Why excess gas in stomach

Overview Gas in your digestive system is part of the normal process of digestion. Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name. Last Name. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. More Information Nervous stomach: Is there such a thing? Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Gas in the digestive tract.

Accessed Jan. Papadakis MA, et al. Gastrointestinal disorders. New York, N. Abraczinskas D. There are a lot of ways to describe excessive gas: burping, belching, flatulence, and bloating. While what you call it might not seem to matter, being able to identify where the gas starts — and where it ends — can help you treat the painful and embarrassing symptoms.

For example, burping and belching usually refer to gas that escapes from the mouth, while flatulence, or farting, is intestinal gas that escapes from the rectum. Bloating is used to describe the sensation of excess stomach gas that has not yet been released.

Gas in the stomach is primarily caused by swallowing air while consuming food or beverages and is released from the mouth as a burp. Once this undigested food passes into the small intestine, bacteria break it down, producing hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and sometimes methane. This doesn't happen in everyone, though. One way to manage flatulence and belching is to eat fewer of the well-known gassy foods. Common culprits include:. These items contain fiber, sugars, and starches that don't digest or absorb easily, eventually causing intestinal gas.

Other people are bothered by carbonated soft drinks and fruit drinks. If you discover that these foods are causing you excess gas, eliminate them from your diet or consume them in smaller portions. When it comes to foods to avoid, moderation is key, says Stephen Bickston, MD , a professor of internal medicine and the director of the inflammatory bowel disease program at the Center for Digestive Health at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

You should also visit your GP if you experience additional symptoms, such as: persistent abdominal pain and bloating recurring episodes of diarrhoea or constipation unexplained weight loss bowel incontinence blood in your stools faeces signs of an infection, such as a high temperature, vomiting, chills, joint pain and muscle pain These symptoms could be an indicator of a more serious health problem and may require investigation, such as a blood or stool test to look for an infection.

Controlling the problem Excessive flatulence can usually be controlled by making changes to your diet and lifestyle, such as: avoiding foods known to cause flatulence eating smaller and more frequent meals eating and drinking slowly exercising regularly There are also some over-the-counter medications that can help if your flatulence is troublesome, such as charcoal tablets or simethicone.

Causes of flatulence There are several natural causes of flatulence. Swallowing air It's perfectly normal to swallow air while breathing and eating. Excess air can be swallowed by: chewing gum smoking sucking on pen tops or hard sweets having loose-fitting dentures not chewing food slowly and thoroughly — swallowing large pieces of food causes you to swallow more air Hot and fizzy drinks also increase the amount of carbon dioxide in your stomach, although this is more likely to cause belching rather than flatulence.

Food and drink Some carbohydrates in food can't be digested and absorbed by the intestines. Foods containing a high amount of unabsorbable carbohydrates include: beans broccoli cabbage cauliflower artichokes raisins pulses lentils onions prunes apples Brussels sprouts Foods containing a lot of unrefined cereal fibre, such as bran, can also sometimes cause problems with wind and bloating.

Health conditions Certain health conditions can cause symptoms of flatulence, including: indigestion constipation irritable bowel syndrome IBS — a common digestive condition, which can cause stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation coeliac disease — an intolerance to a protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye and barley lactose intolerance — where the body is unable to break down lactose a natural sugar found in milk and dairy products and can't absorb it into the blood gastroenteritis — a stomach and bowel infection malabsorption — where the intestines are unable to absorb nutrients properly giardiasis — an infection of the digestive system caused by tiny parasites Medicine Flatulence, often caused by indigestion , is a possible side effect of many types of medicine, including: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen some laxatives antifungal medicines statins varenicline Champix — used to help people stop smoking.

Treating flatulence Excessive flatulence can usually be treated by making changes to your diet and lifestyle. Several over-the-counter treatments are also available if your flatulence is becoming a problem. Self care advice Diet You should try to avoid eating foods high in unabsorbable carbohydrates. Certain processed foods should also be avoided as they can contain ingredients that cause flatulence, including: any foods with artifical sweeteners sugar-free sweets or chewing gum fizzy drinks However, it's still important to eat a healthy balanced diet , including at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

These include: potatoes rice lettuce bananas grapes citrus fruits, such as oranges yoghurt It's important to note that people react differently to certain foods, so some foods listed above may still cause flatulence.

Swallowing air When eating, make sure you chew food slowly to reduce the amount of air you swallow. Exercise Getting plenty of exercise can help improve the functioning of your digestive system and bowel. Medications and other remedies There are several over-the-counter remedies that can help treat the symptoms of flatulence, some of which are described below. Charcoal tablets Charcoal tablets are a type of medication available over the counter from pharmacists. Dietary supplements Alpha-galactosidase is a dietary supplement that may help improve the digestion of carbohydrates and reduce symptoms of flatulence.

Tweet Click here to share this page on Twitter This will open a new window. Print Click here to print this page This will open your print options in a new window. Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window. Last updated:. How can we improve this page? Email Address e. Message Maximum of characters. Send feedback. Also on NHS inform. Below are some general tips for alleviating stomach gas at home. People may also benefit from keeping a food journal to record what and when they eat and when they experience symptoms.

This will help to identify any trigger foods. After identifying the foods, a person can alter their diet to avoid those foods in the future. In some cases, people may require OTC or prescription medications to help alleviate stomach gas and associated symptoms. People with certain food intolerances can take digestive enzymes before a meal to help their body digest problematic foods. Common examples include taking lactase to help digest milk products or taking alpha-galactosidase Beano to help break down carbohydrates , fiber, and protein from beans and vegetables.

For someone already experiencing gas, OTC products containing simethicone can help combine gas bubbles, making the gas easier to pass. Examples of such products include:. Doctors may recommend prescription medications for people who cannot find relief from home remedies and OTC options.

The type of medication a doctor prescribes will depend on the underlying condition causing the gas. Some medications a doctor may prescribe include:. In many cases, gas in the stomach is not a cause for concern, and symptoms will pass with little or no treatment.

However, anyone experiencing frequent or persistent stomach gas should see their doctor for a full diagnosis. Stomach gas that occurs alongside other symptoms, such as weight loss or changes in bowel movements, also warrants medical attention. These symptoms could indicate an underlying medical condition that requires treatment and management to prevent any long-term complications.

Mild or occasional stomach gas is usually not a cause for concern. In such cases, people can usually find relief using simple home remedies and OTC medications. However, a person should see their doctor if they experience frequent or persistent stomach gas.

This could be a sign of an underlying medical condition that requires treatment or careful management. Treatment should help alleviate symptoms while preventing the risk of further health complications.