Bloating (increased gas production). Causes, diagnosis and treatment of pathology. Tormenting gases in the intestines - what to do

Flatulence occurs when a large amount of gas accumulates in the intestines. This disease brings a lot of discomfort to a person.

To normalize the digestive system and regain a good mood, you need to know how to quickly get rid of flatulence?

What kind of illness is this

Flatulence is a condition in which a person's stomach becomes bloated. Bloating occurs due to abundant gas accumulation in the intestines.

The production of gas by the stomach is a natural process of the body's functioning, however, when there is too much of this substance, the digestive system suffers.

As a rule, the problem of flatulence arises in the presence of any pathologies of the digestive organs. But gas can accumulate in the stomach for other reasons.

This disease is widespread. During flatulence, a person's condition quickly deteriorates. This is due to the constant discomfort he experiences.

Both adults and small children suffer from this disease. That is why everyone needs to know how to get rid of bloating. But first we should highlight the reasons for its occurrence.

Causes of bloating

If we abstract from gastrointestinal diseases that could cause flatulence, we can identify the following reasons:

1. A person often talks at the table. When we open our mouths to swallow food, air enters the body. However, when we talk while eating, more air enters the body. Some of the air does not enter the blood. As a result, gas formation occurs.
2. Wrong diet. For example, if a person eats a lot of sweets, a fermentation process begins in his stomach. This leads to poor health and discomfort. Flatulence occurs.
3. Emotional excitability. Stress and nervous shock are also often a consequence of flatulence. The fact is that during a nervous shock, food is not completely digested, and this leads to gas formation.
4. The person does not follow the food culture. For example, he often eats on the go. Dry food also causes flatulence. If you chew food slowly, flatulence will not occur.
5. Frequent constipation. When feces accumulate in the intestines, bloating occurs.

How to get rid of this disease

A person can get rid of flatulence using the following methods:

• Taking medications.
• Dieting.
• Folk remedies.

If stomach bloating causes a person a lot of trouble and discomfort, you want to quickly solve this problem. To do this, it is necessary to approach treatment comprehensively.

The patient needs to implement all three methods, only then can he count on recovery. Let's talk about each of the methods of treating this disease.

Taking medications

In pharmacies you can find many medications that normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and also remove excess gases from the body. What medications can be purchased for this disease?

Meteospasmil

This medication is classified as an antispasmodic. Available in capsules. It helps not only to quickly get rid of bloating and remove excess gas, but also reduces the increased tone of the smooth muscles of the intestines.

Contraindicated in children under 14 years of age, during pregnancy and lactation.

The drug helps not only remove excess gas, but also prevent its accumulation in the future. Also, after taking this medication, the patient gets rid of symptoms of flatulence such as belching and nausea.

Meteospasmil should be taken 1 capsule 2-3 times a day before meals.

Motilium

This drug is a central blocker of dopamine receptors. The medicine is available in the form of a suspension and tablets. After systematically taking Motilium, flatulence quickly goes away.

The medicine is contraindicated in patients with any liver or heart disease. And also for children under 12 years of age, pregnant women and during lactation. Before use, you should consult a specialist.

Taking this drug allows you to get rid of stomach pain that occurs during bloating, as well as normalize digestion.

Motilium is taken in varying dosages, depending on age and weight.

Motilak

The effect of the drug is due to the blockade of central dopamine receptors. The medication is dispensed in the form of tablets.

Has such contraindications as:

• Gastrointestinal bleeding;
• Intestinal obstruction;
• Children under 1 year old;
• Pregnancy and lactation period.

The action of this medicine is aimed at helping the patient quickly get rid of stomach pain, as well as excess gas. Taking the drug relieves symptoms of the disease such as belching and nausea. The dosage is individual.

Mezim

This is an enzyme preparation. Mizim tablets normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. They contain enzymes lipase, amylase and protease, which facilitate the digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, which facilitates their more complete absorption in the small intestine.

They help a person get rid of the feeling of heaviness in the stomach. The dosage of the drug is determined individually.

Espumisan

This drug is prescribed not only to adults, but also to children. Espumisan effectively solves the problem of gastric bloating by normalizing peristalsis. The patient begins to feel better after taking this medication.

As for the drug treatment of this disease in children under 14 years of age, before prescribing this or that drug to a child, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

The doctor will not only select the most effective medicine for the treatment of childhood flatulence, but will also determine its dosage.

The child’s parents, in turn, should carefully study the instructions before giving him the medication. This is necessary to determine contraindications.

Medicines that solve the problem of removing excess gases from the body are divided into the following groups:

• Medicines aimed at normalizing the digestive process. They also have a positive effect on the functioning of the intestines, as a result of which bloating goes away.
• Defoamers. These medications directly affect intestinal gas. As a result, foam deposits on the walls of the stomach. After taking these medications, the total volume of intestinal contents decreases. Gas absorption is restored.
• Adsorbents. These medications adsorb excess gas in the stomach and promote its removal from the body. The most widely used adsorbent is activated carbon.

Diet for bloating

If this disease occurs systematically, and the person does not suffer from any gastrointestinal diseases, it is worth thinking about proper nutrition. Most likely, his diet is not measured.

