’re sugars in certain foods that tend to cause intestinal distress because the small intestine doesn’t absorb them very well. (FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols.) A few examples of high-FODMAP foods are onions, wheat, brussels sprouts, legumes and lentils, and some sweeteners like sorbitol and xylitol that are added to sugar-free chewing gum and candy.

“Bloating associated with IBS can often be managed with diet,” says Lindel. “For IBS, I typically recommend patients follow the low FODMAP diet, which is another temporary elimination diet to help determine potential food triggers. ”

7. Probiotics

Taking probiotic supplements can aid in digestion and improve gut health, according to Harvard Health. Probiotics are one of the natural remedies “intended to balance the delicate microbiome in the GI tract,” Dr. Dweck explains. “Probiotics are often helpful in my clinical experience.”

8. Prebiotics

Prebiotics, which are specialized plant fibers in many fruits and vegetables, work by stimulating the growth of good gut bacteria, according to the Mayo Clinic. But they can worsen the symptoms of IBS and can cause digestive problems like gas, diarrhea, and yes, bloating. If you have IBS or FODMAP food intolerance, this may be a remedy to avoid.

9. Fennel

Fennel seeds have long been used in Eastern Medicine to address symptoms like bloating. “While there is not enough scientific evidence to support fennel as a digestive aid, it may be worth trying, specifically in adults experiencing indigestion, as fennel is deemed safe on occasion and in moderation,” says Lindel. However, she cautions, if you have issues with high-FODMAP foods, this might be something to steer clear of.

10. Massage therapy

Massaging your abdomen might help relieve cramping, abdominal tightness, and bloating, according to the University of Michigan. Heating pads may also provide temporary relief from bloating.

11. Peppermint

If peppermint—whether in the form of peppermint tea, oil, or capsules—sounds appealing to you, there’s some good news. Some research indicates that peppermint is effective at relieving some symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) such as abdominal cramping and bloating. In fact, a 2019 meta-analysis of literature on the subject determined that peppermint oil seems to be a “safe and effective therapy” for abdominal pain and symptoms of IBS. One thing to note here however; peppermint may worsen acid reflux.

Medications for bloating

If you’ve tried some home remedies without success, it might be time to turn to medication instead. The best medicine may depend on your specific condition. For example, if you have GERD, you might start with over-the-counter medications to neutralize stomach acid like Rolaids or Tums, medications to reduce stomach acid production like Tagamet or Pepcid, or medications that block acid production and help heal your stomach like Prevacid and Prilosec. If those don’t do the trick, it may be time to move on to stronger, prescription-strength medications for heartburn.

If you’re constipated, you can try over-the-counter laxatives to encourage bowel movements. A natural magnesium supplement can also help relieve digestive issues related to constipation.

When dairy products are the culprit, your healthcare provider may recommend taking a digestive enzyme supplement like Lactaid (lactase).

Meanwhile, if you experience premenstrual bloat, you could try an over-the-counter med like Midol Bloat Relief. And if you’re just gassy, you might try a medication with simethicone such as Gas-X that can break down the gas bubbles in your digestive tract to relieve gas pain.

When to see a doctor for bloating

If you have an occasional bout of bloating, it’s probably nothing to worry about, especially if you’re pretty sure you know the cause. For example, if you know that your diet is often the culprit, you could start by eliminating gas-producing foods like beans. You could also cut back on the carbonated drinks.

But if you’ve tried eliminating the factors that tend to cause bloating for you without experiencing any relief, that may be a sign that it’s time to consult your doctor. “If you have a red flag, don’t sit on it,” says Dr. Farhadi.

More serious causes of bloating may include:

• Uterine fibroids
• Ovarian cysts
• Colon cancer
• Diverticular disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Celiac disease

These medical conditions may require other more intensive treatments. So, if you experience bloating along with persistent or severe pain, severe diarrhea, or unexplained weight loss, those are reasons that justify a call to your doctor, says Dr. Farhadi. That’s especially true if you have a close relative with a history of gastrointestinal disease or colon cancer.

Women may also want to keep a lookout for symptoms like abnormal vaginal bleeding and vaginal discharge, says Dr. Dweck. Pain during sex and urinary tract infections also should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Relieve Gas With These Non-Drug Natural Remedies

Gas and bloating are pretty common issues, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less embarrassing to deal with when they happen in public! One of the best ways to deal with gas and bloating fast is to have Gas-X Maximum Strength Softgels on hand for whenever that uncomfortable feeling strikes. These softgels put the powerful gas-fighting medicine in an easy-to-swallow coating, making treating your gas simple and easy.

But are there any home remedies for gas or non-drug, natural gas relief remedies out there? Read on for the simple reasons you may be dealing with gas and bloating, a look into some non-drug, natural options for gas relief, and what to avoid if you seem to be dealing with these issues on a daily basis.

What is Gas?

Burping is our body’s way of getting rid of excess air in our digestive tract, which is typically caused by eating too fast, drinking carbonated beverages, or swallowing too much air while talking or chewing gum. Flatulence is typically caused by the digestion of food or the fermentation of undigested foods like plant fibers, carbs, or certain things your body has a hard time breaking down, like gluten or sugar.

What Causes Bloating?

