HOW TO STOP GAS PAIN





27.1.2020 | 665 words - 2 min read



It's normal to have some gas. But if the gas can't easily get out, you may feel uncomfortable and bloated.





It's normal to have some gas. But if the gas can't easily get out, you may feel uncomfortable and bloated.


The gas inside you builds up in two ways. Some of it starts as the air that you swallow along with your food. Most of that goes away when you burp, but a little flow on into you. Your large intestine makes the rest of the gas as it breaks down your food.


Sometimes, you make more gas than you can handle, or some get stuck inside you. When that happens, your body tells you. You may have pain, cramps, or a knotted feeling in your belly. Or you may get a feeling of fullness or pressure, especially in the upper part of your belly, which might be bloating.


There's no way to eat without swallowing air. But some habits can make it worse. If you eat fast or talk as you eat, you gulp down extra air.


You also pull in more air if you drink through a straw, chew gum, or suck on hard candy between meals. Still, more air gets in if you smoke. Dentures that don’t fit right also let in extra air. You probably already know about many of the foods that generate more gas than others do, such as beans, broccoli, and onions. But, so can fruit such as apples, peaches, and pears. Bran, whole wheat, and some dairy products (cheese, ice cream, and yoghurt) can also do that. Since each of us reacts to food our own way, try cutting these out of your diet one at a time and see if that helps.


Fizzy bubbles from carbonated drinks and beer release air inside you. Milk, apple juice, and pear juice can also cause gas. So can fruit punch and other fruit drinks. If you like to drink any of these, do the same test as with food. Try dropping them one at a time and see what happens.


Chewing gum or candy made with artificial sweeteners can lead to gas. Check the label for sorbitol, mannitol, or xylitol, which you may want to limit or avoid. Drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup can be another source. Look for that on labels, too.


Natural fixes

Besides tweaking your diet and habits, you might get help from natural remedies. Try drinking peppermint or chamomile tea. There are also dietary supplements made with anise, caraway, coriander, fennel, and turmeric. As with any supplement, ask your doctor if there are any side effects to watch for.


OTC medicine

Over-the-counter medicine might be part of your solution. Antacids that contain simethicone free up gas bubbles in your stomach, so that it's easier to burp them away. Activated charcoal tablets may help if you swallow them before and after meals. If beans or vegetables give you gas, products can supply the chemical you need to digest them.


Lactose intolerance

If you have lactose intolerance, your body can't break down the sugar in milk (lactose). Over-the-counter products help. If you add a few drops to milk or chew a tablet right before mealtime, they supply the chemical you need. Or you could choose lactose-free or non-dairy products.


Celiac Disease

If you get gas from foods that include wheat or some other grains, your doctor may test you for celiac disease. When you have it, your body can't handle gluten, a protein in wheat, barley, and rye. You'll need to go on a gluten-free diet if you have celiac disease.


When to call a doctor If your pains are sharp enough or happen so often that they affect your daily life, call your doctor -- especially if you also have other symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, frequent nausea or vomiting, blood in your stools, diarrhoea, and problems or changes with your bowel movements. And of course, if your "gas pains" involve chest pain or other heart attack symptoms, go straight to ER or call the emergency services.


Source: Medicinenet.com