A person who regularly suffers from bloating probably consumes a large amount of so-called “junk” food. We are talking about fast food, dishes cooked in oil, canned food, etc.

You can get rid of this problem only by making significant changes to your diet.

The first step is to exclude from your diet foods that cause gas in the stomach:

• Beans.
• Pastries and sweets.
• Yeast baked goods.
• Dairy and fermented milk products.
• Some vegetables: radishes, cabbage, turnips and radishes.
• Prepared foods, such as store-bought dumplings or frozen shrimp.
• Carbonated drinks.
• Vegetables: garlic, sweet peppers, onions.
• Harmful substances and dyes. You will also have to give up flavorings and food additives.

Also, with this disease, you should not eat incompatible dishes and products. For example, you cannot eat salted fish and then drink sweet tea. This will lead to even more bloating.

As for sour fruits, such as apples, their intake should be completely limited in cases where flatulence causes severe pain and colic in the patient.

If a person simply feels discomfort, sour fruits can be consumed, but in limited quantities. You can eat no more than 1 fruit per day.

Now let's talk about foods that, on the contrary, help remove excess gases from the stomach.

The diet during bloating should include eating boiled food. Food can also be steamed.

A person suffering from this disease should drink broths. You can cook them on chicken or beef bones. You should also include a decoction of dill or parsley in your diet.

Every day you need to eat green vegetables, such as lettuce or parsley. After meals, it is recommended to eat fruit.

If it is difficult for a person to completely give up salt, you need to reduce its amount by at least 2 times.

If you have this disease, you should not eat too hot food. If the dish has just been prepared, you should wait until it cools down before eating. You can eat the dish after it has cooled to room temperature.

Hot food entering the stomach, in which gases have accumulated, will cause complications. The patient will experience colic and severe pain.

As for fatty foods, such as fried butter or fish, you should completely avoid eating them during the diet.

Basic rules of diet for flatulence:

1. The patient should not overeat.
2. He must drink at least 2 liters of mineral water per day.
3. Before eating, it is recommended to drink a glass of dill decoction.
4. The patient should eat small portions 5-6 times a day.
5. It is necessary to establish a meal schedule. You need to enter one mode and stick to it until the end of the diet. For example, a person eats his first meal of the day at 8 a.m., and his last meal at 7 p.m.

Folk remedies

This disease can be treated not only with expensive medications, but also with medicinal plants and herbs. Here are the most effective methods of combating increased gas formation in the intestines:

• Dill water. Dill infusion has a similar effect on the body. To prepare this medicine, you should mix dill oil with warm water in a ratio of 1 to 10. You should drink this infusion in small portions 2-3 times a day. If attacks of flatulence bring severe discomfort to the patient, then the dose of dill water should be increased, increasing the amount taken to 4 times a day.
• Mint infusion. Mint can be replaced with yarrow or clover. When the water heats up, it is recommended to bring it to a boil. Then one spoon of dry herb is dissolved in one glass of boiling water. One glass of this infusion should be drunk throughout the day.
• Infusion of dill and chamomile. Dry herbs are mixed in equal quantities. Then they need to be poured with boiling water. The mixture should infuse for 1 hour. Then you need to drink it. Drink 1 glass of this medicine per day. It is important to take the infusion cold.
• Celery infusion. Celery leaves are poured with boiling water. They need to be infused for a day. Then the infusion is filtered. Before using the prepared medicine, you should add a spoonful of honey to it. Thanks to this, the taste of the infusion will improve.
• Melissa decoction. This is a very effective remedy that allows you to relieve the patient from the symptoms of this disease. To prepare it, just pour 3 tablespoons of lemon balm with 150 milliliters of hot water. After the lemon balm has infused, it is placed on the fire and brought to a boil. You need to boil the infusion for 20 minutes and then filter it. Drink lemon balm infusion 2 times a day before meals.
• Ground ginger. Hard ginger should be chopped. It is recommended to use a combine for this. The result is a ginger mixture, to which you need to add a little honey. The fact is that if you eat ginger without sweetening it, a person will experience a strong burning sensation in the mouth. That is why honey is added to ginger puree.
• Potato juice. This juice is prepared from potato tubers. You should drink it twice a day before morning and evening meals.
• Caraway. Cumin seeds are poured with boiling water. Leave them for 1 hour, then strain. The infusion should be consumed 3 times a day.

You can also partially relieve the symptoms of the disease with regular sugar. A spoonful of sugar is mixed with anise or dill oil. You need to eat it in one go. However, you should not abuse sugar, since you cannot eat sweets during this illness.

Useful video

Bloating of the abdomen from fullness of gases is called flatulence. Most often, gases accumulate when fermentation processes intensify and when consuming large amounts of fiber and carbohydrates. While eating, air is swallowed. Flatulence can occur with heart disease, when the functions of the pancreas are disrupted, with obstruction and narrowing of the intestine. Sometimes the cause of this disease may be insufficiently digested food from the small intestine, and most importantly sugars and starch, which contributes to fermentation and excess gases. If there are gases in the intestines, you can feel heaviness and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, belching, hiccups and cramping pain.