While the connection between gas and bloating is not completely understood — many people with a bloated stomach don’t have any more gas in their digestive tract than anyone else — it can sometimes be eased by the same behavioral changes that ease gas symptoms. If you’ve ever dealt with a “full” feeling and a distended stomach, you’ve probably dealt with bloating.

Things to Avoid If You Have Gas or Are Bloated

If you’re looking for some easy ways to relieve gas naturally, try to avoid these common gas-producing behaviors:

• Talking while eating
• Eating too much, too fast
• Chewing gum or hard candies
• Drinking from a straw
• Wearing tight clothes

Natural Gas Relief

If you’re looking to find relief from bloating, try a few of these non-drug, natural methods:

• Sit up straight after eating
• Increase your physical activity during the day
• Chew food well
• Drink beverages at room temperatures

If gas and bloating are common occurrences in your life, it’s possible that your body has a hard time breaking down certain things like lactose, artificial sweeteners, fructose, or carb-rich vegetables like broccoli and cabbage. Talking with your doctor about a short-term elimination diet may help you identify what’s causing your stomach discomfort. Eliminating or eating only small amounts of things you’re intolerant to is a great natural way to find relief from gas and bloating.

Other non-drug, natural ways to help with gas and bloating that may work include certain yoga poses, peppermint tea, chamomile tea, and turmeric — however, it’s always best to talk with your doctor before using certain home remedies.

How to Relieve Morning Bloating

Start Here: Really Clear Out the Pipes

“The vast majority of people with bloat start with constipation,” says Robynne Chutkan, MD, gastroenterologist and author of the forthcoming book The Bloat Cure: 101 Natural Solutions for Real and Lasting Relief. Now, you may say, “I’m not constipated—I go every day!” but, as Chutkan notes, many people experience “incomplete evacuation,” where there’s still some stool left.

How to do it: Start drinking water as soon as you wake up to help flush your digestive system. Over the course of the day, aim to drink enough water to keep your pee a light yellow color or herbal teas brewed from carminatives—herbs such as ginger that reduce gas formation and help expel it. (Just skip the straw, which can draw in extra air and bloat you further.) You can also think about adding a fiber supplement to your breakfast. Chutkan recommends 1 teaspoon of finely ground psyllium husk (find it online or at a vitamin store) mixed with at least 8 ounces of liquid, with a second glass of water as a chaser. Ground psyllium husk may take a few days to fully clear the plumbing, but it will provide some relief within half a day.

And Then Do This: Get Physical
Kick-start a sluggish colon by exercising, says GI specialist Kathlynn Caguiat, MD, of New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital. “It helps stimulate gut movement, allowing pockets of gas to be expelled and alleviating that uncomfortable bloating sensation,” she explains. “As little as 10 minutes can help.” Walking at a leisurely pace after a large meal helped food move through the stomach faster, reported a study in the Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, allowing gas to pass through more easily, too.

How to do it: Caguiat has found walking, core-strengthening moves like side planks and jumping jacks to be effective, and Chutkan offers these other physical bloat-busters:

• Twisted yoga pose—You’ve probably heard of wind-relieving pose, but Chutkan suggests this move as well. It puts pressure on different parts of the bowel to safely push gas and liquid through. Standing with legs together, bend your knees and lower your bottom as if to sit in a chair; with palms together in a prayer position, rotate your spine to touch your right elbow to your left knee, holding for 30 to 45 seconds; repeat on the other side.

• “Happy Abs” massage—Lie down on your back and use gentle pressure to massage your belly in a clockwise motion to manually move gas bubbles through your GI tract.

• Diaphragmatic breathing—It relaxes the muscles of the colon to calm spasms and release trapped air. Lying on your back, place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly. As you inhale and exhale, you should feel your bottom hand moving up and down, which signals deeper, belly breathing. (If your chest is rising and falling, those are shallower breaths.) Experiment until your belly is doing all the moving, then inhale for 4 counts and exhale for 6. Continue for 5 to 10 minutes.

If You’re Still Feeling Like the Michelin Man: Hit the Medicine Cabinet

To relieve the bloat now: Simethicone (found in many over-the-counter antacids—check the label) changes the surface tension of gas bubbles so they collapse and more easily make an exit.

For a longer-term solution: Consider probiotics, which restore good bacteria to the gut for better digestion. It’s especially helpful in people whose gut bacteria may be out of whack—usually because of a poor diet, illness or antibiotics. “I had one patient for whom probiotics were life-changing,” says Jacqueline Wolf, MD, associate professor of medicine at Harvard University and author of A Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Stomach. “She said it made the biggest difference in her bloating and constipation.” Experiment with different brands and strains until you find one that makes you feel better, and give it at least two weeks to take effect.

To Keep It from Happening Again Tomorrow Morning: Change Your Menu—Starting Today

Artificial sugars that you might add to your morning coffee or tea (like manitol, sorbitol and xylitol) can lead to bloating, says Shawn Khodadadian, MD, of Manhattan Gastroenterology, because our gut bacteria have to do the lion’s share of digesting them, and those bacteria produce gas as they digest. Healthier foods can cause the same problem. A few examples: high-sugar fruits (like grapes, cherries, apples and pears), cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and bok choy), and legumes.

