Surprising Causes of Excessive Gas

Under normal circumstances, a person produces up to four pints of gas a day, and passes gas up to 20 times a day. How is that possible, you say, if those people aren’t always eating foods like beans, cabbage, and broccoli?

The answer is because excess gas can be made in myriad ways. That’s why up to 20 percent of the population complains about having excessive gas that causes frequent belching and flatulence.

Upper Intestinal Gas

One of the most common sources of upper intestinal gas is swallowed air. The medical term for swallowed air is aerophagia. Swallowed air contains nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. Too much swallowed air can lead to bloating and belching. Here are some ways that air gets inside you:

• Eating or drinking too fast
• Chewing gum
• Smoking
• Loose dentures
• Drinking through a straw

Another unusual cause of bloating is continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) machines. CPAP is one of the most common treatments for sleep apnea. A CPAP machine forces air into the throat during sleep, and some of this air goes into the stomach. If you have bloating and you use CPAP, talk to your sleep specialist. In many cases, bloating can be avoided by changing the settings on the machine.

Lower Intestinal Gas

The other way that gas gets into your digestive system is through the breakdown of undigested foods in your large intestine by bacteria that normally live there. This gas, made up of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and in some people, methane, has nowhere to go but out through the anus. The technical term for this gas is flatus.

We are all familiar with flatus caused by beans or cabbage, but here are some less known flatus producers:

• Starches like potatoes, corn, and pasta
• Fruits like apples, peaches, and pears
• Vegetables like onions, artichokes, and asparagus
• Spicy, fried, and fatty foods

A bit of trivia: The only starch that produces no gas is rice.

Stomach and Intestinal Problems

From stomach problems to colon problems, anything that interferes with the normal digestion of food can lead to excess gas in the system. Here are some common issues that can interfere with digestion:

• Gastritis. This condition refers to anything that cases the lining of your stomach to get swollen and irritated. It could be an ulcer caused by bacteria, a reaction to medication, or too much stomach acid. Symptoms of this upper intestinal gas situation include bloating, belching, nausea and vomiting.
• Lactose intolerance. Lactose is a natural sugar found in dairy products. In order to digest this sugar you need an enzyme called lactase, and some people don’t have enough. Low levels of lactase are common in people of African, Asian, and Native American descent. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include excessive gas and bloating.
• Celiac disease. This is an inherited disorder in which people cannot tolerate the protein found in wheat products (gluten). The disease affects digestion in the upper part of the intestine and leads to intestinal gas, bloating, and pain.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). What causes IBS is not known, but it’s frequently the reason for complaints of bloating. The bloating may be due to abnormal movements of the digestive muscles or it may be due to an oversensitivity that causes normal amounts of intestinal gas to feel uncomfortable or painful.

When gas symptoms are accompanied by other symptoms like pain, vomiting, constipation, cramps, heartburn, bleeding, or weight loss, you need to see your doctor right away.

Intestinal gas and occasional bloating are usually a normal part of the digestive process. In most cases, excess gas is caused by swallowing too much air or eating gas-producing foods. This kind of gas can usually be controlled by being more careful about how and what you eat. Talk to your doctor if you think your gas symptoms are excessive. There are medications that can help.

9 Signs of an Unhealthy Gut — and What You Can Do About It

An unhealthy gut is tied to a range of symptoms, from acne to unintentional weight changes. Follow these steps to restore balance to your gut health.

By Erica PatinoJune 12, 2023

9 Foods That Help Relieve Nausea

Eating may be the last thing on your mind when your stomach is queasy, but some foods actually ease the symptoms and help stop nausea.

By Melissa JohnsonMarch 21, 2023

5 Ways to Incorporate More Fermented Foods Into Your Diet

Fermented foods act as a natural probiotic supplement, helping to populate your gut with good microbes. Here are 5 easy, dietitian-approved ways to add…

By Rachel Dyckman, RDNMarch 20, 2023

The Link Between Your Gut Microbiome and Your Health

Your gut microbiome, or the bacteria in your gut, can have a surprising impact on your health. Find out what steps you can take to promote your gut health…

By Erica PatinoFebruary 16, 2023

What Your Upset Stomach is Trying to Tell You

Was it that chicken you ate late at night or something else? Whether it’s indigestion, heartburn, nausea or gas, these symptoms are all commonly associated with an upset stomach. Doug Purdy, MD, Gastroenterologist at UnityPoint Health, explains why tummy troubles happen and how to get relief. 