The human body produces different odors. The worst of them is hydrogen sulfide. When eating legumes and cabbage, the odor released is sour. Most of the gases in the body are odorless and they should be constantly released, but this is not always possible.

To avoid flatulence, you need not to overeat, chew food thoroughly and exclude beans, cabbage, carbonated drinks and pears from your diet. After eating, you need to take a walk in the fresh air. For those who often suffer from the accumulation of gases, you need to constantly exercise, because even light exercise promotes the release of a hormone that increases intestinal activity.

Folk remedies will tell you how to get rid of gases in the intestines.

With the help of different herbal mixtures, you can... You should drink teas with the following herbs:

1. Take one part each of chamomile flowers and oregano herb. Leave 2 tablespoons of the mixture overnight and add 2 cups of boiling water. Drink a glass morning and evening.
2. Also mix peppermint leaves, fennel root, caraway fruits and valerian root in even parts. For one tablespoon of mixture - one glass of boiling water. Take morning and evening.

3. Dill oil - 1 tablespoon per liter of water. Take 1 tablespoon 5-6 times a day.

Medicines that help with flatulence.

If you still decide to be treated with pills, you can take activated charcoal. You need to take one tablet per ten kilograms of your weight. Another good drug is Smecta. It needs to be used one sachet three times a day, but you can get by with just one. There are Espumisan tablets, which also help well, especially for children. You can get an infusion of dill water at the pharmacy. The most important thing is not to self-medicate; if the problem cannot be eliminated using traditional methods, then you need to consult a doctor.

It’s not a pleasant feeling when gases begin to accumulate in the intestines and the stomach begins to rage. The problem is familiar to many and before starting treatment, it is important to understand its cause.

Most often, such an imbalance in the intestines occurs due to non-compliance with the diet or the development of an inflammatory process in the digestive tract. Knowing the symptoms and provoking factors, it will not be difficult to get rid of gas formation in the intestines.

Causes of gas formation in the intestines

The reasons for severe and increased gas formation in the intestines can be different: not so dangerous, when you just need to reconsider your diet, or quite serious factors in the development of the inflammatory process in the gastrointestinal tract and other diseases, for which it is necessary to consult a doctor and undergo a full diagnosis.

Normally, intestinal gases should be excreted in a volume of up to 1.5 liters per day. If there is a violation, the volume increases almost 2 times, foul-smelling gases begin to escape, are released into the intestines in abnormal amounts, and make sharp sounds or flatus, which indicates a dysfunction in the digestive system.

A common cause of gas formation in the intestines is swallowing air during inhalation or with food.

The mechanism of gas formation, provoked by one factor or another, leads to the uncontrolled release of gas in the digestive system. Patients develop:

• pain in the intestines from gases;
• signs of nausea and vomiting;
• flatulence;
• diarrhea;
• intestinal gases composed of air swallowed by a person, mixed with foods, drinks and microorganisms.

As this content accumulates in the intestines, an imbalance is created, the stomach becomes distended and swollen, and serious discomfort appears. The situation can be aggravated by bad habits, smoking, alcohol abuse, improper dry eating or on the run, poor circulation or failure of metabolic processes.

Food begins to move through the gastrointestinal tract with difficulty; swallowed bacteria and viruses lead to gurgling, rumbling, bloating and colic. As a result, feces accumulate due to the inability to quickly exit, and foul-smelling gases begin to pass away.

Types of flatulence

The type of flatulence directly depends on the provoking factors of its development. The main types include:

• circulatory, contributing to impaired blood circulation in the intestinal walls;
• high-altitude, which occurs against the background of exposure to changes in atmospheric pressure;
• degestive - with a lack of secreted bile and food enzymes, leading to disruption of the digestive processes;
• dietary - with the accumulation of microbes involved in the digestion process, and leading to disruption of the microflora;
• microbial - when infected with intestinal, anaerobic, streptococcal bacillus, leading to dysbacteriosis;
• mechanical - increased against the background of the development and reproduction of helminths, leading to bloating, stretching of the walls of the rectum, accumulation of gases and even development, when shapeless petrified feces begin to pass, colic and pain in the lower abdomen are observed;
• nutritional - in case of swallowing air with food;
• dynamic, occurring against the background of decreased peristalsis, the inability to push food masses through the intestines in full, leading to the activation of fermentation processes and, ultimately, the accumulation of gases.

What causes gas in the intestines?

One or a combination of factors provokes gas formation in the intestines.

As a rule, flatulence occurs due to:

• insufficient production of enzymes;
• incomplete breakdown of food;
• production of gas bubbles against the background of the development of enteritis;
• violations of the volume of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in percentage terms;
• proliferation of anaerobic bacteria, leading to gas pollution, a decrease in the number of contractions in the intestinal walls;
• accumulation of food waste in the body;
• low atmospheric pressure, which leads to severe gas pollution in the abdomen, impaired peristalsis and absorption in the intestine;
• liver diseases, which are no longer able to fully neutralize all emissions in the intestines;
• violations of swallowing functions, when a person swallows gases along with food;
• taking a number of foods that release large amounts of gases during digestion in the stomach - grapes, potatoes, legumes, beans, fresh bread, dairy foods - all this causes fermentation, impaired intestinal absorption, and inability to neutralize the contents by liver cells.