How to do it: For those prone to bloat, limiting or at least cutting back on these foods can help, according to a 2012 study in Gastroenterology & Hepatology. (Ask your doctor about going on an elimination diet, in which you cut out possible culprits until your symptoms stop, then slowly reintroduce them to find out which one(s) is causing the problem). Reach instead for items like papaya and pineapple, which have digesting-aiding enzymes called papain and bromelain, respectively; celery and fennel, which Khodadadian says act as diuretics to release retained water; asparagus, with compounds that work like healthy bacteria to help with digestion; and ginger, which is both anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic to relax the colon. Whatever you’re eating, remember to chew thoroughly to keep you from gulping extra air that contributes to bloat.

If none of these fixes work – Talk to your doctor about whether a medication you’re taking for another condition could be to blame, or if you could have a more serious reason for bloating, including Celiac disease or obstruction of the GI tract. More rarely, it can be a sign of certain cancers, and in those cases, you’d likely also be experiencing can’t-miss symptoms such as vomiting, not passing gas or stools, abdominal pain and distention and weight loss.

Bloating – About IBS

“I feel pregnant,” or even “I look pregnant,” are frequent complaints by patients suffering from abdominal distention or bloating. Bloating is a common symptom in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), particularly in women, although mostly it is a nuisance rather than the most severe aspect of the disease. However, bloating may be the only symptom for some people.

Symptoms

The description of bloating given by the sufferers is surprisingly consistent. Patients report that their abdomen is relatively flat in the mornings but becomes progressively more distended over the day. By the evening, tight clothes such as jeans have to be replaced by loose fitting clothing. Some say their stomach enlarges before their eyes, and certainly a rapid onset over only a few minutes is not unusual. The distention tends to reduce after lying down, or overnight.

Eating appears to provoke the symptoms and patients may want to avoid food during the day if a flat stomach is desired in the evening, to attend a social function, for example. Many women report more bloating in the week prior to their period.

Causes

Patients and doctors alike have assumed that excess gas within the gut causes bloating. However, several techniques for measuring intra-abdominal gas volume have failed to confirm this view. Nevertheless, dietary bulking agents such as fiber which cause gas will often worsen the symptom. For the present, the cause must remain unknown.

Treatment or Management

No therapy has been proven to be of definitive benefit and therefore the advice given to the patient must be a physician’s individual opinion. Dietary and life-style factors are perhaps the most likely to help bloating in the long term. Try the following:

Take small regular meals. Don’t avoid eating during the day, followed by a large evening meal. Avoid rushed eating, but rather set aside 30 minutes to eat in order to “digest” your meal. Reduce fat consumption. A varied diet low in saturated fats may help.

Reduce fiber consumption. Unless constipated (see below) do not add excess bran, fruit or fiber to your diet as these products can induce bloating. A sensible dietary fiber intake is suggested.

Avoid constipation. Bloating is often worse in severe constipation, and a regular bowel habit can help reduce it. There is clearly a problem in avoiding constipation while reducing consumption of bran and bulking agents. Nevertheless, with some experimentation a happy medium can usually be found.

Take regular exercise. Exercise improves bowel function and is recommended. As well as formal exercise sessions, movement during work time may be important. Many jobs involve sitting for much if not all of a day. Long periods in this position may worsen bloating regular breaks to “stretch the legs,” and perhaps therefore the abdomen, may help.

Summary

Dietary and life-style measures may help to reduce bloating, although a complete cure for the symptom is perhaps asking too much. These tips, combined with your personal physician’s advice and medications he may prescribe, might at least make the bloating more bearable and thus less of an interference with other activities.

Pregnancy Bloating – Causes, Tips for Relief

In the dictionary, “bloating” means “to cause abdominal distension.” (Ah, so that’s why you’ve been feeling like a hot-air balloon during pregnancy.) And having gas while you’re pregnant means discomfort — and lots of it.

When does bloating happen during pregnancy?

Bloating may be one of your most frequent and least charming early pregnancy symptoms, first showing up around week 11 and likely lasting throughout your pregnancy up until delivery day.

What causes pregnancy bloating?

It might seem as though your jeans start to feel snug as soon as the pregnancy test comes back positive — and you can thank the pregnancy hormone progesterone for that puffy phenomenon.

While progesterone is essential for maintaining a healthy pregnancy  (it is, after all, the pro-gestation hormone), it also triggers that oh-so-delightful trio: bloating, burping and passing gas.

Why? Progesterone causes the smooth muscle tissue in your body (including the gastrointestinal tract) to relax. This slows down digestion, giving the nutrients from food you eat more time to enter your bloodstream and reach your baby. That’s the good news. 

The bad news is this slower digestion when you’re pregnant can cause you to feel bloated and bring on a cramp or two (or seven).

What’s more, your expanding uterus places increasing pressure on your rectum, which can wreak havoc on muscle control and lead to the passing of some serious wind.

Early Signs of Pregnancy

How long does pregnancy bloating last?

Sorry, but that ate-too-much feeling you’ve been experiencing is a pregnancy symptom that’s likely to get worse as your uterus keeps expanding and pressing on your stomach and intestines. 

It’s a bit of a pain for you (literally), but take comfort in knowing that your baby is oblivious to the discomfort of pregnancy bloating and the other pregnancy symptoms you’re experiencing (hello, nausea).

How to get rid of bloating during pregnancy

While there’s a pretty good chance you’ll experience some amount of bloating no matter what you do throughout pregnancy, managing constipation can minimize the buildup of painful gas. Here are a few tips that can help:

1. Drink plenty of water

Staying hydrated helps keep things moving through your digestive system to avoid constipation, which is a common cause of gas and bloating.

