Gas Symptoms - Belching, Bloating, and Flatulence

Introduction

Gas is a part of the normal digestive process. Normally, gas is released from the body through burping or flatulence. Gas can induce pain if it gets trapped or does not move well through the digestive system. Gas is mostly caused by eating certain foods. Usually, gas is not a serious problem and can occur in any person. Gas is not life-threatening, either. Sometimes, it can be embarrassing and painful and interfere with daily activities.

What Is Meant by Intestinal Gas?

Intestinal gas is the presence of air in the digestive system. It is a natural by-product of the digestive process. Being gassy does not always feel natural or normal, and too much gas in the abdomen can result in abdominal pain, cramps, or bloating.

What Are the Causative Factors of Gas and Gas Pain?

Gas is a natural thing that is present in the digestive system, and it is natural. When people eat, they swallow some amount of gas, which stays in the stomach until they pass out the gas. In the large intestine, the gas is produced as a by-product when the food has been broken down. Reasons why some gas become painful even though it is not a medical condition are:

• The person swallows too much air while eating.

• The person needs to take more gas and food.

• Presence of an infection.

• The person may have some digestive system condition.

• The person is under medication, which can slow down the bowel movement.

What Are the Symptoms of Gas?

The symptoms of gas vary in every individual. The common gas symptoms are belching, bloating and distension, flatulence, abdominal pain, and discomfort. Gas is normal, especially during or after meals. Normally, the gas comprises odorless vapors like carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and methane.

What Is Belching?

Belching is the body’s way of getting rid of excess air from the upper digestive tract. It is the release of gas through the mouth. Belching is also known as burping. People normally emit around 30 times a day.

What Are the Causes of Belching?

Sometimes, people eject more often than normal. Belching is caused by swallowing excess air. A person may swallow excess air when eating too fast, talking while eating, chewing gums, drinking carbonated beverages, sucking hard candies, and smoking. Gastroesophageal reflux disease can sometimes cause belching. Chronic belching is often due to an infection with helicobacter pylori, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or gastritis.

What Are the Ways to Reduce Belching?

Eating and drinking slowly will prevent you from swallowing excess air. Avoiding carbonated drinks, chewing gum, and hard candies can also reduce belching. Smoking and alcohol, as well as taking antacids for gastroesophageal reflux disease, can also reduce belching. Also, change any unfitting dentures that can cause you to swallow excess air. Taking a short, brisk walk after meals can help digestion and reduce belching.

What Are Bloating and Distension?

Bloating is when the belly (abdomen) feels full and tight, often due to gas. The abdomen may be swollen, stiff, and painful. Bloating differs from abdominal distension. Distension is a visible or measurable increase in the size of the stomach. Bloating and distension can occur independently, but mostly they co-exist. Some people have abdominal discomfort and pain along with bloating and distension. Bloating is usually associated with gastrointestinal disorders but may also appear alone. Bloating affects men and women of all ages. Bloating is also known as meteorism.

What Are the Causes of Bloating?

Overeating, eating fatty foods, eating too fast, drinking with a straw, smoking, alcohol, wearing loose dentures, chronic stress, and gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroparesis, celiac disease can cause bloating and distension.

What Are the Ways to Reduce Bloating?

Abdominal bloating can be reduced by following simple lifestyle changes, such as eating slowly and avoiding chewing gum, carbonated drinks, and foods that create gas, like cabbages, lentils, cauliflowers, apples, and pears. Avoiding smoking, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, and reducing salt intake can also reduce bloating. Eating a low-fat and high-fiber diet, potassium-rich foods and lactose-free dairy products can also reduce bloating. Massaging the abdomen may relieve bloating.

What Is Flatulence?

Flatulence is the gas buildup in the intestines. It is the passing of gas through the anus, and the passed gas is called flatus. Healthy gas is harmless and odorless. Sometimes, the flatus may have an unpleasant odor due to the sulfur in the flatus. People pass flatulence an average of eight to 14 times daily. Passing flatus through the anus up to 25 times daily is considered normal. People tend to pass sometimes, even without noticing.

What Are the Causes of Flatulence?

Flatulence is caused when the bacteria ferment the undigested food in the large or small intestine in the digestive tract. Sometimes, flatulence is caused when the body cannot digest certain components like gluten and sugars.

What Are the Ways to Reduce Flatulence?

Eliminate certain foods that can create gas and reduce fatty foods. Avoid products containing sugars like sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, lactose, and dairy products. Choosing low-lactose dairy products, eating slowly, and eating smaller meals can help reduce flatus. Doing physical activity can promote digestion.

Gas can sometimes cause discomfort and abdominal pain. When gas collects in the left side of the intestine, the pain mimics the symptoms of heart disease. When gas collects on the right side of the intestine, the pain mimics the pain related to gallstones or appendicitis.

How to Diagnose Gas?

The physician will inquire about the patient's medical history and dietary habits and perform a physical examination. In a physical examination, the doctor will touch the stomach to see if it is tender or abnormal. The doctor will listen to the sounds of the stomach using a stethoscope to determine the functioning of the digestive tract.

What Changes Need to Be Made in Eating and Drinking Methods?

The person should make some changes in their eating and drinking methods, such as:

• They should avoid high-fiber food.

• They should avoid carbonated drinks.

• Avoid intake of dairy products.

When Should the Person Consult the Doctor?

• If the person experiences pain in the chest and abdomen, it can signal a heart attack.

• Gastrointestinal discomfort does not occur immediately after eating food.

• Extreme abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation.

• Tarry and black stool.

• Rectal bleeding.

• Unexplained weight loss.

If additional symptoms, such as abdominal pain, blood in the stool, diarrhea, and weight loss, are present, the doctor will suggest additional imaging tests.

Those tests include:

• Blood Tests: To find out if there is any infection.

• Breath Test: This test can identify lactose intolerance if the breath contains hydrogen.

• Screening for Colon Cancer: Patients over 50 should be regularly screened to discover colon disorders. A flexible sigmoidoscopy views the lower part of the intestine and rectum, whereas a colonoscopy views the entire colon and rectum.

How to Treat Gas?

Dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, and over-the-counter medications usually treat gas symptoms. If there is an underlying medical condition, treating the condition will help relieve gas. Over-the-counter medications that help relieve gas symptoms include Simethicone, activated charcoal, lactase supplements, and alpha-galactosidase.

Conclusion

Gas symptoms like belching, flatulence, and bloating often resolve with simple lifestyle and dietary changes. But if they are accompanied by other symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, change in color, and frequency of stools, it indicates an underlying medical problem.