The intestines simply do not have time to empty themselves in a timely manner, which leads to the accumulation of feces, stretching of the walls, swelling, and bloating of the abdomen.

Symptoms

The accumulation of gases in the intestines leads to obvious signs of flatulence, which indicates a violation of intestinal motility and functions and causes unpleasant symptoms:

• bloating;
• belching when the contents are thrown back into the stomach;
• increased gas formation after eating;
• the appearance of sounds in the stomach when mixing products;
• followed by diarrhea due to constant accumulation of gases in the intestines;
• pain and cramps in the abdomen;
• distension of the intestinal walls, when a distended intestine is diagnosed diagnostically;
• motor impairment;
• general weakness, insomnia, worsening mood, apathy, lethargy.

Risk factors

People at risk of developing gas in the intestines:

• those who abuse smoking, alcohol, carbonated drinks, sweet foods, and baked goods;
• eating improperly, on the run, on dry food;
• not following a diet;
• constantly swallowing air when eating or drinking;
• those who abuse high-carbon foods;
• often taking beans and beans.

In addition, the problem is caused by microorganisms. When they enter first the stomach and then the intestines, they inevitably lead to fermentation processes and gas formation.

Which doctor should I contact if I am worried about gas?

If symptoms begin to appear frequently and disrupt the usual rhythm of life, then it’s time to contact a gastroenterologist, get tested, and undergo diagnostic procedures. It is important to understand that by triggering gas formation and not taking any measures, you can greatly complicate the situation, acquire a serious illness and even oncology.

Diagnostics

If one of the symptoms described above appears, do not hesitate to go to the clinic. Of course, such an ailment can be individual in nature and it is enough to establish proper nutrition during gas formation in the intestines, and everything will return to normal.

However, if there is constant gas in the intestines, unpleasant symptoms have become regular, disturb you at night, make you nervous and have already led to shyness to simply appear in public and in society, then in order to avoid the development of serious inflammatory processes in the intestines, it is necessary to undergo diagnostics.

The specialist will first conduct a visual examination of the gastrointestinal mucosa using an endoscope by inserting a tube with a camera and a lighting device into the cavity.

• delivery of bacteria that can lead to infection in the intestines;
• biopsy to take tissue samples for study;
• colonoscopy, which is performed by inserting a tube with a camera into the cavity of the large intestine;
• general and biochemical blood test;
• conducting special tests to identify the percentage ratio between beneficial and pathogenic microflora in the intestines, which can lead to severe dysbiosis.

Treatment for bloating

Many people with flatulence are interested in how to treat bloating and how to eliminate increased gas formation in the intestines at home. You can cope with these problems with proper nutrition and lifestyle changes.

If non-drug approaches are not able to radically alleviate the patient’s condition, medications must be used. The choice of the appropriate drug is made by a doctor who takes into account the causes of bloating.

Diet

Proper nutrition is the main method of combating bloating and this is what you need to try before treating bloating with medications. It's no secret that certain foods increase the formation of gases in the intestines. Their use leads to a worsening of bloating symptoms.

These products include:

• Beans.
• Cabbage.
• Legumes (peas, soybeans).
• Cauliflower.
• Broccoli.
• Lentils.
• Brussels sprouts.
• Raisin.

When they are consumed, the stomach begins to swell more. Increased gas formation can also be caused by the consumption of insoluble fiber, which is found mainly in whole grain products.

Patients with bloating should try:

• Eat small portions, spreading your meals throughout the day. Instead of three, you can try eating five times a day.
• Eat more slowly, without haste.
• Avoid eating foods that overstimulate the intestines, and avoid fatty and fried foods.
• Drink enough water.
• Limit consumption of coffee and tea.
• Reduce consumption of alcoholic and carbonated drinks.

Scientists have found that in people with bloating, foods containing short-chain carbohydrates (monosaccharides, disaccharides and oligosaccharides) may worsen the condition. These substances are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and are quickly fermented by bacteria, releasing large amounts of gases.

Foods rich in short chain carbohydrates:

• Apples.
• Artichoke.
• Artificial sweeteners.
• Beans.
• Cashew nuts.
• Cauliflower.
• Dried fruits.
• Garlic and onion.
• Corn syrup.
• Ice cream.
• Mushrooms.
• Pistachios.
• Watermelon.
• Products made from wheat, barley or rye.

Low chain carbohydrate foods:

• Almond, coconut, rice and soy milk.
• Bananas.
• Blueberry.
• Carrot.
• Cucumbers.
• Grape.
• Oats.
• Potato.
• Spinach, kale and other leafy vegetables.
• Tangerines.
• Tomatoes.

Antifoaming agents

One of the first drugs used to treat flatulence and bloating was the antifoam agent Simethicone, which is a silicone derivative and surfactant. Scientific studies have shown that Simethicone, which is the active ingredient in a number of drugs, significantly reduces the frequency and severity of symptoms of bloating in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and other functional diseases of the digestive tract.