2. Fit in fiber

Eating plenty of fiber is another way to curb pregnancy constipation – think leafy greens, legumes, whole grains (like whole wheat bread or pasta) and fruits. On the flip side, suddenly adding tons of fiber to your diet can be a recipe for gas. If you’re not already regularly noshing on fiber, introduce it to your diet gradually.

3. Opt for smaller meals

The more food you pump into your stomach at a sitting, the more gas you’ll be pumping out. Fueling up on six small meals a day or three moderate ones plus two or three snacks will not only keep your nutrition levels constant to better nourish your baby, they’ll prevent your digestive system from getting overloaded, keeping gas pains and heartburn in check.

4. Slow down

If you typically scarf down your lunch in five minutes flat, you’re probably swallowing a lot of air along with that food. The air will end up settling into your stomach in the form of painful gas bubbles (no pain to your baby, just you) and bloating. 

No matter how busy you are, do your best to eat at a leisurely pace during pregnancy. Not only will you cut down on your abdominal discomfort, but you’ll be giving yourself a well-deserved break.

5. Try to relax

Anxious eating during pregnancy (lunch gobbled while you’re finishing a report; dinner devoured when you’re having an argument with your mom on the phone) also leads to air swallowing and — you guessed it — bloating. 

Try not to eat your sandwich with a side of stress. Stop and take a few deep breaths to calm yourself before and during your meal — and remember that “lunch break” means you’re actually supposed to take a break.

6. Cut back on the beans

Their (well-deserved) reputation precedes their entrance … and exit. You don’t have to give them up entirely (they’re a great source of protein and other nutrients), but try not to overdo them in your pregnancy diet. 

Other foods in the gas club include cabbage, onions, fried foods, sugary foods and rich sauces. Avoid those that you’re probably better off steering clear of anyway (like the onion rings), and moderate your intake of the others (a side of slaw, not a mound).

7. Skip the mannitol and sorbitol 

While these sweeteners are safe (in reasonable amounts) during pregnancy, they can cause upset stomach and gas. So check the label of packaged products and steer clear.

8. Try probiotics

Eating foods with probiotics (like yogurt, kefir, sourdough bread, pickles, sauerkraut, miso, kimchi) helps support good bacteria to keep your gut happy, which may help fight constipation and gas. (Ask your provider before popping a prebiotic supplement.)

9. Take a walk

Even a brisk 10-minute stroll outside can help keep things moving before gas has a chance to make an appearance.

10. Talk to your doctor about OTC medication

An over-the-counter remedy can sometimes beat bloat during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about a gas medication (like Gas X) or laxative (like Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia) to help with constipation and gas.

11. Sip on a warm drink

A mug of chamomile tea can help with all sorts of pregnancy GI woes, as can a glass of hot water with lemon.

12. Massage your abdomen

This tip may really only work early on in pregnancy, before your baby bump eclipses your intestines. But (a very gentle) abdominal massage can help ease constipation:

• Begin gently rubbing in a circular motion by your right hip bone.

• Move up to your right ribs, across your ribcage, down to your left hip, and over to your belly button. 

• The whole circuit should take two to three minutes.

• Repeat for about 10 minutes total.

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Bloating ranks right up there withmorning sickness as a symptom you’re very likely to experience when you’re expecting. But take heart knowing that this, too, will end — right about when you finally get to hold your baby in your arms.90,000 Bloating (flatulence): causes, symptoms, treatment

Bloating or flatulence is a common occurrence in which gases accumulate in the digestive tract. In the intestines, they form a foam, consisting of small bubbles, each of which is covered with viscous mucus. Excessive gas formation interferes with normal digestion and absorption of nutrients, which negatively affects the functioning of all body systems and human well-being. Therefore, it is important to find the cause of flatulence and eliminate it.

Symptoms and causes of flatulence

In completely healthy adults, symptoms of bloating can occur with overeating or eating foods that contribute to increased gas production in the intestines. Also, the stomach can be very swollen with the development of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

• gastritis;
• pancreatitis;
• cholecystitis;
• duodenitis;
• hepatitis;
• intestinal infections.

Also, increased gas production is typical for people who have undergone operations on the abdominal organs, and in violation of the composition of the intestinal microflora towards gas-forming bacteria.

Gas accumulation causes discomfort, sometimes nausea, poor appetite, diarrhea or constipation, belching are present. In some situations, swelling is manifested by the active constant elimination of gases, in others, due to intestinal spasm, they remain inside and provoke discomfort.In any situation, the patient needs to consult a gastroenterologist and treat the existing disease.

Treatment of bloating

Sorbents that can be used at home effectively fight the signs of flatulence. But this measure does not solve the problem, but makes the visit to the doctor socially comfortable. Only a gastroenterologist, based on the available clinical picture and examination results, will be able to establish what is the cause of increased gas production and develop an optimal treatment for bloating.

Depending on what triggered a violation in the processes of formation and elimination of gases, the doctor makes changes to the patient’s diet and individually selects medicines. This allows you to restore the normal functioning of the digestive tract and prevent the progression of existing disorders.

We invite you to get advice on bloating at the medical center “Medica”. Our gastroenterologists will determine exactly why the problem has arisen and will help you quickly get rid of it.

