How to get rid of gases in the intestines. Increased intestinal gas

Gas formation in the intestines is a normal physiological process. In the gastrointestinal tract, gases enter along with the air swallowed during meals, and are also formed in the intestine itself as a result of the vital activity of many microorganisms.

Composition of intestinal gases

Most of the gaseous substances in the colon are carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen compounds, hydrogen and methane. These gases are odorless. An unpleasant odor appears if a large amount of sulfur-containing compounds, including hydrogen sulfide, is formed. This is mainly due to the vital activity of the bacteria inhabiting the intestines.

flatulence symptoms

Due to malnutrition, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, or changes in the composition of the intestinal microflora, an excess may form. Increased gas formation in the intestines is manifested by symptoms such as:

  • coming pains in the abdomen;
  • a feeling of bloating in the abdominal cavity and rumbling;
  • frequent belching of air and discharge of gases with an unpleasant odor;
  • nausea, poor appetite;
  • heartburn.

Often accompanied by a violation of the chair in the form of constipation or, conversely, diarrhea. Usually, after a bowel movement or gas discharge, pain and other manifestations subside for a while.

Important: If the symptoms of excessive gas formation in the intestines bother you often, you should consult a doctor to determine the cause of the disorder. After all, flatulence can be a sign of serious pathologies of the digestive tract.

There are other symptoms of increased gas formation, which are associated with excessive pressure on the diaphragm and associated nervous disorders. These include:

  • cardiopalmus,
  • burning in the region of the heart,
  • violation of the heart rhythm in the form of extrasystole and other arrhythmias,
  • dyspnea,
  • changeable mood,
  • general malaise, weakness, fatigue.

Characteristics of the main clinical signs

The above symptoms are not always the result of excessive gas formation in the intestines. Sometimes they should be regarded as a manifestation of other, more serious, diseases of the digestive system. Let us dwell in more detail on the main signs of flatulence.

Belching

From time to time, all people have a burp: it usually appears after eating and helps to remove air from the stomach. Too frequent belching indicates that the person swallowed a lot of air. But this phenomenon can also be a sign of diseases - peptic ulcer, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux, and so on.

During regurgitation, the air from the stomach is not completely removed, part of it enters the intestines, which causes flatulence. Therefore, frequent belching is not only one of the signs of flatulence, but to some extent indicates its cause. In any case, if spitting up air brings discomfort, you should be examined.

Feeling of bloating

Frequent gas formation in the intestine causes stretching of the intestinal wall, while irritation of mechanoreceptors and nerve plexuses occurs. As a result, there is a feeling of fullness in the abdominal cavity. But bloating does not always indicate the accumulation of gases in the colon.

A feeling of fullness or bloating in the abdomen is one of the main signs of flatulence.

Some people have irritable bowel syndrome, in which the intestinal receptor apparatus is too sensitive. Information about this pathology can be obtained from the video at the end of the article.

Flatulence

Flatulence - excessive gas separation in the form of so-called explosions. With flatulence, up to three or more liters of intestinal gases can be released per day, and sometimes with a very unpleasant odor. It should be borne in mind that with strong gas formation in the intestine, flatulence is not always observed, because the very violation of gas separation is one of the causes of flatulence.

Pain in the abdomen

With an excess of intestinal gases, bursting pains in the abdomen appear. They can have a diffuse character, or they can be localized at certain points. For example, in the right or left iliac region, which depends on the place of the greatest accumulation of gases. Usually the pain is relieved after the gas passes. Sometimes pain in the abdominal region is in the nature of colic. In these cases, it can be mistaken for a symptom of appendicitis or an attack of hepatic colic in cholelithiasis.

Heartburn

Heartburn is caused by increased pressure in the abdominal cavity. The distended intestine presses on the stomach, causing stomach contents to be thrown up into the esophagus. Acidic gastric juice irritates the lining of the esophagus, causing a burning sensation.

Changes in the work of other organs

Disturbances in the work of the cardiovascular system with constantly increased gas formation in the intestine are due to reflex and mechanical influences. Irritation of the vagus nerve causes an increase in heart rate, arrhythmia. Shortness of breath is of a similar nature.

Flatulence can cause heart failure

Attention! Increased pressure in the abdominal cavity causes the heart to deviate from its normal position, so symptoms may appear in the form of pain and burning behind the sternum, similar to angina pectoris.

Due to constant discomfort at work and in public places, patients often develop a kind of neurosis. People around note the isolation and irritability of people suffering from increased gas formation in the intestines. Therefore, you should not delay the solution of this problem, it is better to consult a doctor in a timely manner.

However, a lot of work remains to be done by the patient himself, because the basis is the development of proper eating habits and elimination. Nevertheless, traditional and folk medicine have methods that can alleviate the patient's condition.

Most diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are accompanied by such an unpleasant phenomenon as increased gas formation or flatulence. Excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines can signal a malfunction in the digestive system and indicate the development of certain diseases.

Many are embarrassed by these manifestations and postpone a visit to the doctor, attributing discomfort to nutritional errors. Nevertheless, it is necessary to find out the cause of flatulence, which causes significant inconvenience to the patient and the people around him, and it is necessary to begin treatment.

Increased gas formation can be observed when eating foods high in fiber or overeating. These factors lead to disruption of the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and the emergence of a specific problem that many patients are embarrassed to discuss. Normally, in the body of a healthy person, about 0.9 liters of gases produced by microorganisms are necessarily present.

During the normal operation of the digestive system, only 0.1-0.5 liters of gases are excreted from the intestines during the day, while during flatulence, the volume of exhaust gases can reach three liters. This condition of involuntary emission of fetid gases, accompanied by sharp characteristic sounds, is called flatus and indicates dysfunction in the digestive system.

