Many people are faced with such an unpleasant problem as increased gas formation. What to do in such cases? What are the causes of flatulence? Is it possible to adjust the digestive tract at home? These questions are of interest to many patients.
Intestinal gas
Normally, about 0.9 l of gas in the intestine is formed per day in a healthy person . By the way, the process of formation of gas compounds is associated mainly with the vital activity of microorganisms living in the digestive system.
But some people have increased gas production. Such a disorder has its own medical name - flatulence. By the way, this violation is an invariable companion of many diseases of the digestive tract. According to statistics, most often people over 50 years old suffer from constant flatulence.
Increased gas formation: causes
Flatulence is an extremely unpleasant problem. And today, many people are interested in questions about why increased gas formation occurs. Modern medicine knows many causes of this phenomenon:
- Flatulence is often caused by eating patterns.
- The causes of increased gas formation can also include intestinal dysbiosis, in which there are qualitative and quantitative changes in microflora.
- Flatulence occurs against the background of diseases of the digestive tract associated with impaired synthesis of enzymes, as a result of which incompletely digested food accumulates in the intestine, where fermentation processes begin.
- Gases in the intestine can accumulate in the presence of some kind of mechanical obstruction, which is observed in the presence of dense feces, tumors, accumulations of helminths, etc.
- Disorders of intestinal motility can also cause flatulence.
- Some people have the so-called high-altitude flatulence - increased gas formation begins with a decrease in atmospheric pressure.
Flatulence and disruption of the digestive tract
Of course, increased gas formation affects the functioning of the entire digestive system, introducing a lot of problems into a person's life. Here are the main complaints of patients with a similar diagnosis:
- First of all, abdominal pain occurs, because an increase in gas volume entails a stretching of the intestinal walls and a reflex spasm.
- Another symptom is constant bloating, which again is associated with an increase in the volume of gases formed.
- Many patients complain of constant rumbling in the abdomen. This happens if the gas mixes with the fluid inside the intestines.
- Flatulence is often accompanied by impaired stool. Most often, patients complain of diarrhea, although the likelihood of periodic constipation is also not excluded.
- Due to the return of gas from the stomach, people with a similar diagnosis suffer from frequent burping, which is also extremely unpleasant.
- Improper digestion and the presence in the intestines of products of incomplete breakdown of food entail nausea.
- One of the symptoms is frequent flutulation - the exit of gases from the rectum. The unpleasant odor is due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the gases.
Common symptoms of flatulence
Constant increased gas formation in the stomach affects not only the digestive tract - this phenomenon adversely affects the work of the whole organism. In particular, people suffering from chronic flatulence often complain of heart problems. For example, it is possible to develop arrhythmias, heart palpitations, and from time to time a burning sensation in the heart. Such disorders are associated with irritation of the vagus nerve as a result of swelling of the intestinal loops.
Many patients also complain of sleep problems. Insomnia in most cases is associated with intoxication of the body, since the gases are partially absorbed by the blood. Of course, the constant discomfort in the stomach affects the emotional state of a person. A violation of normal digestion and absorption of nutrients over time leads to general malaise, a deficiency of vitamins and mineral elements.
Increased gas formation in children
According to statistics, approximately 90% of newborn babies encounter such an unpleasant phenomenon as increased gas formation. The reasons in this case can be very diverse. To begin with, it is worth remembering that the digestive system of the baby is not yet populated with the necessary beneficial bacteria. In addition, the cause of flatulence and gas congestion in the intestine can be an unhealthy diet, for example, the use of inappropriate artificial milk mixtures or the failure of a nursing mother to follow a proper diet.
How to deal with increased gas production in an infant? Modern medicine offers some natural preparations that facilitate the removal of gases from the intestines. Abdominal massage can help get rid of pain. In addition, doctors recommend putting the child on the tummy more often - this is also a kind of massage. It is possible to free the intestines from gases using a special rectal tube.
Flatulence and Pregnancy
Increased gas formation during pregnancy is by no means uncommon, since most of the expectant mothers at a certain time encounter a similar problem. Naturally, such violations appear for a reason.
In the first trimester of pregnancy, an increase in the amount of gas is associated with hormonal changes. Indeed, in this period the endocrine system secretes an increased amount of progesterone. This hormone causes relaxation of the smooth muscles of the uterus, which prevents miscarriage. But at the same time, such changes also cause relaxation of the intestinal walls, which entails a violation of its normal release from gases.