90,000 Bloating in animals | professional veterinarian

Symptoms: Bloating

All domestic animals suffer from bloating and digestive tract: dogs, cats, rabbits. The disorder is manifested by the accumulation of gas or fluid in the abdominal cavity. More often bloating is not an independent disease, but a symptom of various pathologies.

Root causes of condition:

• violation of the work of internal organs;
• dysbiosis;
• feeding errors;
• lack of movement;
• tumors;
• injuries;
• infection with worms.

The most common cause of gas build-up is a feeding disorder. For example, carnivores (dogs, cats, ferrets) get a lot of carbohydrates, they are fed with legumes, soy. For normal digestion, the predominance of meat in the diet is necessary. Cottage cheese, well-processed cereals, a small amount of vegetables should be added. Commercial food can contain a lot of soy, which can cause flatulence. In a dog, increased gas production causes mixing of ready-made feeds from different manufacturers.

Rabbits should not be given wet grass, washed vegetables, a lot of soy, peas. Animals are susceptible to mold, an abundance of dry food, raw vegetables.

Pregnancy is a natural cause of abdominal enlargement. If you have not knitted your cat or dog, and her belly is enlarging, contact a specialist. The veterinarian will determine the cause and nature of the bloating, take the necessary tests, and develop a treatment plan.

Causes of bloating, dangerous to the health of the pet

All pets suffer from internal diseases.An enlarged abdomen may indicate overeating, pregnancy, or a dangerous illness. In addition to air and gases, liquid can stretch the walls of the abdomen: blood, exudate, transudate, urine. Damage to the bladder causes fluid to escape into the abdominal cavity. Severe trauma, blow provoke hemorrhage. An infectious disease causes the pus to separate.

The belly swells with enlargement of the liver, spleen, kidneys, fatty deposits of a castrated animal. Dangerous causes that require treatment are rickets, infection with helminths.

In veterinary practice, there are cases of dangerous diseases:

• malignant, benign tumors;
• acute peritonitis;
• ascites (dropsy of the abdominal cavity).

Some conditions are not cured, especially at an advanced stage.

A distended abdomen, full of gases, presses on the diaphragm, makes breathing difficult, and the work of the heart. Signs of illness that owners should pay attention to: abdominal enlargement, flatulence, pain (the animal writhes, screams, groans), weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, difficulty urinating.

Distension of the stomach and intestines with gas due to improper feeding disappears within 24 hours. If gases do not pass naturally, you should go to the clinic. It is impossible to make a diagnosis on your own, without examination and analysis.

Modern veterinary medicine has methods of examination, treatment, relief of the condition of your pets with bloating. Turning to the doctors of the clinic “AMIS.lv”, you will receive detailed advice, recommendations for care, feeding.If necessary, we will prescribe a course of treatment for the animal that will solve the problem.

Flatulence: Causes and Treatment – ProMedicine Ufa

Flatulence – increased accumulation of gases in the gastrointestinal tract. Flatulence can be felt in practically healthy individuals when overeating, eating foods, the digestion of which causes increased gas production.

Reasons

The causes of intestinal flatulence are extremely varied.Flatulence can occur in a child in the first days after birth as a result of imperfection of the enzyme system or a violation of its function. Lack of enzymes leads to the ingress of a large amount of undigested food residues into the lower parts of the digestive tract and activation of the processes of decay and fermentation with the release of gases.

Disorders of the enzyme system can occur with an unbalanced diet, as well as with various diseases of the upper digestive tract.Another reason for increased gas production in the intestine is a violation of the microflora of the large intestine. Also, flatulence can occur due to previous operations on the abdominal cavity.

In people over 65-70 years old, flatulence most often occurs against the background of the process of atrophy of the muscular layer of the intestine. Also, the causes of flatulence in old age can be: lengthening of the intestine, deterioration in the functioning of the glands that produce digestive enzymes.

Women sometimes have flatulence during the period of bearing a child.This is usually due to the pressure that the uterus puts on the intestines and hormonal changes in the body.

Under normal conditions, most of the gases are absorbed by the bacteria in the intestine. When the balance is imbalanced, flatulence occurs.

Sometimes flatulence is provoked by nervous situations that “awaken” stress hormones.

Symptoms

Flatulence is manifested by bloating or attacks of cramping pains, may be accompanied by nausea, belching, loss of appetite, constipation or diarrhea, sleep problems, headache and general weakness.

Bloating with flatulence is one of the most striking manifestations of an increase in the amount of gas in the intestines. It is impossible not to notice it, since the bloating is accompanied by pain and a feeling of pronounced discomfort. The abdomen increases in size due to the overflow of the intestines with gases. In this case, their discharge does not occur, since the colon is spasmodic.

Diagnostics and treatment

Flatulence is treated by a gastroenterologist.

In the presence of flatulence, the gastroenterologist prescribes various research methods to establish the cause of the discomfort.

If it is established that flatulence is the result of an irrational approach to nutrition, then the existing errors should be eliminated. It is important to eat regularly. Doctors recommend including fermented milk products in the diet. If they are taken regularly, the metabolic activity of the microflora will normalize, and the motor function of the intestine will be restored.

The principle of treating flatulence is to eliminate the cause of increased gas production. For this, a diet is prescribed, as well as drugs for the treatment of diseases that caused flatulence.

