Symptoms
For most people, the signs and symptoms of gas and gas pain
are all too obvious. They include:
The voluntary or
involuntary passing of gas, either as belches or as flatus.
Sharp, jabbing
pains or cramps in your abdomen. These pains may occur anywhere in your abdomen
and can change locations quickly.
A
"knotted" feeling in your abdomen.
Swelling and
tightness in your abdomen (bloating).
Gas pains are usually intense, but brief. Once the gas is
gone, your pain often disappears. In some cases, however, the pain may be
constant or so intense that it feels like something is seriously wrong.
Gas can sometimes be mistaken for:
Heart disease
Gallstones
Appendicitis
When to see a doctor
It's considered normal to pass gas as flatus between 10 to
20 times a day.
Call your doctor if your gas is accompanied by:
Severe, prolonged
or recurrent abdominal pain
Nausea or vomiting
Bloody stools
Weight loss
Fever
Chest pain
In addition, talk to your doctor if your gas or gas pains
are so persistent or severe that they interfere with your ability to live a
normal life. In most cases, treatment can help reduce or alleviate the problem.
Causes
Gas forms when bacteria in your colon ferment carbohydrates
that aren't digested in your small intestine. Unfortunately, healthy,
high-fiber foods are often the worst offenders. Fiber has many health benefits,
including keeping your digestive tract in good working order and regulating
blood sugar and cholesterol levels. But fiber can also lead to the formation of
gas.
High-fiber foods that commonly cause gas and gas pains
include:
Fruits
Vegetables
Whole grains
Beans and peas
(legumes)
Fiber supplements containing psyllium, such as Metamucil,
may cause such problems, especially if added to your diet too quickly.
Carbonated beverages, such as soda and beer, also are causes of gas.
Other causes of excess gas include:
Swallowed air. You
swallow air every time you eat or drink. You may also swallow air when you're
nervous, eat too fast, chew gum, suck on candies or drink through a straw. Some
of that air finds its way into your lower digestive tract.
Another health
condition. Excess gas may be a symptom of a more serious chronic condition.
Examples include diverticulitis or an inflammatory bowel disease, such as
ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.
Antibiotics. In
some cases of excess gas, antibiotic use may be a factor because antibiotics
disrupt the normal bacterial flora in your bowel.
Laxatives.
Excessive use of laxatives also may contribute to problems with excess gas.
Constipation.
Constipation may make it difficult to pass gas, leading to bloating and
discomfort.
Food intolerances.
If your gas and bloating occur mainly after eating dairy products, it may be
because your body isn't able to break down the sugar (lactose) in dairy foods.
Many people aren't able to process lactose efficiently after age 6, and even
infants are sometimes lactose intolerant. Other food intolerances, especially
to gluten — a protein found in wheat and some other grains — also can result in
excess gas, diarrhea and even weight loss.
Artificial
additives. It's also possible that your system can't tolerate artificial
sweeteners, such as sorbitol and mannitol, found in some sugar-free foods, gums
and candies. Many healthy people develop gas and diarrhea when they consume
these sweeteners.
It's helpful to figure out what's causing your gas so you
can better know what to do to prevent it. For example, if you notice that your
gas seems to be caused by:
Eating a lot of
beans, try using products like Beano just before eating.
Eating dairy products (milk, yogurt, ice
cream, cheese, etc.), try products like LactAid, Lactrase, and Dairy Ease.
A high fiber diet
— whether the fiber is from foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains) or
supplements (Metamucil type products), try cutting back somewhat on your fiber
intake. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water to aid in digestion.
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