What Causes an Upset Stomach?

An upset stomach can be the result of several different factors and have a variety of symptoms, such as: 

• Constipation
• Nausea
• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Bloating 

Constipation 

“Constipation is typically defined as having less than three bowel movements in a week,” Dr. Purdy says.

Feeling constipated isn’t uncommon, but for some people, it can be chronic and present a real problem, making daily tasks feel less enjoyable. The reason someone might be constipated varies greatly. Signs and symptoms often include: 

• Having stools that look like pebbles and are difficult to pass
• Straining while trying to have a bowel movement
• Feeling like you can’t empty your bowel near the rectum

How to get relief greatly depends on why you’re constipated, but Dr. Purdy says the following are often recommended to give your bowels some extra assistance: 

• Moving your body. This increases the muscle activity in the colon.
• Getting more fiber. A good source is fresh fruits and vegetables. 
• Using a laxative. This can include stool softeners, suppositories, bower stimulants, fiber supplements and lubricants. 
• Taking prescription medication. If you aren’t having luck with dietary changes and over-the-counter medication, your doctor may write a prescription that can help get things moving.  

Nausea

Nausea is a symptom commonly associated with an upset stomach or uneasiness of the stomach. However, what causes nausea can sometimes be hard to pinpoint. Nausea is commonly caused by:

• Gastroenteritis (Stomach flu)
• GERD (Acid reflux)
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Gastritis 
• Medications 
• Migraine
• Rotavirus
• Morning sickness
• Motion sickness
• Food poisoning
• Diet (junk food, overeating)
• Severe pain (pancreatitis, cholecystitis, kidney stones)

Nausea could also be a warning sign for certain medical conditions, such as: 

• Crohn’s disease
• Heart attack
• Appendicitis
• Intestinal blockage
• Migraine

How to Get Rid of Nausea 

When feeling nauseous, the fastest way to relief is by taking an over-the-counter anti nausea medication like Dramamine or Pepto-Bismol, but there are other things you can do as well, including: 

• Sipping clear or ice-cold drinks
• Drinking peppermint, chamomile or ginger tea
• Eating slowly and smaller, more frequent meals
• Getting some fresh air by opening a window or stepping outside
• Trying to focus on something other than your nausea
• Putting an ice pack or cool, wet cloth on the back of your neck to decrease body temperature

Heartburn 

Dr. Purdy says heartburn feels like burning in your chest and is often worse after a meal or when bending over or lying down. 

What Causes Heartburn

“The main cause of heartburn is acid reflux, which is the backup of stomach acid into a person’s esophagus,” Dr. Purdy says. Factors that can contribute to heartburn include:

• Eating meals too quickly
• Overeating
• Pregnancy
• Alcohol, caffeine, chocolate
• Fatty and greasy foods
• Eating too close to bedtime
• Wearing tight fitting clothes

Heartburn Relief

Occasionally experiencing heartburn is common and shouldn’t cause alarm. 

“In addition to adjusting your diet and making lifestyle modifications, your doctor may prescribe medication, called h3-blockers (Famotidine/Pepcid) or proton pump inhibitors (Omeprazole, Pantoprazole), to help suppress your stomach acid. If your heartburn doesn’t start to subside once the medication kicks in and your diet has been modified, then it’s time to talk to your doctor to see if further evaluation is needed,” Dr. Purdy says.   

Indigestion 

Indigestion, also called dyspepsia or upset stomach, is the discomfort a person feels in the upper part of their abdomen. They often experience feeling full soon after starting a meal or an uncomfortable fullness after a meal, discomfort or burning in their stomach and bloating.