Intestinal gases are produced from five main components:

  1. oxygen,
  2. nitrogen,
  3. carbon dioxide,
  4. hydrogen,
  5. methane.

An unpleasant smell is given to them by sulfur-containing substances produced by bacteria in the large intestine. Understanding the causes of this phenomenon will help to cope with the problem and get rid of gases in the intestines.

The accumulation of gases in the intestines can be caused by many reasons:

  • Flatulence leads to the use of products that cause fermentation processes in the body (kvass, beer, black bread, kombucha).
  • If the diet is dominated by foods that promote the formation of gases. These are cabbage, legumes, potatoes, grapes, apples, carbonated drinks.
  • Increased gas formation is noted in people with lactose intolerance and is caused by the use of dairy products.

In addition, flatulence often occurs in various pathological conditions of the body. This may be intestinal dysbacteriosis, acute intestinal infections, irritable bowel syndrome, or gastrointestinal diseases such as:

  • chronic pancreatitis,
  • cirrhosis of the liver,
  • colitis,
  • enteritis

In some cases, the symptoms of gas in the intestines cause disorders of the nervous system and frequent stressful conditions. The cause of discomfort may be haste and excessive swallowing of air during meals (aerophagia).

Dysbiotic causes that occur when the normal intestinal microflora is disturbed can cause excessive gas formation. In this case, normal bacteria (lacto- and bifidobacteria) are suppressed by bacteria of opportunistic microflora (E. coli, anaerobes).

Symptoms of increased gas in the intestines (flatulence)

The main symptoms of excessive gas formation:

  • Characteristic cramping pains in the abdomen, a feeling of fullness and a constant feeling of discomfort. Painful sensations are caused by a reflex spasm of the intestinal walls, which occurs when its walls are stretched by an increased volume of gas.
  • Bloating, which is manifested in an increase in its volume due to the accumulation of gas
  • Belching caused by backflow of gas from the stomach in dysphagia
  • Rumbling in the abdomen, which occurs when gases mix with the liquid contents of the intestine
  • Nausea that accompanies indigestion. Occurs with the formation of toxins and an increase in the content of products of incomplete digestion of food in the intestines
  • Constipation or diarrhea. Increased gas formation in most cases is accompanied by similar stool disorders
  • Flatulence. A sharp release of gas from the rectum, accompanied by a characteristic sound and an unpleasant hydrogen sulfide odor.

General symptoms of gases in the intestines can be manifested by palpitations (read the article: arrhythmia, a burning sensation in the region of the heart. Such conditions provoke clamping of the vagus nerve by swollen intestinal loops and displacement of the diaphragm upward.

In addition, the patient caused by intoxication of the body and depressive states with mood swings. There is a constant general malaise as a result of incomplete absorption of nutrients and improper bowel function.

A lot of gas in the intestines - what causes the characteristic symptoms?

Strong gases in the intestines cause foods rich in carbohydrates, dietary fiber and starch.

Carbohydrates

Of the carbohydrates, the most powerful provocateurs are:

Alimentary fiber

Found in all foods and can be soluble or insoluble. Soluble dietary fibers (pectins) swell in the intestines and form a gel-like mass.

In this form, they reach the large intestine, where, when they are split, the process of gas formation occurs. Insoluble dietary fiber passes through the gastrointestinal tract practically unchanged and does not contribute to increased gas formation.

Almost all foods containing starch increase the formation of gases in the intestines. A lot of starch contains: potatoes, wheat, peas and other legumes, corn. The exception is rice, which contains starch, but does not cause bloating and flatulence.

How is the diagnosis carried out?

If the patient complains that he constantly has gases in the intestines, the doctor is obliged to exclude the presence of serious diseases, for which a comprehensive examination of the patient is carried out. It includes a physical examination, that is, listening and percussion, and instrumental methods.

Most often, an x-ray of the abdominal cavity is performed, with the help of which the presence of gases and the height of the diaphragm are detected. To assess the amount of gases, a rapid introduction of argon into the intestine is used. At the same time, it is possible to measure the volume of intestinal gases displaced by argon. In addition, the following diagnostic methods are used:

  • FEGDS- examination of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract using a special flexible tube with lighting and a miniature camera at the end. This method allows you to take, if necessary, a piece of tissue for research, that is, to make a biopsy.
  • Colonoscopy. Visual examination of the large intestine with a special device with a camera at the end.
  • Coprogram. Laboratory research, analysis of feces for enzymatic deficiency of the digestive system.
  • Sowing feces. With the help of this analysis, the presence of intestinal dysbacteriosis is detected and violations in the intestinal microflora are confirmed.

With chronic belching, diarrhea and unmotivated weight loss, an endoscopic examination may be prescribed to exclude suspicion of bowel cancer. In patients with frequent flatulence (gas release), nutritional characteristics are carefully studied in order to exclude foods that provoke bloating and flatulence from the diet.

If lactose deficiency is suspected, the patient is assigned lactose tolerance tests. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe a study of the patient's daily diet, during which the patient must keep records of his daily diet in a special diary for a certain period of time.

If the patient complains that gases in the intestines do not go away, frequent swelling and sharp pains, the doctor should conduct an examination that excludes intestinal obstruction, ascites (fluid accumulation) or any inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

A thorough examination, adjustment of the diet, exclusion of provoking factors that cause flatulence, will answer the question of why gases are formed in the intestines in excess and what measures to take to get rid of this unpleasant phenomenon.

How to treat a strong accumulation of gases in the intestines?

Complex treatment of flatulence includes symptomatic, etiotropic and pathogenetic therapy. But it should be remembered that if the cause of the formation of excess gases is a disease, then the underlying disease must be treated first.