Simethicone is an antifoaming agent that reduces the surface tension of gas bubbles, causing them to coalesce into larger bubbles. This allows gas to pass out of the intestines more easily. Simethicone does not reduce or prevent the formation of gases in the digestive tract; it improves its elimination from the intestines.

This drug has been used successfully for many years to treat bloating in adults and children. Side effects from its use in recommended doses are very rare.

Enterosorbents

The most famous enterosorbent is Activated carbon. It is a black powder that has excellent absorption properties and can limit the toxicity of many chemicals that enter the digestive tract. Activated carbon is often used for poisoning.

The drug can absorb not only toxic substances, but also less harmful acids and gases that accumulate in the intestines. They can cause stomach upset and bloating. Activated carbon tablets absorb these gases, thereby reducing the symptoms of flatulence.

Activated carbon and other enterosorbents can absorb beneficial nutrients with the same efficiency as toxins. Therefore, these drugs should not be taken for the permanent treatment of bloating. It is necessary to carefully follow the doctor’s recommendations regarding the dose and frequency of taking enterosorbents.

Side effects of these medications may include vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. It is also recommended to take a break of several hours between taking enterosorbents and any other medications.

Treatment with such drugs is most often prescribed for a combination of bloating and diarrhea.

Medicines that affect intestinal motility

They can be divided into two groups:

• enhancing agents (prokinetics);
• agents that weaken motor skills (antispasmodics).

Prokinetics are traditionally used to treat bloating. They increase the frequency and strength of contractions of the intestinal muscles without disturbing their rhythm. Metoclopramide and Domperidone are most often prescribed, but the effectiveness of these drugs for flatulence remains low.

The drugs used for irritable bowel syndrome - Linaclotide and Lubiprostone - are more active. These medications are best used to treat a combination of bloating and constipation, as they are potent.

Antibiotics

Sometimes bloating is caused by an overgrowth of pathological bacteria in the intestines. In such cases, doctors may prescribe treatment with antibiotics, which are not absorbed into the bloodstream from the digestive tract. Rifaximin is most often used in such situations. Studies have shown that taking this drug significantly improves the condition of patients with bloating due to irritable bowel syndrome. Since any antibiotic can cause serious side effects, the course of treatment with them should be as short as possible.

Probiotics

Changes in the normal composition of intestinal microflora can lead to bloating, so many doctors believe that restoring it with the help of probiotics will alleviate the condition of patients with this problem.

Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli are considered the most useful. Most often, patients with bloating are prescribed Linex, Hilak, Enterozermina, Biosporin.

Antispasmodics

If bloating is accompanied by abdominal cramps, antispasmodics may help. Some patients consider these drugs to be the main method of treating cramping pain and bloating, while for others they do not help at all. These drugs include Drotaverine (No-shpa) and Mebevirine.

Herbal preparations

The most famous carminative of plant origin is dill seeds. Modern scientific studies studying the properties of this product have shown that the high content of volatile oils is responsible for these beneficial properties. The substances anethole, fenchol and estragole have antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties, due to which they relax the intestinal muscles and allow gases to leave it. Volatile oils are also believed to stimulate excretion and improve digestion.

Examples of preparations based on dill seeds:

• Plantex.
• Dill water.
• Baby Calm.

Traditional methods of treatment

Many people firmly believe in traditional methods of treatment. They are often interested in how to cure bloating in the abdomen and intestines at home without the use of medications.

Treatment of bloating in adults with folk remedies can be effective, especially with proper nutrition.

The means used include:

• Dill seeds. You can chew a few seeds after each meal or brew tea from 1 teaspoon of seeds and drink 2 times a day.
• Peppermint. Contains menthol oil, which has an antispasmodic effect. You can chew fresh mint leaves or make mint tea and drink it 2-3 times a day.
• Ginger. Contains several active ingredients, including carminative compounds, which help relieve bloating. You can brew tea from 5-6 thin pieces of ginger, add a little honey and lemon to it, drink 2-3 times a day.
• Chamomile tea. Has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.

Treatment of bloating in newborns

The accumulation of gases in the intestines is the main cause of colic in young children. Newborns may swallow air when they eat, suck on a pacifier, or cry.

Treatment and prevention of bloating in newborns includes the following measures:

• Changing the baby's position during feeding. It is necessary that its head is above the level of the stomach. It is important to ensure that when artificial feeding the baby does not swallow air from the bottle.
• Burping air is one of the easiest ways to combat bloating in newborns. After feeding, you need to carry the baby upright for several minutes.
• Replacement nipples for feeding. To reduce air swallowing, use nipples with a small hole.
• Massage the tummy, bending the legs towards the stomach.
• Changes in diet. Some parents give their babies fruit juice, which is difficult to digest. You should carefully study the mother's diet if the child is breastfed. Dairy products and caffeine should be excluded from it.

If these tips do not help your child get rid of bloating, your doctor may prescribe medication. The most commonly used are Simethicone and preparations based on dill seeds. If you are intolerant to lactose (milk sugar found in dairy products and formula), you may need a lactose-free diet or the use of lactase (an enzyme that breaks down lactose).