Increased gas formation during pregnancy is also observed at later stages, which is associated with fetal growth and an increase in the size of the uterus, which begins to put pressure on the intestinal loops. Thus, a mechanical obstacle is created for food and gases.
Modern diagnostic methods
If you notice increased gas formation, what should you do in such cases? Of course, you need to tell your doctor about your problems, as if untreated, flatulence can lead to extremely unpleasant consequences.
A specialist will definitely appoint you a test, since in this case it is important not only to establish the fact of flatulence, but also to find its cause. To this end, the patient passes stool samples for analysis. The coprogram provides information on the presence of certain digestive disorders, and bacteriological culture helps to assess the state of the intestinal microflora.
In some cases, an X-ray is also taken using a contrast medium - a similar study shows if there are any mechanical obstructions in the intestines to move food and gases. In addition, colonoscopy and fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy are performed - these procedures make it possible to fully examine the walls of the digestive tract.
Increased gas formation: what to do? Treatment of flatulence with medications
If there is a similar problem, it is best to consult a doctor immediately. What therapy requires increased gas formation? Treatment in this case directly depends on the cause of this disorder. For example, with dysbiosis, patients are prescribed probiotics that help restore microflora.
In some cases, it is advisable to use drugs that enhance intestinal motility. If there is some kind of mechanical obstruction in the intestine, then first you need to eliminate it. For example, with constipation, laxatives are used, in the presence of a tumor, surgical intervention is necessary.
Sorbents are another group of drugs that is necessary for a problem such as increased gas formation in the intestine. Medications help to bind and remove toxins from the body. Enzymatic agents that aid digestion are prescribed to some patients. With severe pain, antispasmodics are possible.
Proper diet for increased gas production
In fact, the treatment of flatulence can be accelerated if the diet is properly composed. First of all, in the menu you need to include products that positively affect the digestive system. It’s no secret to anyone how useful fermented milk products are, and with increased gas production, they even become indispensable.
In addition, cereals can be included in the diet - this is rice, buckwheat, millet porridge, etc. Such dishes provide the body with the necessary nutrients, without causing an increase in gas formation. You can eat baked fruits (apples will be especially useful), steamed vegetables, as well as boiled meat (it is advisable to choose diet varieties, such as chicken breast, rabbit meat). You can add some spices to the dishes. For example, marjoram, fennel and caraway seeds improve digestion and facilitate the removal of gases from the intestines.
List of products prohibited during flatulence
Of course, there are products that increase gas formation. And people suffering from flatulence should avoid this kind of food. It is not a secret for anyone that legumes influence the process of gas formation - at first they should be completely excluded from the diet.
In addition, it is worth limiting the amount of foods rich in coarse fiber. This group includes garlic, cabbage (especially raw), as well as radishes, spinach, raspberries, onions, radishes, gooseberries, and some varieties of apples. It is recommended to exclude black bread, grapes, kvass, beer and alcoholic drinks from the diet, as they enhance the fermentation processes in the stomach, which, accordingly, leads to the formation of a large amount of gas.
It is also worth limiting the amount of difficult to digest foods. This group includes pork, lamb, mushrooms and eggs. It is not recommended to abuse simple carbohydrates, which are so rich in sweets and pastries.
Folk remedies for the treatment of flatulence
Many people report increased gas production. What to do in such cases? Of course, traditional medicine offers a lot of the most diverse means that can relieve bloating and reduce the amount of gas produced.
The simplest and most affordable “medicine” is dill seeds. To prepare the product, you need to fill two teaspoons of seeds with two glasses of boiling water. Close the container with a lid and leave for 20-30 minutes. Now the liquid can be filtered. Adults take half a glass three times a day.
To combat flatulence, you can use carrot seeds. Pour a tablespoon of seeds in a thermos, pour a glass of boiling water and leave overnight. You need to drink three times a day in half a glass. By the way, before use, it is better to warm the broth.
A home medicine cabinet can be replenished with almond oil. For flatulence, apply 6-8 drops of butter to a piece of white bread and eat. In addition, fennel helps to combat bloating and gas formation - you can buy ready-made teas at the pharmacy. Experts also recommend in the morning on an empty stomach to drink a glass of filtered water at room temperature.