Indigestion can be triggered by medication, different foods and drinks. More specifically, it can be caused by:

• Eating too quickly
• Overeating
• Spicy or greasy foods
• Smoking
• Too much caffeine, alcohol or chocolate
• Antibiotics, pain relievers and supplements

Some medical conditions can cause indigestion, like ulcers, gallstones, constipation or Celiac disease. Relief can come from eating smaller meals, eliminating caffeine and avoiding certain pain relievers. 

Bloating 

“Bloating is when your abdomen (stomach) feels full, tight and uncomfortable with the sensation of having too much gas,” Dr. Purdy says. Bloating can cause abdominal pain that ranges from mild to moderate. Common causes of bloating include:

• Carbonated beverages
• Eating too quickly
• Constipation
• Gastrointestinal infection
• Celiac disease
• Lactose/fructose intolerance
• Irritable bowel syndrome

Natural Ways to Relieve Bloating

Commonly, flatulence (farting), burping or having a bowel movement will help put an end to bloating. Other forms of relief for bloating include reducing your intake of gas-producing foods, including:

• Beans or lentils
• Vegetables like broccoli, Brussel sprouts or asparagus
• Corn, pasta and potatoes, which are rich in starch 
• Lactose, which is a natural sugar in milk
• Fructose, another natural sugar found in pears, wheat and some sodas
• Sorbitol, an artificial sweetener
• Fruits high in soluble fiber 

Most of these foods are healthy, so be sure to figure out what your troublemakers are so you can add nutrient-dense food back into your diet.  Another great way to reduce bloating after eating is to move your body. Try going for a walk after your meal to help ease discomfort. If your bloating is persistent, talk to your doctor. 

Other Causes for an Upset Stomach

The build-up of gas in the intestines can be really uncomfortable for people and is another common reason for digestive distress. If you’re experiencing trapped gas that feels constant, and it’s interfering with your daily activities, talk to your doctor about pinpointing the cause, so you can find some relief.  

Vomiting is another common by-product, and many times goes hand-in-hand with feelings of nausea. There are several reasons for vomiting ranging from issues such as motion sickness, overuse of alcohol to gastroenteritis (stomach flu) and allergic reactions. The color of your vomit can also be a telltale sign on an underlying health issue. 

Get Care Online with Virtual Urgent Care

An upset stomach rarely occurs at a convenient time. Virtual urgent care works for you to determine what’s causing your stomach pain.  

symptoms and treatment (reminder for parents)

Enteroviral infections – is a group of diseases caused by several types of viruses. The disease is caused by Coxsackieviruses, polioviruses and ECHO (ECHO).

After an enterovirus infection, persistent lifelong immunity is formed, however, it is serospecific. This means that immunity is formed only to the serological type of virus that the child has had and does not protect him from other varieties of these viruses. Therefore, a child can get sick with an enterovirus infection several times in his life. Also, this feature does not allow the development of a vaccine to protect our children from this disease. The disease has a seasonality: outbreaks of the disease are most often observed in the summer-autumn period.

Causes of infection with enterovirus infection.

Infection occurs in several ways. Viruses can enter the environment from a sick child or from a child who is a carrier of the virus. Virus carriers do not have any manifestations of the disease, but the viruses are in the intestines and are excreted into the environment with feces. This condition can be observed in children who have been ill after a clinical recovery, or in children in whom the virus has entered the body, but could not cause the disease due to the strong immunity of the child. The virus carrier can persist for 5 months.

Once in the environment, viruses can persist for quite a long time, as they tolerate adverse effects well. Viruses are well preserved in water and soil, when frozen, they can survive for several years, are resistant to disinfectants (when exposed to solutions of high concentrations of phenol, chlorine, formalin, viruses begin to die only after three hours), but are susceptible to high temperatures (when heated to 45ºС, they die in 45-60 seconds).

How enterovirus infection is transmitted.

The transmission mechanism can be airborne (when sneezing and coughing with droplets of saliva from a sick child to a healthy one) and fecal-oral if personal hygiene is not observed. Most often, infection occurs through water, when drinking raw (not boiled) water. It is also possible to infect children through toys if children take them in their mouths. Most often, children aged 3 to 10 years are ill. In children who are breastfed, there is immunity in the body received from the mother through breast milk, however, this immunity is not stable and quickly disappears after the cessation of breastfeeding.