Prevention

The accumulation of gases in the intestines is directly related to poor nutrition. It’s not for nothing that they say that a man is what he eats. To avoid troubles of this kind, you need to eat foods that help reduce signs of flatulence and do not lead to constipation, gas accumulation, bloating and pain in the abdomen.

In order to prevent constipation, diarrhea, the development of infectious diseases and a malignant tumor (which forms sooner and later if you abuse harmful foods) in the intestines you need:

• get used to eating right;
• avoid snacking on the run and do not eat dry food;
• drink clean water;
• stop drinking alcohol, smoking, carbonated drinks;
• do gymnastics and dose physical activity;
• Avoid eating gas-forming foods;
• It is advisable to eat in small portions and more often - up to 6 times a day;
• Do not swallow food in large pieces; this can lead to swelling of the intestinal walls and infection with viruses and bacteria.

Life is movement, and the human body is what it eats. A diet to avoid the development of flatulence and the accumulation of gases in the intestines is an important component of the entire treatment process.

Most often, the problem of increased gas formation in the intestines can be solved by normalizing nutrition, quitting smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and including at least minimal physical activity in the daily routine. If all these measures do not bring relief, you should consult a doctor, because increased gas formation can also be a symptom of serious illnesses.

Everyone is familiar with this condition in which the stomach becomes hard, like a drum and large, and loud rumbling sounds appear in it, confusing others. Not a single person has experienced such a delicate and inherently unpleasant problem at least once in their life, which arises when there is an excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines. It is called flatulence, and is accompanied by a number of negative signs in people suffering from this pathology. Often such a delicate problem is provoked by nervous tension, further aggravating a person’s psycho-emotional state and embarrassing others.

Causes of flatulence

The appearance of a large amount of gas in the intestines or stomach occurs when some disturbances occur in the human digestive tract. These include an increase in the formation of gases, a decrease in their release due to any physiological or mechanical reasons, and a violation of absorption. Depending on the provoking factors, experts distinguish several types of flatulence:

• caused by an imbalance in the diet;
• arising against the background of a violation of the intestinal microflora;
• associated with intoxication or infection of the body;
• caused by blood flow disorders.

Delicate dysfunction of the digestive organs may also occur due to the development of gastrointestinal diseases, the appearance of mechanical obstacles on the intestinal walls, tumors or polyps that prevent the free passage of the gas mixture, as well as neuropsychiatric disorders.

The most basic reason causing negative changes in gas metabolism is the nutritional factor. In this case, the accumulation of a gas mixture in the intestines is directly facilitated by violations of the diet or the basic rules of food consumption.

Such flatulence is usually observed after eating food that contains gas-forming components or nutrients that can provoke the development of fermentation processes. It is quite easy to get rid of such pathological dysfunction by simply making the necessary changes to the menu and adjusting your eating habits.

Pathological development factors

If alimentary, food, causes of flatulence are easily eradicated and do not pose an immediate danger to people, then the same cannot be said about the pathological prerequisites for metabolic disorders. Dysfunction of gas production in the stomach and intestines in this case occurs due to the development of a serious gastrointestinal disease, without eliminating which the delicate problem cannot be dealt with.

The mechanism for the development of pathology in this situation is characterized by the fact that food that has entered the stomach lingers there for a long time and is not properly broken down into nutrients that can be easily absorbed into the bloodstream. Such reasons usually include the following:

• Psychogenic factor. In a person prone to hysteria or often in stressful situations, there is always overexcitation of the nervous system, which is usually accompanied by the appearance of spasms on the smooth muscles of the intestines. They slow down peristalsis, which provokes excessive accumulation of gases in the digestive system and the occurrence of abdominal pain against this background.
• Malabsorption and enzymatic deficiency also contribute to the development of flatulence. In this case, gas dysfunction occurs due to the fact that food is unable to be completely digested in the stomach and enters the intestine unprepared for further breakdown and absorption, which provokes the development of fermentation and putrefactive processes.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of a non-inflammatory nature, such as dysbiosis.
• The appearance of mechanical obstacles in the gastrointestinal tract (stenosis, tumors, polyps).
• Inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract (Crohn's disease, colitis, pancreatitis).
• Impaired intestinal motility, which occurs when the mesentery is strangulated, severe infections or peritonitis.
• An increase in gas formation processes in the lumen of the large or small intestine can also be triggered by infectious diseases of these digestive organs. Experts note that this can be simple poisoning from poor-quality food, or serious infections such as intestinal flu, dysentery, and salmonellosis.

Symptoms of the disease

Negative signs characteristic of any type of flatulence include swelling and bloating of the entire abdomen, or any area of ​​it, the appearance of cramping or colic-like pain in it, the involuntary release of a gas mixture, accompanied by the appearance of a sound effect and an unpleasant odor that can confuse others. In addition, characteristic symptoms of flatulence include:

• dysphagia causing belching of air;
• loud rumbling sounds arising in the abdominal cavity, provoked by mixing the liquid contents of the digestive organs with the gas mixture;
• nausea accompanying digestive problems;
• flatulence - a “loud” release of gas from the rectum with an unpleasant aroma;
• stool disorders.