Symptomatic therapy should be aimed at reducing pain and includes the use of antispasmodics (drotaverine, no-shpa). If the flatulence is caused by aerophagia, measures are taken to reduce the swallowing of air during meals.

Pathogenetic therapy fights excess gas formation with the help of:

  • Sorbents that bind and remove toxic substances from the body (enterosgel, phosphalugel). Adsorbents such as activated carbon are not recommended for long-term use due to severe side effects.
  • Enzymatic preparations containing digestive enzymes and improving the functioning of the digestive system (, pancreatin).
  • Defoamers, which break down the foam in which gases accumulate in the intestines and improve the absorption capacity of the organ. This group of drugs affects intestinal motility and has a strong carminative effect (dimethicone, simethicone).

Etiotropic therapy fights the causes that cause gases in the intestines:

The safest drug for increased gas formation is Espumizan, which has no contraindications and can be prescribed for the elderly, pregnant and lactating women, as well as for patients with diabetes.

The most important factor in the fight against flatulence is diet. To eliminate uncomfortable phenomena, it is necessary to correct nutrition and avoid fatty foods, which will help food to be absorbed faster and gases not to linger in the intestines. We will tell you more about how to eat properly with the formation of gases in the intestines.

How to eat with flatulence: a diet if you have increased gases in the intestines

First of all, you need to find out which foods cause excessive gas formation and in the future these foods should be avoided. In some patients, flour products and sweets can provoke flatulence, in others - fatty and meat dishes. Be wary of foods high in fiber. It:

  • black bread,
  • legumes,
  • citrus,
  • cabbage,
  • fruit,
  • berries,
  • tomatoes,

Try an experiment and eliminate one of the following foods from your diet:

Depending on the result, it will be possible to understand what exactly provokes the occurrence of an unpleasant phenomenon. Try not to eat vegetables and fruits raw. It is better to boil or stew vegetables, use fruits to make compotes or mashed potatoes.

Try to avoid whole milk, ice cream, and milkshakes for two weeks. If such a diet is effective, then the cause of flatulence lies in lactose intolerance contained in dairy products and it is best to refuse their use. If there is no lactose intolerance, it will be useful to eat yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese every day, cook viscous cereals in milk in half with water.

You should stop drinking carbonated drinks, kvass, beer, which cause fermentation processes in the body. To eliminate dysphagia, doctors recommend eating slowly, chewing food thoroughly.

It is necessary to abandon the use of chewing gums, as in the process of chewing an excessive amount of air is swallowed. Try to avoid foods containing sorbitol (sugar-free gum, diet foods, breakfast cereals), whole grains and black bread.

To get rid of constipation and maintain normal bowel function, it is necessary to eat foods that contain indigestible fiber, such as ground wheat bran. It is important to avoid alcohol and try not to overeat by eating small meals several times a day.

Avoid fatty and fried meats. Dietary meat should be boiled or stewed. It is worth trying to replace meat with lean fish, and strong tea or coffee with herbal infusions. It is best to adhere to the principles of separate nutrition and exclude the simultaneous intake of starchy and protein foods, such as potatoes with meat.

Unfamiliar exotic dishes that are unusual for the stomach (Chinese, Asian cuisine) can pose a danger. With such a problem, you should not experiment and it is better to give preference to traditional national or European cuisine.

It is useful to arrange fasting days for the stomach. This will restore the digestive system and help get rid of toxins. On a fasting day, you can boil some rice and eat it warm, in small portions without salt, sugar and oil. Or unload with kefir if there is no intolerance to dairy products.

In this case, during the day it is recommended not to eat anything, but to drink only kefir (up to 2 liters).
To activate the intestines and improve its motility, doctors recommend taking daily walks, walking more and leading an active lifestyle.

Traditional medicine from a strong content of gases in the intestines: what to do?

Folk recipes give a good effect on the accumulation of gases in the intestines. Decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs help to quickly get rid of an unpleasant ailment.
Fennel. This medicinal plant has such an effective and gentle effect in eliminating gases that even small children give it an infusion.

To eliminate constipation, leading to gas formation, you can prepare a mixture of dried fruits and senna herbs. To do this, 400g of dried apricots and pitted prunes are steamed with warm boiled water and left under the lid overnight. In the morning, the mixture is passed through a meat grinder, 200 g of honey and 1 tablespoon of dry hay grass are added, the mass is mixed well. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Take two teaspoons at night.

They will help get rid of gases in the intestines of an enema with a decoction of chamomile. To prepare a decoction, one tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers is poured into a glass of water and simmered over low heat for about 10 minutes. Allow the broth to cool, filter and dilute this amount of liquid with two tablespoons of boiled water. An enema is done daily at bedtime for 3-5 days.

Conclusion

So what conclusions can we draw? Such a phenomenon as the accumulation of gases in the intestines in itself is not a disease. But if excess gas is constantly bothering and accompanied by a whole range of unpleasant symptoms: heartburn, constipation or diarrhea, stomach pain, unexplained weight loss, you need to seek medical help and undergo a thorough examination to rule out serious diseases.

If, during the examination, suspicions of other diseases disappear, then flatulence can be easily eliminated by changing the diet, proper nutrition and taking medications prescribed by the doctor. Follow all medical recommendations and be healthy!

Increased gas formation, accompanied by discomfort and an increase in the volume of the abdomen, signals a violation of the digestive processes and possible pathologies of the abdominal organs. Today we’ll talk about the causes and treatment of bloating, and also find out how you can cope with an unpleasant symptom with the help of medicines and folk remedies.

The formation of gases in the intestines occurs constantly, this process is considered a physiological norm for a healthy person. The volume of intestinal gases released per day ranges from 700 ml to 1.5 liters. The gases are composed of methane, nitrogen, volatile hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide. Their formation is facilitated by the air that enters the stomach, if in the process of eating a person is actively talking. But the main volume of gases is released by the bacteria that inhabit the intestines, in the process of digestion and splitting of incoming food.

