Stomach Gas Relief

Bloating, belching and passing gas are normal functions of the digestive system. According to the National Institute of Health, most people produce and pass an average of 1 to 3 pt. of gas a day, releasing it about 14 times. Unfortunately for some, stomach gas can interfere with their daily activities and may be a symptom of a more serious problem.

Causes

The presence of gas in the gastrointestinal tract is due to swallowed air and the breakdown of certain undigested foods in the colon by bacteria. Swallowing small amounts of air when eating and drinking is unavoidable, but smoking, chewing gum, or quickly eating and/or drinking can cause too much air to enter the stomach.

In the small intestines, some forms of carbohydrates may not be digested by the body because of a shortage or absence of particular enzymes. This undigested food will move into the large intestine where it is eventually broken down by bacteria. As a result hydrogen gas, carbon dioxide and sometimes methane gas are produced as byproducts and released through the rectum.

Symptoms

Belching, flatulence, abdominal bloating and pain are the most common symptoms of gas. The physiological action of belching happens when the stomach is full of food. Chronic belching can also be a sign of an upper gastrointestinal disorder such as peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease or gastroparesis.

Flatulence is caused by the passage of excess gas through the rectum. Too much gas can be the result of carbohydrate malabsorption, the digestive intolerance to some dietary sugars.

Abdominal bloating is normally caused by excess gas in the stomach. Intestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, cause increased sensitivity to gas and in turn create the sensation of bloating. Intestinal inflammation or obstruction as a result of diseases such as Crohn's disease or colon cancer may also cause abdominal bloating.

Treatment

The two most common ways to reduce stomach gas discomfort are dietary changes and medicines. Doctors will instruct patients to eat fewer gas-causing foods as such fruits, vegetables, whole grains, milk products and foods high in fat. Unfortunately the amount of gas produced by certain foods varies among people and, therefore, the success of dietary changes depends on learning through trial and error.

There are several over-the-counter medicines such as antacids, activated charcoal and digestive enzymes for stomach gas relief. Antacids such as Gas-X contain simethicone, a foaming agent, which adheres to stomach gas bubbles and makes it easier to belch. Activated charcoal tablets are taken both before and after a meal in order to reduce gas in the large intestine. Digestive enzyme supplements such as Beano and Lactaid contain the digesting enzymes that the body lacks to digest sugars in beans, vegetables and dairy products.

Prescription drugs may be needed for more-severe gas symptoms and intestinal disorders. Patients with intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome may be prescribed promotility drugs that help move gas more efficiently through the gastrointestinal tract.