Negative symptoms from the nervous or cardiovascular systems may also be observed. Most often, a patient with flatulence experiences tachycardia, sudden mood swings, increased fatigue and sleep disturbances. In addition, there are always those symptoms that are inherent in the disease that provoked dysfunction of gas formation in the intestines.

Diagnosis and basic treatment methods

There are usually no difficulties in identifying gas dysfunction in the intestines. Problems can arise only when it is determined what exactly caused the increased gas formation in the intestines. In typical cases, diagnosis is carried out as follows:

• interviewing the patient regarding his complaints, lifestyle, nature and duration of the disease, dietary habits;
• laboratory tests of urine, feces and blood;
• To exclude lactose intolerance, special tests are performed;
• if an enzymatic deficiency associated with the development of pancreatitis is suspected, ultrasound is prescribed;
• In order to clarify the diagnosis and exclude gastrointestinal pathologies, instrumental examination is necessary - fibrogastroduadenoscopy and colonoscopy.

After diagnosis, depending on the results obtained characterizing the pathological dysfunction and the identified provoking factor, treatment is prescribed. Its principle is to eliminate the cause that caused the development of the disease, and includes such stages as drug or surgical treatment of the disease that provoked flatulence, restoration of motor functions and disorders of the intestinal biocenosis and removal of gas accumulated there from its lumen.

All treatment measures should be carried out only against the background of a special diet selected by a specialist.

Drug therapy

When choosing a treatment course to eliminate a pathology, specialists rely on the cause that provoked it. In the event that gas discomfort in the intestines is associated with nutritional factors or diseases of the digestive system such as intestinal atony, colitis, etc., a diet is prescribed with a limitation of foods that cause increased gas formation, correction of the diet and mandatory thorough chewing of food.

The following medications are usually prescribed:

• adsorbents (purified chalk, carbonene or activated carbon after meals);
• carminatives (herbal infusions of yarrow, dill, mint, clover and chamomile, taken in small portions throughout the day);
• for constipation that provokes increased gas formation, enemas with chamomile decoction and 1-2 tbsp. l. Vaseline oil before bedtime;
• for spasms, antispasmodics are prescribed at the discretion of a specialist;
• if the flatulence is reflexive, the patient is given atropine injections, after which a siphon enema and adsorbents are given.

In the case when flatulence is a symptom of such serious digestive pathologies as acute gastric paresis, intestinal obstruction, pancreatic necrosis, peritonitis, etc., the sick person is immediately admitted to the hospital. In these cases, use to restore gas formation is permissible only in a hospital setting.

Diet for flatulence

Gastroenterologists advise that if you have increased gas formation, you should follow certain dietary recommendations that will help reduce it, which will relieve the symptoms of flatulence:

• Using the test method, identify those foods that provoke pathological dysfunction and completely eliminate them from the diet. Also, all types of carbonated drinks should be banished from the table.
• Reducing fatty and fried foods in your daily diet, which complicate digestion and the movement of the food bolus, which naturally provokes increased gas formation, as well as a feeling of discomfort and heaviness in the stomach.
• It is necessary to temporarily reduce the amount of fiber consumed, the main nutritional cause of the formation of a gas mixture. After the end of treatment, it is added to the diet, but slowly, gradually.
• Also in dietary nutrition it is recommended to avoid certain foods consumed every day. This particularly applies to those containing lactose, such as milk. If this is not possible due to food preferences, you should try taking enzyme preparations that promote its breakdown.

An important issue in the treatment of flatulence is its prevention. Here all the advice and recommendations of experts are combined into three main groups. Firstly, you need to increase your physical activity. This can be done by walking, visiting the pool or gym, and doing simple morning exercises.

Secondly, which is important for the prevention of increased gas formation, is to ensure proper alternation of sleep (at least 8 hours) and wakefulness. And thirdly, you should pay close attention to your psycho-emotional background. If you have a tendency toward neurasthenia and a predisposition to stress, you may need to consult a psychologist. Only by following all these recommendations is it possible to completely get rid of the delicate pathology that brings physiological and moral discomfort.

interview with chief infectious disease specialist Sergei Rykov, where he describes in detail the essence of the problem with excess gas formation and how to fix it.

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 problems in the digestive system and indicate the development of certain diseases.

Many are embarrassed by these manifestations and put off visiting a doctor, attributing the discomfort to errors in nutrition. However, it is necessary to find out the cause of flatulence, which causes significant inconvenience to the patient and the people around him, and begin treatment.

Increased gas formation can occur 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, which many patients are embarrassed to discuss. Normally, the body of a healthy person necessarily contains about 0.9 liters of gases produced by microorganisms.

During normal operation of the digestive system, only 0.1-0.5 liters of gases are removed from the intestines during the day, while with flatulence the volume of waste gases can reach three liters. This state of involuntary release of foul-smelling 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

They are given an unpleasant odor by sulfur-containing substances produced by bacteria in the large intestine. Understanding the reasons that cause this phenomenon will help you 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 is caused by consuming foods that cause fermentation processes in the body (kvass, beer, black bread, kombucha).
• If the diet is dominated by foods that contribute to the formation of gases. These are cabbage, legumes, potatoes, grapes, apples, carbonated drinks.
• Increased gas formation is observed in people with lactose intolerance and is caused by the consumption of dairy products.