In the future, gaseous compounds leave the body in the form of belching and are partially absorbed into the blood through the vessels, but the main part is excreted through the rectum. If a person is healthy and the digestive processes occur without deviations, the release of gas occurs imperceptibly, without being accompanied by an unpleasant odor and characteristic sounds.

But if the digestive system malfunctions, bloating, flatulence, and increased gas formation occur. A person feels discomfort, fullness, rumbling and heaviness in the stomach. After eating, there is an increased discharge of gases with an unpleasant odor, painful spasms occur due to stretching of the intestinal walls, belching with an unpleasant aftertaste, nausea, and upset stool appear. But the discomfort usually resolves quickly after a bowel movement. Why does the stomach swell, what causes this condition? Let's get this out.

Causes of bloating - why does the stomach constantly swell?

It is believed that bloating and increased gas formation may be caused by a violation of the diet or concomitant diseases of the digestive system. Most often, it is enough to adjust the diet so that unpleasant ones disappear. All foods from which the stomach swells and gas formation increases can be divided into several groups:

  • products containing coarse fiber. Increased gas formation causes the use of legumes (peas, beans), white cabbage, onions, tomatoes, apples, grapes, bell peppers, turnips, radishes;
  • products that enhance fermentation and putrefactive processes in the intestines (buffets, rye bread);
  • foods high in gluten (cereals, sausages, sauces);
  • dairy products that cause bloating due to a lack of a certain digestive enzyme responsible for digesting lactose.

In addition, discomfort and bloating are caused by foods high in "fast carbohydrates" (sweets, chocolate), sweet carbonated drinks, beer, kvass. Indigestion is facilitated by snacking on the run, talking while eating, overeating, eating heavy, spicy or fatty foods.

The cause of bloating and increased gas formation can be chronic stress, psycho-emotional overstrain, nervous breakdowns. All processes in the body are controlled by the nervous system, and the violation of its functions in the most unfavorable way affects the state of the body, causing malfunctions in the digestive system and other pathological conditions.

Often, flatulence and bloating is a consequence of an imbalance in the microflora in the intestines (dysbacteriosis), which is caused by prolonged and unsystematic use of antibiotics and other medicines.

In women, the cause of this condition can be premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or late pregnancy, when the fetus presses on the internal organs and disrupts the intestines.

Morning flatulence is considered to be a completely harmless phenomenon, caused by the difficulty of flatulence in a certain position that a person takes in a dream. After waking up, when the body returns to the active mode, these phenomena disappear.

Diseases that cause bloating

Diseases of the digestive tract, in addition to bloating, are accompanied by a number of characteristic symptoms: nausea, vomiting, stool disorder, abdominal pain, a feeling of bitterness in the mouth. Experts distinguish several groups of diseases that cause increased gas formation:

  • Pathological conditions associated with a violation of the digestive processes, enzymatic deficiency, a decrease in the production of bile acids and stagnation of bile. As a result, food is poorly digested and assimilated, the processes of fermentation and decay are intensified in the intestines, accompanied by increased formation of gases.
  • mechanical flatulence. Occurs when there is a violation of intestinal patency caused by a tumor process, adhesions or stenosis (narrowing of its walls).
  • Dynamic flatulence. It develops in violation of the motor function of the intestine. Unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, inflammatory process, severe infections and intoxication of the body can provoke such a condition.
  • Inflammatory diseases of the intestines and abdominal organs (hepatitis, cirrhosis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis of various etiologies).
  • A frequent cause of discomfort is a violation of the absorption of gases into the blood due to edema and inflammation of the intestinal walls or blockage of blood vessels by blood clots.

Constant bloating, which is a consequence of the disease, does not disappear after adjusting the diet. Over time, a person’s well-being worsens, and other symptoms appear:

  1. or diarrhea;
  2. pain in the abdomen of varying degrees of intensity;
  3. lack of appetite;
  4. nausea, vomiting;
  5. belching, heartburn;
  6. unpleasant taste in the mouth, plaque on the tongue.

If bloating is accompanied by diarrhea, the cause of this condition may be:

  • worm infestation,
  • allergic enterocolitis,
  • intestinal infections.

Such symptoms are characteristic of irritable bowel syndrome or severe liver damage (cirrhosis).

Bloating as a symptom

If bloating and gas formation occurs simultaneously with pain, this may be a sign of the following pathologies:

  • gynecological diseases (inflammation of the appendages, fibroids, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy);
  • chronic enterocolitis;
  • peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum);
  • biliary dyskinesia;
  • exacerbation of pancreatitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis.

If bloating is accompanied by belching, vomiting, constipation, the pathologies listed above, or exacerbation of chronic colitis, gastritis, acute intestinal obstruction, cholelithiasis, severe damage to the liver or pancreas can become the cause of trouble.

In diseases of the small intestine, pain occurs in the navel, and the resulting gases burst the stomach from the inside. Symptoms appear after eating and are accompanied by rumbling in the abdomen and flatulence.

With an exacerbation of enteritis, loose stools appear, food is practically not absorbed, the condition of the skin and hair worsens, the patient loses weight. There is increased irritability, the stomach swells and hurts, there is an eructation with an unpleasant aftertaste. Inflammatory processes in the intestines and colitis are also accompanied by diarrhea, painful cramps, and an increase in the volume of the abdomen.

With biliary dyskinesia, intestinal motility is disturbed, atonic constipation, symptoms of intoxication of the body, yellowness of the skin, the stomach swells and boils, during defecation there is a feeling of incomplete emptying of the intestine. Overeating, diet violations, stress factors can provoke unpleasant symptoms.

With cholecystitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis, the cause of bloating is insufficient production of bile and a violation of its outflow from the gallbladder. The use of spicy, fatty foods causes characteristic manifestations (bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, pain in the right hypochondrium).
Watch a 2-minute video where the doctor specifically talks about the causes of bloating and how to treat this condition.

What to do with the appearance of alarming symptoms and discomfort that accompanies bloating?

It is necessary to seek advice from a specialist (therapist, gastroenterologist), undergo a full examination and establish the cause of this condition. After that, you can begin treatment, including taking medications, using folk recipes, adjusting lifestyle and nutrition.

The cure for bloating - the right treatment

Bloating, accompanied by vomiting, acute pain in the abdomen, retention of gases and stools, bleeding from the anus, a sharp drop in blood pressure or loss of consciousness indicates a condition that doctors call "acute abdomen". In this case, you need to immediately call an ambulance to hospitalize the patient in a hospital, where, most likely, the patient will have surgery.

Good to know!

If there are no life-threatening symptoms, then before visiting the doctor, you can take medications at home that will help improve your well-being.

  • Sorbents. These are drugs that absorb toxins and harmful substances, eliminate increased gas formation and bloating. Popular remedies are activated carbon, Enterosgel, Polysorb, Smecta. Medicines are taken according to the instructions, activated charcoal - at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight.
  • Drugs that eliminate flatulence (the so-called defoamers). This list includes Espumisan, Infacol, Simicol, Simethicone, Mezim Forte. The active substances of medicines eliminate increased gas formation, facilitate the absorption of gases into the blood and their removal from the rectum.
  • Herbal remedies with carminative effect. In the pharmacy you can buy "Carminative collection", "Dill water", tincture of fennel and cumin fruits, which reduce gas formation in the intestines.
  • Antispasmodics. If bloating is accompanied by painful cramps, antispasmodic drugs (Mebeverine, Buscopan, Drotaverine, Papaverine) can be taken. Enzyme preparations (Pancreatin, Creon, Festal) will help improve digestion and eliminate flatulence.

If the cause of bloating is dysbacteriosis, take probiotics (Linex, Bifidumbacterin, Bifiform). These products contain beneficial lactic acid bacteria that will help restore beneficial microflora and normalize digestive processes.

Folk remedies for bloating

For the treatment of increased gas formation and bloating at home, you can use time-tested folk recipes:

  1. Infusion of dill or fennel seeds. For its preparation 1 tsp. seeds pour 200 ml of boiling water, insist 20 minutes, filter. Drink this amount of infusion before each meal for 10 days, after which they take a 7-day break and repeat the course of treatment.
  2. Parsley infusion. To prepare a remedy, you need to take fresh parsley leaves (a small bunch is enough), chop, pour a liter of boiling water and leave to infuse for 8 hours. Ready infusion is filtered and taken 1/2 cup after meals.
  3. Tea with mint and ginger. Mint has soothing properties, while ginger provides anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. A medicinal drink is prepared on the basis of mint leaves and chopped ginger root, taken in equal amounts (1 tsp each). They are poured with 250 ml of boiling water, insisted for half an hour under a closed lid, filtered and drink this drink before each meal.

A good remedy that reduces gas formation in the intestines is a decoction of pumpkin seeds, tea with chamomile, St. John's wort or sage, a decoction of bird cherry fruits, coltsfoot leaves or plantain. In order not to provoke unwanted complications, be sure to consult your doctor before using alternative recipes.

diet therapy

Food with bloating should be fractional. Food should be taken often (5-6 times a day), in small portions, preferably at the same time. This will help improve the digestion process and improve the production of digestive enzymes. As a result, food will be better digested, and the processes of fermentation and putrefaction in the intestines, which cause increased gas formation, will decrease. There should be a gap of three hours between meals. Frequent snacking on foods high in “fast carbohydrates (confectionery, pastries) should be excluded, as they increase fermentation in the intestines.

Food must be chewed thoroughly, while observing the well-known rule: "While I eat, I am deaf and dumb." That is, you should not talk with your mouth full, because air will enter the esophagus, which, mixing with intestinal gases, will provoke bloating. Food should be served warm, the preferred methods of heat treatment of dishes are stewing, boiling, steaming. Such dishes, unlike fried ones, are digested faster and do not cause a feeling of heaviness. To prevent constipation, it is recommended to observe the drinking regimen and drink at least 1.5 - 2 liters of fluid per day.

It is useful to include foods that improve intestinal motility in the daily menu. These are boiled or baked vegetables, fruit and vegetable salads, low-fat sour-milk drinks, crumbly cereals, dietary meats, lean fish.

Eliminate from the diet

Foods that increase fermentation and cause increased gas formation are excluded from the diet:

  • fatty meats (lamb, pork, goose);
  • legumes (peas, beans, lentils);
  • fresh pastries, muffins, confectionery;
  • sweets, chocolate, ice cream;
  • whole milk, cream, sour cream;
  • raw vegetables with coarse fiber (cabbage, swede, radish, radish)
  • fruits and berries (apples, grapes, figs, gooseberries, dates);
  • sweet carbonated drinks, kvass;
  • alcohol, beer.

Do not eat foods that are not compatible with each other, avoid overeating, or prolonged starvation. Compliance with these recommendations, good rest, sufficient physical activity, absence of a stress factor will help restore normal digestion and eliminate bloating.

Flatulence is the excessive formation of gas in the body. Flatulence that often occurs is not dangerous, but this problem causes a lot of discomfort.