In the treatment of flatulence, absorbing agents are used, for example, activated carbon (effective only in large doses), white clay, polyphepan, dimethicone, polysorb. They reduce the absorption of gases, toxins and other compounds, and also promote their elimination.

It is also advisable to take pancreatic enzymes, since flatulence almost always occurs against the background of a digestive disorder.

90,000 How to fight flatulence with the available remedies

A balanced diet will protect against bloating
Photo: pixabaycom

Excess gas in the intestines is easy to control.

Typically, bloating appears after certain foods.

Basically, these troubles pass quickly, you just need to know that:

• Sugar contributes to the build-up of gases. This refers to fructose, which can be found in fruits, drinks, or fruit jams.

• The sugar substitute has the same effect. It is found in candies, chewing gum, and is used in the manufacture of products for diabetics.

• Lentils and beans can help produce gas.

• A rush to eat, such as having a lunch break with limited time, can have the same effect.

Experts say that the frequency of bloating ten to twenty times a day is perfectly normal.The cause of persistent flatulence is the increased work of bacteria that break down carbohydrates, fiber and fats in the intestines.

Note that if your intestines give off particularly unpleasant odors, you may have food intolerances.

To cope with severe flatulence, foods containing bitter substances that stimulate the digestive juice in the body will help.

Here are some of the home remedies:

Tips on how to avoid bloating

• Pay attention to a balanced diet.

• Eat in a relaxed atmosphere, without rush or business negotiations.

• Diet changes may be necessary for healthy digestion.

Keep a food diary, note the food you eat and the effects on your body. See a doctor if necessary. An endoscopy will provide additional information about gut health.

Earlier, “Kubanskie Novosti” told how to take care of intestinal health.

90,000 Bloating: causes and treatment with folk remedies

Bloating: Pixabay

There are many different causes for bloating. This insidious disease cannot be ignored due to unpleasant heavy sensations and bursting pain.The disease is called flatulence and occurs due to the formation of a large amount of gas in the stomach and intestines. How can this be avoided and what treatment at home will help? Read about everything in the article.

Causes of bloating

Flatulence cannot be called a terrible or dangerous disease. Increased gas production is more an unpleasant manifestation of malfunctions in the gastrointestinal tract.

The formation and release of gases are natural processes for the human body.Even an absolutely healthy person has almost 1 liter of gases in the stomach and intestines. They are necessary for the normal functioning of the body, as well as increasing intestinal tone and peristalsis.

Bloating and gas more than 20 times a day indicate intestinal problems.

Based on practical experience, they can say that with flatulence, the following symptoms are observed:

• hiccups;
• rumbling in the stomach;
• bloating;
• frequent belching;
• pressing pain in the abdomen.

These unpleasant sensations often provoke the reaction of other organs, causing headache, weakness, intense shortness of breath and chest pain. Sometimes stomach pain resembles an attack of appendicitis, my colleagues at WebMD say. If you notice such symptoms, so as not to harm your health, I recommend consulting a doctor, as medication may be required.

Frequent flatulence is sometimes a manifestation of such diseases: neurosis, constipation, colitis, peritonitis, cirrhosis, dysbiosis, enteritis, helminthiasis, pancreatitis and acute intestinal infections.

The most common causes of flatulence are:

• Ingestion of air while eating.

Most often, aerophagia occurs when a person is in a hurry to swallow food. At the same time, he swallows air. Once in the stomach, the air is extremely uncomfortable.

• Enzymatic deficiency.

In this case, the stomach hurts after taking milk, the article says. This is an indicator that the body is lacking in lactose, which facilitates the processing of dairy products.As a result, they begin to ferment in the intestines.

• Bloating during pregnancy.

Often occurs due to impaired blood flow, as well as intestinal motor activity.

• Violation of intestinal microflora.

This happens due to improper diet, as well as while taking antibiotics.

The bad habit also stimulates the excessive flow of air into the stomach.

Bloating occurs spontaneously even in a healthy person after eating certain foods that stimulate fermentation processes.These include any legumes, beer, apples, mushrooms, cabbage, radishes, rye bread, carbonated drinks. Do not be surprised that your stomach puffs up if you ate several foods from this list at once.

Bloating: Pixabay

What to do with bloating?

To effectively reduce gas production, I strongly recommend that my patients stop eating fatty and fried foods. To avoid the unpleasant phenomenon, stick to an appropriate diet. Meals should be fractional, and portions should be small, notes WebMD.

A bloating diet excludes vegetables, bread and other foods that contain starch. I also recommend using porridge, rice is especially useful in this case. Diet vegetables are eaten only baked or steamed.

Remove pork, lard and offal from the menu. Instead, replace them with dietary rabbit, turkey, or quail. Once a week, it is advisable to arrange fasting days, during which you drink only kefir with zero fat content. Boiled rice will also help restore normal bowel function, which will cleanse the body of accumulated toxins.

To minimize the possibility of flatulence, be sure to chew food thoroughly. The enzymes in the saliva must have time to process the product well in the mouth. It promotes good digestion.

Traditional medicine suggests drinking infusions of medicinal herbs against bloating. Here are the effective options:

• One of the universal compounds for flatulence – a mixture of mint, chamomile, yarrow and St. John’s wort in equal proportions.
• An effective folk remedy is considered to be an infusion of dill seed, filtered through a fine sieve.Dill can be replaced with fennel seeds.