Symptoms of enterovirus infection.

Viruses enter the body through the mouth or upper respiratory tract. Once in the child’s body, the viruses migrate to the lymph nodes, where they settle and begin to multiply. The further development of the disease is associated with many factors, such as virulence (the ability of the virus to resist the protective properties of the body), tropism (the tendency to infect individual tissues and organs) of the virus, and the state of the child’s immunity.

Enteroviral infections have both similar manifestations and different ones, depending on the species and serotype. The incubation period (the period from the virus entering the child’s body until the first clinical signs appear) is the same for all enterovirus infections – from 1 to 10 days (usually 2-5 days).

The disease begins acutely – with an increase in body temperature to 38-39º C. The temperature most often lasts 3-5 days, after which it drops to normal numbers. Very often, the temperature has a wave-like course: the temperature stays for 2-3 days, after which it decreases and stays at normal levels for 2-3 days, then rises again for 1-2 days and finally returns to normal. When the temperature rises, the child feels weakness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, and vomiting may occur. With a decrease in body temperature, all these symptoms disappear, but with a repeated increase, they may return. The cervical and submandibular lymph nodes also increase, as viruses multiply in them.

Depending on which organs are most affected, there are several forms of enterovirus infection. Enteroviruses can affect: the central and peripheral nervous systems, oropharyngeal mucosa, eye mucosa, skin, muscles, heart, intestinal mucosa, liver; in boys, testicular damage is possible.

When the mucous membrane of the oropharynx is affected, enterovirus angina develops. It is manifested by an increase in body temperature, general intoxication (weakness, headache, drowsiness) and the presence of a vesicular rash in the form of bubbles filled with liquid on the mucous membrane of the oropharynx and tonsils. These bubbles burst, in their place ulcers are formed, filled with white bloom. After recovery, no traces remain at the site of the sores.

When the eyes are affected, conjunctivitis develops. It can be one- or two-sided. It manifests itself in the form of photophobia, lacrimation, redness and swelling of the eyes. There may be hemorrhages in the conjunctiva of the eye.

With muscle damage, myositis develops – muscle pain. Pain appears on the background of an increase in temperature. Soreness is observed in the chest, arms and legs. The appearance of pain in the muscles, as well as temperature, can be undulating. When the body temperature decreases, the pain decreases or disappears completely.

With damage to the intestinal mucosa (enteritis), there is a liquid stool. Stools of normal color (yellow or brown), liquid, without pathological (mucus, blood) impurities. The appearance of loose stools can be both against the background of an increase in temperature, and isolated (without an increase in body temperature).

Enteroviral infections can affect various parts of the heart. So, if the muscle layer is damaged, myocarditis develops, if the inner layer is damaged with capture of the heart valves, endocarditis develops, if the outer shell of the heart is damaged, pericarditis develops. The child may experience: increased fatigue, weakness, palpitations, drop in blood pressure, rhythm disturbances (blockade, extrasystoles), pain behind the sternum.

With damage to the nervous system, encephalitis, meningitis can develop. The child has: severe headache, nausea, vomiting, fever, convulsions, paresis and paralysis, loss of consciousness.

With liver damage, acute hepatitis develops. It is characterized by an increase in the liver, a feeling of heaviness in the right hypochondrium, pain in this place. Perhaps the appearance of nausea, heartburn, weakness, fever.

When the skin is damaged, exanthema may appear – hyperemia (red coloration) of the skin, most often on the upper half of the body (head, chest, arms), does not rise above the level of the skin, appears simultaneously.

Boys may have inflammation in the testicles with the development of morchitis. Most often, this condition develops 2-3 weeks after the onset of the disease with other manifestations (tonsillitis, loose stools, and others). The disease passes quite quickly and does not bear any consequences, however, in rare cases, the development of aspermia (lack of sperm) in adulthood is possible.