If there is flatulence and bloating, a person often feels pain. Excess gases appear in the intestines or stomach of a person as a result of excess air or improper digestion of food. Today you will find out why it begins to swell and what are the symptoms of the phenomenon.

flatulence causes

Bloating does not occur as a result of excessive gas, but due to an intestinal infection that inhibits the passage of gases through the intestine. If there is bloating, the reasons lie in the presence of a tumor that interferes with the movement of gases, which leads to bloating. A weak nervous system and poor stress resistance can cause the condition.

The causes of flatulence in women are stressful situations, it is necessary to deal with stress by normalizing the functioning of the nervous system. Irritation of the intestine becomes the reason why gas accumulations can occur.

This phenomenon leads to violations of its motor function. This phenomenon is accompanied by difficulties with defecation and frequent release of gas.

Another cause of bloating is irritation of the nerves, directly to the intestines, which leads to a sharp decrease in sensitivity. In this case, before emptying, pain occurs. In some cases, everything is simpler and to the question, what are the causes of flatulence, the answer is banal: malnutrition. Intestinal bloating, the causes are the usual lactose intolerance, which a person is unaware of by continuing to drink milk.

In the presence of such an allergic reaction, the enzyme does not break down in the body, as a result of which it reaches the intestines in a “raw form”, which causes all sorts of problems with the gastrointestinal tract. It is the child who is prone to such a phenomenon, with an allergic reaction, loose stools with a sour unpleasant odor appear. If you are allergic to lactose, you will belch with a rotten egg smell, resulting from excessive amounts of hydrogen.

Milk intolerance can be acquired as a result of diseases or chronic. In some cases, such a problem occurs in an absolutely healthy person, who simply has a decrease in the number of enzymes necessary for the breakdown of milk carbohydrate. If there are similar symptoms, then the patient needs additional treatment and nutritional correction.

Increased flatulence is observed in people who consume large amounts of carbonated water or with poor chewing of food. Flatulence after eating occurs from cabbage, peas, other legumes, in the presence of small disturbances in the work of the stomach and intestines.

Speaking about constant flatulence, the reasons may be if you drink regularly in large sips, talk a lot while eating. Also, the cause of bloating may be problems in the work of other organs, namely dysbacteriosis. The causes of flatulence in children occur as a result of a violation of the structure of the teeth, nose or palate.

flatulence symptoms

Symptoms of flatulence are immediately visible, the most striking of them is bloating, stool disturbance, belching, discomfort in the intestines and stomach. Since even severe flatulence cannot be considered a disease, but only a consequence of a particular disorder in the digestive tract, it is necessary to consult a doctor for a diagnosis.

This is especially necessary for people over 50 years of age, since regular bloating can cause diseases that may require long-term treatment.

If the causes and treatment of the disease are known, why is it necessary to see a doctor? In any case, it is better to play it safe, not trying to treat at home. Speaking about flatulence in adults, the causes may not be serious, a consultation with a doctor will allow you to exclude various kinds of pathologies that can later have a negative impact on health. Only based on information about nutrition and lifestyle, the doctor chooses the optimal treatment for each patient.

After that, the doctor needs to examine and palpate the abdomen, revealing the focus of accumulation of gases. In some cases, percussion is used - tapping on some parts of the abdomen. Depending on the sound heard, the general condition of the patient can be identified. In some situations, you can not do without a laboratory study. To determine the exact causes of intestinal flatulence in women, a blood test (biochemical and general) is prescribed, if there is a suspicion of intestinal inflammation, it is necessary to determine the number of leukocytes, albumin and hemoglobin.

It is necessary to take a blood test to assess the overall state of intestinal balance, check the body for the presence of helminths, and also determine how well the intestines are working. In severe, serious cases, an ultrasound check, x-ray and endoscope are prescribed. Such a diagnosis is prescribed for suspected acute intestinal diseases - colitis, oncology, tumors and gastritis. In this case, serious treatment and verification will be required.

Treatment of pathology

Having decided on what symptoms it is necessary to proceed to treatment, there are many different drugs, the action of which is aimed at the discharge of gases and the restoration of normal bowel function. Sometimes alternative medicine is effective, it is possible to treat pathology at home when there is nothing serious.

It should not be assumed that excessive gas formation is a harmless phenomenon. In a number of situations, excessive gas formation causes serious complications with the body that can change a person's health for the worse. Sometimes flatulence is the cause of abdominal colic, which indicates intestinal obstruction and other health problems.

If a person has severe pain in the abdomen, then it is urgent to call a doctor, and also prepare tea from chamomile or mint - this will reduce painful manifestations and allow you to calm down. If flatulence manifests itself exclusively in bloating, then you can deal with it at home, with pain it is also recommended to drink Papaverine. The drug is available in tablets, it is recommended to drink 3-4 times a day for 60 grams.

In such cases, No-shpa is also effective - it is recommended to take the medicine 2-3 times a day, two or one tablet. The drugs allow you to eliminate the painful symptom and cope with excess gas formation. In some cases, the cause of flatulence is a violation of the contraction of the intestinal walls, which causes constipation. In such a situation, you need to take Forlax. The medicine is produced in the form of a powder, it is recommended to take it to stimulate the intestinal muscles. Depending on the condition, the dosage for adults is one or two sachets per day. The powder must be diluted in a glass of water, stirring it with a spoon.

Similar in its properties is the drug Duphalac, only it is not sold in the form of a powder, but in the form of a yellowish liquid resembling a syrup. The daily dose for adults is 15 to 45 mg, after two or three days of treatment, the dose can be reduced. The medicine is recommended to be taken with food. If there are infectious processes, it is recommended to start taking antibacterial drugs. Most often, in this case, Rifaximin is prescribed, it is recommended that adults take it every 8 hours, three tablets. Such antibiotics include the drug Furazolidone. It is recommended to take it three to four times a day, two to three tablets.