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

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

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

Dysbiotic causes that arise when the normal intestinal microflora is disrupted 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 content in the intestines (flatulence)

The main symptoms of excessive gas formation:

• Characteristic cramping pain 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, manifested by an increase in its volume due to the accumulation of gas
• Belching caused by the backflow of gas from the stomach during dysphagia
• Rumbling in the abdomen that occurs when gases mix with the liquid contents of the intestines
• Nausea accompanying digestive problems. Occurs when toxins are formed and the content of incomplete food digestion products in the intestines increases.
• 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 gas in the intestines can be manifested by rapid heartbeat (read the article: arrhythmia, a burning sensation in the heart area. Such conditions provoke pinching of the vagus nerve by swollen intestinal loops and upward displacement of the diaphragm.

In addition, the patient is 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.

There is a lot of gas in the intestines - what causes characteristic symptoms?

Strong gases in the intestines are caused by foods rich in carbohydrates, dietary fiber and starch.

Carbohydrates

Of the carbohydrates, the most powerful provocateurs are:

Alimentary fiber

Contained in all products and can be soluble or insoluble. Soluble dietary fiber (pectins) swell in the intestines and form a gel-like mass.

In this form, they reach the large intestine, where, when they are broken down, 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. Potatoes, wheat, peas and other legumes, and corn contain a lot of starch. The exception is rice, which contains starch, but does not cause bloating or flatulence.

How is diagnosis carried out?

If a patient complains that he constantly has gas 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 physical examination, that is, listening and tapping, and instrumental methods.

Most often, an x-ray of the abdominal cavity is performed, which reveals the presence of gases and the height of the diaphragm. To estimate the amount of gases, rapid introduction of argon into the intestines is used. In this case, 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 a piece of tissue for examination, if necessary, that is, do a biopsy.
• Colonoscopy. Visual examination of the large intestine with a special device with a camera at the end.
• Coprogram. Laboratory research, stool analysis for enzymatic insufficiency of the digestive system.
• Stool culture. Using this analysis, the presence of intestinal dysbiosis is detected and disturbances in the intestinal microflora are confirmed.

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

If lactose deficiency is suspected, the patient is prescribed 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 a patient complains that gases do not pass away in the intestines, frequent bloating and severe pain, the doctor should conduct an examination to exclude intestinal obstruction, ascites (fluid accumulation) or any inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

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

How to treat severe 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-spa). If flatulence is caused by aerophagia, measures are taken to reduce the swallowing of air during meals.

Pathogenetic therapy combats 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 that destroy foam, in the form of 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 of gas in the intestines:

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

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

How to eat properly during flatulence: diet if you have increased gases in the intestines

First of all, you need to find out which foods cause excess gas and then avoid these foods. In some patients, flour products and sweets can provoke flatulence, in others - fatty and meat dishes. You should be wary of foods containing large amounts of fiber. This:

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

Try an experiment and exclude 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, and use fruits to make compotes or purees.

Try to avoid drinking whole milk, ice cream and milkshakes for two weeks. If such a diet turns out to be effective, then the cause of flatulence lies in lactose intolerance contained in dairy products and it is best to avoid consuming them. If you do not have lactose intolerance, it will be useful to eat yoghurt, kefir, cottage cheese every day, and cook viscous porridge with milk and water.

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

You should stop using chewing gum, as during the chewing process you swallow an excessive amount of air. Try to avoid products containing sorbitol (sugar-free chewing gum, diet foods, breakfast cereals), and avoid whole grain and brown bread.

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

Avoid eating fatty and fried meat products. Dietary meat needs to 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 avoid the simultaneous intake of starch and protein foods, for example potatoes with meat.

Unfamiliar exotic dishes that are unusual for the stomach (Chinese, Asian cuisine) can pose a danger. If you have a problem like this, you shouldn’t experiment and it’s better to give preference to traditional national or European cuisine.

It is useful to arrange fasting days for the stomach. This will restore the functioning of 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 or oil. Or unload with kefir, if there is no intolerance to dairy products.

In this case, it is recommended not to eat anything during the day, 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 for strong gases in the intestines: what to do?

Traditional recipes give a good effect when gas accumulates in the intestines. Decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs help quickly get rid of an unpleasant illness.
Fennel. This medicinal plant has such an effective and gentle effect in eliminating gases that its infusion is given even to small children.

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

Enemas with chamomile decoction will help get rid of gases in the intestines. To prepare the decoction, pour one tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers into a glass of water and simmer 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. The enema is done daily before bed for 3-5 days.

Conclusion

So what conclusions can we draw? The phenomenon of accumulation of gases in the intestines is not in itself a disease. But if excess gas is a constant concern and is accompanied by a full 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, upon examination, suspicions of other diseases disappear, then flatulence can be easily eliminated by changing the diet, proper nutrition and taking medications prescribed by a doctor. Follow all medical recommendations and be healthy!