Please note that the information provided is for guidance only. In order to correctly select the necessary methods for getting rid of flatulence, I recommend going to an appointment with a doctor.

If the cause of flatulence – is impaired blood circulation, then special physiotherapy exercises will allow you to get rid of its manifestations.

In case of enzymatic deficiency, reduce the amount of milk in the diet. At the same time, you can safely eat natural yoghurts without additives and cheeses.

When bloating is accompanied by spasms and sharp pain, you need to lie down and relax with a warm heating pad on your stomach.

Strong tea, cocoa, coffee have a negative effect on the intestines, stimulating the gastrointestinal tract.

With simple recommendations, you will forget about the problem of bloating and its consequences. Watch your health, love yourself, so that such problems remain in the past for you.

Attention! The material is for informational purposes only. You should not resort to the methods described in it without first consulting your doctor.

Sources:

1. Carol DerSarkissian. The Truth About Gas // WebMD. – 2016 .– 6 October. – Access mode: https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/features/truth-about-gas#1
2. Minesh Khatri. What are symptoms of gas? // WebMD. – 2020 .– 15 February. – Access mode: https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/qa/what-are-symptoms-of-gas
3. Minesh Khatri. What other tips can help manage irritable bowel syndrome and gas? // WebMD. – 2020.- 25 January. – Access mode: https://www.webmd.com/ibs/qa/what-other-tips-can-help-manage-irritable-bowel-syndrome-and-gas

Author: MD Anna Ivanovna Tikhomirova

Reviewer: Candidate of Medical Sciences, Professor Ivan Georgievich Maksakov

Original article: https://www.nur.kz/health/medical-conditions/1774033-vzdutie-zivota-priciny-i-lecenie-narodnymi-sredstvami/

90,000 Why do we often fart on board and what to do about it

• David Robson
• BBC Future

July 13, 2015

Photo by Thinkstock

High-altitude flatulence is a nuisance for many passengers.What are the reasons for it? Can you avoid things that make you feel awkward in front of other passengers? Correspondent

BBC Future spoke with a Danish professor who has some interesting ideas on this.

Dane Jacob Rosenberg became interested in the phenomenon of high-altitude meteorism during a long flight to New Zealand. He noticed that his belly was noticeably swollen in flight. Opening the bag and seeing an empty plastic water bottle in it, Rosenberg understood the reason for the phenomenon.The air in the bottle first expanded due to the low pressure in the aircraft cabin, and after landing again contracted, crushing the vessel. It dawned on Rosenberg that the gases in our stomach should behave in exactly the same way.

“Since then, I have begun to notice how common the problem of high-altitude flatulence is,” says Rosenberg, professor of clinical medicine at the University of Copenhagen. He began to seriously study this issue.As a result, scientific work was born that offers a number of ways to get rid of unpleasant sensations and feelings of awkwardness during flight.

Even while on earth, we all emit an astonishing amount of gases. According to some estimates, the average person blows the wind 10 times a day, getting rid of about 1 liter of gas in 24 hours. This gas is a mixture of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and foul-smelling sulfur compounds. They are produced by gastric and intestinal bacteria during the fermentation of incompletely digested and assimilated food.

Flatulence is common to absolutely all people, but Rosenberg found that a number of surprisingly persistent misconceptions were associated with this phenomenon. So, contrary to popular belief, medical research indicates that men suffer from flatulence no more than women (although they may more often speak about it openly). According to one such study, conducted in the late 1990s, women’s gases contain a higher concentration of foul-smelling sulfur compounds and, according to the subjective reviews of the subjects, they have a pungent odor.

Another myth says that the consumption of beans and beans leads to increased flatulence. A recent experiment found that there is no consistent relationship between eating legumes and the increased emission of gases – moreover, the effect is very individual and depends on the characteristics of the organism. It is known that the consumption of fish, rice, dairy products and fruit juices without pulp leads to a decrease in the production of intestinal gases, since these types of food are absorbed by the body practically without residue.

Pilots swell more often

In everyday life, flatulence symptoms mostly go unnoticed (or are delicately ignored by others), but in the confined space of an aircraft it can be an extremely undesirable problem.

The frequency with which we emit gases at altitude is explained by elementary physics, says Rosenberg: “As the pressure drops with increasing altitude, the gases expand and take up more volume.” That liter of gas that we carry in ourselves expands by 30% at height, which leads to discomfort from a bloated stomach.

Photo author, STRAFPGetty Images

Photo caption,

At one time, NASA worried that flatulence in astronauts could lead to deaths in the confined space of a spacecraft

The problem is very common in passenger aviation. More than 60% of pilots complain about the regular manifestation of symptoms of bloating – this figure is much higher than among office workers.

Of course, you can try to restrain yourself, but this is not always useful – according to Rosenberg, in addition to physical discomfort, there may be a certain health risk.”For a young, healthy passenger, trapping gas is not a problem, but for an older person it can put additional stress on the heart,” he says.

Farting at heights can be more dangerous than bad odor. A 1969 study investigated the possibility of a fire aboard a spacecraft due to the ignition of gases trapped in the atmosphere. Fortunately, no such incidents have been recorded so far. However, Canadian Space Agency officials recently suggested fermented soy as an ideal space food – it contains probiotic bacteria that can counteract gas-producing microflora and thus reduce bloating symptoms.