It is advisable to take any antibacterial drugs for no more than one week, on a full stomach. This rule is especially true for people over 50 years old. It must be understood that such drugs are extremely strong in their own properties, they should be taken only on the recommendation of a doctor, and after the end of therapy, a course of treatment with probiotics should be carried out, thanks to which it will be possible to restore the normal intestinal microflora.

If formations were detected in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe stomach or intestines, then only surgery can cope with them. Treatment at home can be life-threatening.

Prevention and traditional medicine

When a person needs to get rid of flatulence, he is immediately offered a lot of medicines and drugs. However, there are also traditional medicine, with the help of which effective treatment is carried out right at home.

It was previously mentioned that peppermint tea can reduce pain in the abdomen. You can make a decoction of mint, with which to remove gases and normalize the absorption of food.

To prepare it, you need to pour two teaspoons of fresh mint leaves with boiling water, cover, wait 30 minutes, then strain. The prepared infusion is recommended to drink throughout the day. Ginger hour helps to get rid of bloating and a lot of gas. This tool also has a good effect on improving immunity.

To prepare it, you need to pour a teaspoon of powdered ginger, cover with a lid and let it brew for 30 minutes. It is better to drink such tea in the morning, thirty minutes before breakfast. If necessary, cinnamon and mint can be added to ginger, a teaspoon of each of the components. The use of additional components will enhance the effectiveness of tea, allowing you to quickly feel relief.

If the patient has constant bloating, then you can extend the diet, while you need to remove eggs from it (in some cases, you can only raw) and radish. If you follow the treatment correctly, while maintaining a diet, then you will forever get rid of problems such as bloating and flatulence.

By themselves, the processes of gas formation in the intestines are natural, this is the norm of physiology. The gas emission that occurs from time to time allows you to release the body from gases, preventing them from accumulating. However, cases of increased gas formation are possible, causing pain and discomfort. This is already a health disorder, diagnosis and treatment of the causes of the disease is required. Modern medical techniques allow you to quickly cope with the problem.

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    Etiology of the phenomenon

    If the amount of gas in the intestines exceeds the volume of 200 milliliters (on average), this can already be inconvenient. The composition of the gas mixture is methane, oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen.

    Oxygen is absorbed by acidophilic bacteria, methane and partially hydrogen sulfide are also absorbed. As a result, gas emission occurs mainly with nitrogen and hydrogen sulfide, with an admixture of indole and skatole. It is these substances that cause an unpleasant odor. Excessive accumulation can lead to foam coating the intestinal mucosa. As a result, the resorption process worsens and more and more gases are removed from the body by gas emission.

    To select methods of treating the disease, it is necessary to find the causes leading to gas formation. Most often, flatulence is caused by the following disorders:

    • Digestive. They occur most often and are usually caused by a lack of essential digestive enzymes, as well as some other disorders in the gastrointestinal tract.
    • Mechanical. Gastrointestinal disorders caused by mechanical factors.
    • Dynamic. Disorder of the work of internal organs, in which strong gas formation is practically not felt. At the same time, the movement of gases is much lower than normal.
    • Alimentary. They are explained by malnutrition - an abundance of products, due to which gas formation becomes more intense.
    • Dysbiotic. Causes due to a violation of the composition of the microflora in the gastrointestinal tract.
    • Circulatory. Violations directly related to gas formation. They lead to difficult exit of gases and the corresponding consequences.

    In most cases, the causes leading to flatulence are obvious, and there are no difficulties in identifying them. In the normal state, there is also constant gas formation, but it proceeds without any unpleasant symptoms. If gas formation becomes excessive, we can talk about symptoms associated with other, much more serious diseases - peritonitis, paresis, and some specific syndromes. Much more often, the cause of flatulence is the wrong actions of a person.

    Problems with nutrition and digestion

    The main symptom of increased gas formation and insufficient removal of gases from the body is a swollen abdomen. The problem appears some time after eating. There are many products and their combinations, which in themselves provoke excessive formation of gases. The following factors can provoke flatulence:

    • Frequent consumption of fried, fatty, overly spicy and salty foods.
    • Regular consumption of carbonated drinks.
    • Consumption of milk and dairy products by a person suffering from lactose intolerance.
    • Eating foods that in themselves provoke fermentation. These products include beer and kvass, as well as brown bread.

    There are also possible reasons that are not directly related to a certain category of products, but caused by completely different factors:

    • The habit of talking while eating, leading to the intake of large amounts of air in the digestive tract.
    • Deformed teeth, nose, palate.
    • Constant problems with constipation, because when food moves slowly in the intestines, much more gas accumulates.

    Do not think that "healthy eating" is a panacea for bloating and excess gas. If too much bran, fruits and vegetables (that is, too much fiber) enter the digestive tract, digestive problems may occur. Also, problems appear with excessive use of chewing gums and the use of low-calorie sugar substitutes.

    Wrong way of life

    All problems in this category can be divided into two groups - caused by excess air or directly intestinal gases. Bloating (and associated pain) is very often due to large volumes of swallowed air.

    When a person eats, he involuntarily swallows air along with food, but this is not a problem for the body. If the amount of air is too large, bloating begins. Most often this is due to three reasons:

    • Smoking. When a person takes a puff, part of the air does not go into the lungs, but into the stomach. However, the body of smokers gradually adapts to the increased intake of air in the digestive tract.
    • Too fast food, swallowing food in large pieces without chewing thoroughly. As a result, there is an excess amount of air in the stomach. The rectum does not cope well with undigested food, which creates problems with emptying. Especially often it provokes constipation in children.
    • Carbonated drinks (any quality, from any manufacturer). It is carbonated liquids that are one of the main "initiators" of gas formation.

