Intestinal Gas

Intestinal gas can cause belching and flatulence. While gas is often ignored or laughed at, it can cause significant discomfort, embarrassment and concern. 

Everyone has gas in the intestine. The gas comes from two sources, swallowed air and the normal breakdown of foods by harmless bacteria present in the colon.

Belching is a normal process to relieve the air that accumulates in the stomach during normal eating or swallowing. Individuals who belch excessively are usually those who swallow air excessively. Excess swallowing of air can result from activities such as sucking on candy, smoking, chewing gum, eating or drinking rapidly, or ill-fitting dentures that prohibit adequate chewing of food.

A frequent cause of belching or flatulence is a diet high in carbonated beverages, sugars, soluble fiber such as beans, peas, oat bran, and fruits and starches such as corn, pasta, wheat and potatoes.

The most successful treatment for excessive gas is adjusting one’s diet, with the aid of your doctor, and modifying activities.

Non-prescription medicines may be used to reduce symptoms. These include products such as lactade or dairy-ease to reduce the effects of lactose in dairy products. Antacids such as maalox or mylanta with simethicone can help coalesce gas bubbles in the stomach. However, symptoms may be secondary to a more serious disorder, so evaluation by a doctor may be advisable to be sure a serious condition is not present.

 

Last Updated: April 02, 2009