There are also congenital forms of enterovirus infection, when viruses enter the child’s body through the placenta from the mother. Usually, this condition has a benign course and is cured on its own, however, in some cases, an enterovirus infection can cause an abortion (miscarriage) and the development of a sudden death syndrome in a child (the death of a child occurs against the background of complete health).

Very rarely, damage to the kidneys, pancreas, lungs is possible. The defeat of various organs and systems can be observed both isolated and combined.

Treatment of enterovirus infection

There is no specific treatment for enterovirus infection. Treatment is carried out at home, hospitalization is indicated in the presence of damage to the nervous system, heart, high temperature, which cannot be reduced for a long time when using antipyretics. The child is shown bed rest for the entire period of fever.

Meals should be light, rich in proteins. A sufficient amount of liquid is needed: boiled water, mineral water without gases, compotes, juices, fruit drinks.

Treatment is carried out symptomatically, depending on the manifestations of the infection – tonsillitis, conjunctivitis, myositis, loose stools, heart damage, encephalitis, meningitis, hepatitis, exanthema, orchitis. In some cases (tonsillitis, diarrhea, conjunctivitis …) bacterial complications are prevented.

Children are isolated for the entire period of the disease. In the children’s team may be after the disappearance of all symptoms of the disease.

Prevention of enterovirus infection.

For prevention, it is necessary to observe the rules of personal hygiene: wash hands after going to the toilet, walking on the street, drinking only boiled water or water from a factory bottle, it is unacceptable to use water from an open source (river, lake) for drinking a child.

There is no specific vaccine against enterovirus infection, since a large number of serotypes of these viruses are present in the environment.

The child has diarrhea and vomiting: how to recognize an infection

Almost 800,000 cases of intestinal infections are registered in Russia every year, up to 80% of them in children: only influenza and SARS are more common. Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and fever are the main signs. Often the symptoms are similar to food poisoning – we tell you how to understand that the child did not just “ate something wrong.”

What is it and how often does it happen

An intestinal infection is a disease that develops when viruses or bacteria enter the body and is manifested by diarrhea, vomiting, fever, weakness, and dehydration.

According to WHO data for 2018, rotavirus infection accounted for 60% of cases of severe diarrhea in children under 5 years of age, and most of them were under one year old. When the first symptoms appear in young children, it is necessary to seek medical help – so far in the world, especially in developing countries, up to 200 thousand children die from rotavirus infection every year.

How and when you can get infected

Sources of rotavirus infection can be a sick child or an asymptomatic carrier. The virus is excreted from the body with a stool and with dirty hands gets on household items, clothes and food.

Doctors often refer to rotavirus as the “dirty hand” disease.

A healthy child can introduce the virus into the body by first touching things, and then to the face, as well as by eating unwashed vegetables and fruits.

Outbreaks of rotavirus usually occur in winter, early spring or late autumn, because at low temperatures the viruses survive longer in the external environment. In summer, food poisoning occurs more often – the reason for them, as a rule, is bacterial contamination of food, and bacteria multiply better in the hot season.

What happens when a virus enters the body

With food or saliva – if a child licks dirty hands – rotavirus gets into the mouth, then into the stomach and intestines. There it penetrates into the cells of the surface layer lining the intestines from the inside and damages them. Unlike bacteria, viruses do not lead to pronounced cell inflammation; they disrupt the functioning of the body’s enzyme systems to a greater extent.

Carbohydrates cease to be broken down and accumulate in the intestines – the balance of fluid, potassium and sodium in the body is disturbed. A lot of water, electrolytes, organic acids and carbon dioxide accumulate in the intestine, which should not be there normally. Because of them, vomiting and diarrhea begin and gas formation increases. At the age of up to 5 years, intestinal cells are not yet mature enough – rotavirus infects up to 2/3 of them, so children get sick more often and more severely than adults.

Most often, the first symptom is vomiting. It occurs simultaneously with diarrhea or precedes it and usually lasts 1-2 days. The stool is usually watery, frothy, yellow in color with a small amount of mucus. In infants, it can be up to 20 times a day. The duration of diarrhea is on average 3-7 days, but there are cases up to two weeks – usually in children under one year old. Sometimes the infection begins with a fever up to 38-39 ° C, symptoms of SARS – cough, runny nose, sore throat. Also, children can refuse food and literally fall off their feet.