    Various legumes and common white cabbage can also cause gas. The gastrointestinal tract does not cope well with poorly chewed and insufficiently processed food. The individual tolerance of various dishes is also important. For example, dairy products in different people can cause opposite effects - both positive and negative. Only a careful study of the patient's diet will reveal the causes of flatulence.

    Lack of physical activity is another common cause. If a person spends too much time in a sitting position and moves little, there will definitely be problems with the digestive system.

    Some drugs can also cause large accumulations of gases. These drugs include NVPS, as well as many antibiotics. Even the mental state affects gas formation - here the problem is caused by the reaction of the intestinal microflora to emotional factors.

    A great danger is the transition of strong gas formation into a chronic form. This often happens due to polyps, even if they are benign. A similar chronic effect is observed in dysbacteriosis and colitis. Treatment here does not always help, it can only alleviate the condition, but not return gas formation to normal.

    Therapy Methods

    The main task at the first stage is to determine the causes of gas formation in the intestines, and then the most effective treatment can be prescribed. The gastroenterologist is responsible for diagnosing the causes of the disease. Not always problematic factors are "superficial" and easily eliminated, because gas formation can indicate more serious ailments - a lack of bile, a malfunction of the pancreas.

    Most often, the disease is provoked by malnutrition or the use of products to which a person is not individually disposed or accustomed. So, food on tourist trips with exotic and overly complex products is almost a 100% guarantee of intestinal problems. To normalize the condition, unusual dishes will have to be abandoned and temporarily switched to a strict diet.

    The use of enzyme substances is widespread, as they naturally improve digestion - due to a greater supply of bile and gastric juice for the breakdown of products. When during the diagnosis it is determined that gases accumulate due to the intake of any drugs, it is necessary to treat with the withdrawal of such drugs or switching to lower doses. The actions of the doctor will depend on the intensity and severity of the course of the disorder.

    It is possible that the causes of the disease will not be in disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, and in this case, the proctologist should deal with the problem. An endoscopy will be performed, since gas formation can be a symptom of even cancer. Also, variants of dysbacteriosis, infectious diseases are not excluded. In some situations, the help of a neurologist may also be required.

    Medical solution

    The main cause of flatulence is the decomposition of undigested food in the intestines, accompanied by gas formation and corresponding unpleasant odors. The reason is a lack of enzymes or bile. Treatment consists in taking special preparations with enzymes that can improve digestion. If necessary, choleretic medicines are also used, which normalize the processes of digestion of food. If increased gas formation in the intestines is diagnosed, the following remedies can be used:

    • Prebiotics and Probiotics. They are used to normalize the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract, since a lack of bacteria can provoke increased gas formation. Prebiotics stimulate the reproduction of beneficial microorganisms, and probiotics themselves are composed of these microorganisms and provide an even faster effect.
    • Prokinetics. They speed up the movement of digested food through the intestines, as a result of which decomposition processes simply do not have time to begin. If gas formation is caused by intestinal spasms, antispasmodics are used.
    • Adsorbents. Substances that absorb excess gases. The most common example of such substances is activated carbon. There are also stronger drugs, but before using them, you should consult your doctor. This is especially true in cases where it is necessary to correctly determine the causes of flatulence in a child and prescribe treatment.

    If for some reason the use of medicines becomes undesirable or impossible (many adult medicines are not suitable for children), alternative options can be considered. A good result is shown by various herbal preparations and other medicines of natural origin.

    natural medicines

    Many medicinal plants can contribute to the normalization of the state of the body. With excessive gas formation, parsley and dill seeds help well, and plants such as peppermint, wormwood, elecampane, medicinal sweet clover and pharmacy chamomile are also used. The effectiveness of the use of cumin fruits (only ripe ones) and dandelion root has been proven.

    Some medications are also herbal. In most cases, we are talking about combined medicines, which contain natural herbs. Such funds not only restore the normal process of gas formation, but also give an additional stimulus to digestion, do not allow the processes of decay to develop.

    Types of treatment according to the causes of the disease

    In the treatment of excess gas, the goal of treatment is usually not to control the symptoms, but to eliminate the underlying causes of the disorder. Only this approach will help to relieve discomfort completely, and not for a while. Modern medicines can quickly get rid of bloating, as well as simplify the process of passing gases from the intestines.

    To determine the method of treatment, the cause of the disease must be reliably established. There are a lot of options - from a lack of enzymes to severe oncological pathologies. The main methods of treatment in accordance with the causes of the disease:

    • If infectious causes have led to flatulence, some antibiotics can help, as well as a special category of drugs - nitrofurans.
    • In the case of dysbacteriosis, lactic preparations, bifidobacteria and bacteriophages help well.
    • The lack of enzymes is well treated with appropriate enzyme-containing agents (Mezim, Motilium and many others).
    • With tumor causes, only surgery will help to cope with the disease.

    It must be remembered that in most people the treatment of increased gas formation in the intestines does not involve the use of strong drugs. The problem is usually solved simply by paying more attention to the diet. If, while following the diet, the excessive appearance of gases continues, you need to make an appointment with a doctor, since diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including infectious ones, can also be the causes of strong gas formation.

    If, with excessive gas formation, it is not possible to take medications that normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract, you can also use traditional behavioral methods for preventing flatulence:

    • Drink clean water regularly, but only in the recommended amounts.
    • Never rush while eating. Poorly chewed food is one of the main causes of strong gas formation.
    • Do not eat pastries and carbonated drinks.

    If such simple methods do not alleviate the condition, we can talk about more dangerous ailments - dysbacteriosis, diseases of the heart, liver, gastrointestinal tract. There are a lot of variants of the disease, even psychological factors affect.

    Conclusion

    With flatulence, doctors usually prescribe complex treatment - this is taking medications, diet, changing the diet. By following these simple conditions, you can recover very quickly.

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