The worst effects of high-altitude flatulence on board are physical discomfort and embarrassment in front of others. Airlines are trying to tackle this problem. As part of his research, Rosenberg spoke with Danish aeronautical engineers and found that many airlines are already using carbon filters in their air conditioning systems. Due to its high porosity, coal effectively absorbs unpleasant odors, preventing them from spreading through the cabin.

Photo by Thinkstock

Photo caption,

Food on board passenger aircraft: cabbage has not been offered for a very long time

In addition, airlines offer passengers on board low-fiber, high-carbohydrate foods that help reduce symptoms flatulence. It is not known exactly when airlines began to draw up menus with this factor in mind, but it can be assumed that Brussels sprouts and cabbage have not been offered on board for a very long time.

Anti-odor underwear

Despite the measures taken, Rosenberg believes that more needs to be done, especially given the fact that with the ban on smoking on airplanes, other unpleasant odors have become more acute. He suggests placing carbon inlays directly into chairs, although research suggests this is not particularly effective – perhaps because the most common trousers and skirts create a “tunnel effect” by channeling gases away from the seat rather than directly into the seat cushion.

Rosenberg also suggests that airlines use carbon fiber blankets. For those who are especially concerned about the manifestations of their own flatulence, according to Rosenberg, now available

underwear made on a similar principle: according to an article in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, carbon-lined underwear absorbs almost 100% of the odor, while the reusable tabs for trousers can only absorb about 70%.

Photo author, Thinkstock

Caption,

Jacob Rosenberg suggests seating sufferers of flatulence in certain places (for example, next to the toilet)

Rosenberg also has more radical ideas. People suffering from flatulence often emit gases from the mouth – special devices can detect the presence of these gases in the breathing of a passenger. According to the doctor, airlines could check passengers during check-in and seat sufferers of flatulence in certain places (for example, next to the toilet) – or even refuse them transportation at all.

However, the last sentence is clearly too much. Perhaps the best solution would be to stop being shy about emitting gases. “Farting is not such a rare occurrence, we just prefer not to talk about it,” concludes Rosenberg.

Medicines for bloating – drug search and availability in pharmacies

Violation of gas discharge (flatulence, bloating) is an extremely unpleasant consequence of various disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The reason may be unhealthy diet, and lack of enzymes, and various bowel diseases.What medications are taken for bloating?

Why does flatulence occur and how to treat it?

The tactics of treating flatulence and the choice of the necessary medications depend on the cause of the increased gas production in the gastrointestinal tract:

• excess in the diet of starch and fiber,

• violation of the processes of digestion of products and absorption of nutrients,

• violation of the contractility of the intestinal muscles,

• circulatory disorders in the gastrointestinal tract,

• various tumor processes.

Several types of medicines are used to reduce gas production in the intestines:

• enterosorbents – drugs for bloating, absorbing and removing poisons, toxins, pathogenic microflora from the body,

• prokinetics – means that improve the functioning of the intestinal muscles, increase the pushing ability of the intestines, save from heaviness in the abdomen, nausea, belching,

• probiotics and prebiotics normalize the gastrointestinal microflora,

• enzymes stimulate the digestion of food.

Adsorbents

Due to the content of special substances, adsorbent drugs for bloating, absorb toxins, poisons and are excreted from the body along with them in a natural way. Medicines in this group:

• Activated carbon is an outdated agent with low efficiency, since it also removes useful microelements from the body with harmful substances. Can be taken for emergency treatment if no other drugs are available.

• Smecta binds and removes excess gases, poisons, toxins, bacteria from the intestines.

• Enterosgel contains methyl-silicic acid, effectively adsorbs all harmful substances and removes them from the body in a natural way.

Prokinetics

Prokinetics – medicines for bloating that stimulate intestinal motility, speed up the process of moving food and emptying. These are the following drugs:

Means, relieving spasm

Often, to improve digestion and with excessive gas formation, it is necessary to take drugs that relieve spasm by relaxing the intestinal muscles.These drugs can be:

• No-shpa,

• Papaverine,

• Espumisan.

The above medicines for bloating and gas formation are contraindicated in patients with heart failure and with low blood pressure.

Preparations containing enzymes

With a deficiency of enzymes involved in the digestion of food, nutrients in the intestine together with bacteria “ferment”, resulting in the formation of gases.This often happens with overeating, as well as with diseases of the pancreas and disorders of the production of gastric juice.

In such cases, drugs containing enzymes that are lacking in the body help:

• Mezim Forte is a drug containing 3 enzymes: amylase, protease and lipase, which break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates.

• Pancreatin contains a complex of enzymes.

• Festal.

Medicines for the normalization of digestion

Increased gas production can result from a disturbance in the normal balance of microflora in the intestine.This often happens after a course of antibacterial drugs, with an unbalanced diet, after diarrhea. To restore the disturbed balance of the gastrointestinal tract, two types of drugs are used:

• Probiotics are preparations containing live cultures of beneficial bacteria or yeast. Example – Linex containing lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and enterococci.

• Prebiotics are medicines that do not contain live bacteria, but they contain special substances that promote the reproduction of beneficial microflora in the digestive tract (Hilak Forte, for example).

Antifoam agents

Preparations containing dimethicone and simethicone help to fight increased gas formation. Simethicone is more powerful and effective due to its effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Medicines containing this substance:

The above medications for bloating in adults reduce intestinal foam and reduce the surface tension of the gas bubbles.