What to do in order not to get sick

Frequent and thorough hand washing with soap is the prevention of any viral and bacterial infections.

• It is necessary to accustom the child to this from an early age: after the street and going to the toilet, before meals and just several times a day.
• Parents should wash their own hands before touching or feeding a baby.
• It is important to wash fruits and vegetables before eating, observe the temperature regime when cooking, drink boiled or bottled water.

The greatest amount of the virus is excreted in the stool in the first 5 days of illness, so during this period you need to wash your hands more often and do wet cleaning at home.

Rotavirus vaccination

There are two vaccines – the Belgian “Rotarix” and the Russian “RotaTek”. Only RotaTech is registered in the Russian Federation. It contains the 5 most common strains. Vaccination against rotavirus infection is not included in the national vaccination calendar, but it can be done at the request of the parents. RotaTeq has strict age restrictions and intervals between revaccinations – be sure to consult your pediatrician.

“The effectiveness and safety of vaccines against rotavirus infection, while respecting the age limits, has been confirmed in many studies,” says Elena Kolganova, pediatrician at the Fantasy Children’s Clinic. – After receiving the third dose of the vaccine, the number of hospitalizations decreased by 100%, and visits to the clinic – by 96%. Rotavirus, unlike influenza, rarely mutates, and therefore vaccination does not need to be done every year – immunity lasts up to three years.

How to help a child

Pediatrician and infectious disease specialist at the GMS clinic Daria Zakharova recalls that the infection in different children can proceed in different ways: for some, in the form of mild malaise, loss of appetite with slight discomfort in the abdomen and a single loose stool, for another, with fever, repeated vomiting and severe diarrhea.

“The actions of parents largely depend on the severity and age: where to turn for help. If the child is sick every hour, and he complains of severe pain in the abdomen, then you need to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital, where they will determine the cause of the pain. In all other cases, you need to call a doctor,” emphasizes Daria Zakharova.

In children older than five years, the infection is usually milder, so you can help them on your own.

“You need to start with drinking plenty of fluids to make up for the lack of fluid – what the child loses with vomiting and diarrhea,” says Elena Kolganova. There are special formulas for calculating, but usually 50-100 ml of water per kg of body weight per day is required, i.e. if a child weighs 30 kg, then with a rotavirus infection, he will need from 1.5 to 3 liters of fluid per day. It is better to use a special pharmacy solution: for children, it should contain a minimum of salt and sugar. It is necessary to water the child often and a little bit – 10-15 times an hour for 2-3 sips.

What threatens rotavirus without treatment

From diarrhea and vomiting, the body loses a lot of water along with sodium, potassium, magnesium and other electrolytes. This leads to disruption of the lungs – the child begins to breathe often and shallowly, the heart and blood vessels – the heartbeat quickens, blood pressure decreases, and the brain – dizziness and headache, weakness appear.

In infants, rotavirus infection is most dangerous because large amounts of fluid and electrolyte loss can result in convulsions or loss of consciousness. It is very important to immediately call an ambulance at the first signs of an intestinal infection in infants.

How to help the body recover

“There used to be an opinion that dairy products should not be consumed with rotavirus infection,” says Elena Kolganova. – Now scientists have revised their opinion on this matter: if a child is breast-fed or formula-fed, then nothing needs to be changed. For adult children, it is advisable to remove fresh fruits and vegetables, as they increase peristalsis and fermentation processes in the intestines.

If the child has a temperature above 38.5 ºС, you can give him antipyretics, and in case of severe pain – antispasmodics. You should not give painkillers – this will mask the symptoms and it will be difficult for the doctor to make a diagnosis. You can’t wash the child’s stomach – this will increase vomiting and lead to extreme dehydration – loss of consciousness, convulsions.

“Treatment of uncomplicated rotavirus infection is symptomatic: the main thing is drinking plenty of fluids. Vomiting and loose stools usually go away on their own. However, taking probiotics can speed up the recovery process, their administration is safe and quite effective,” says Daria Zakharova.