Gas Congestion: Why Does It Happen, What’s Good for It?
Each person has varying amounts of gas in their intestines.
Each person has varying amounts of gas in their intestines. This gas varies depending on the foods consumed and is regularly excreted from the body in healthy people. However, in some cases, gas cannot be removed from the body and causes bloating and gas compression. Gas compression can cause uncomfortable pain and abdominal bloating, affecting daily life. In gas compression, gas cannot be removed either voluntarily or involuntarily.
What is Gas Compression?
Gas formation is normal during the normal functioning of the digestive system. However, when this gas cannot be removed from the body, it causes pain. Gas is a digestive product that is always present in the intestines, but its amount varies from time to time. This gas in the intestine can occur as a result of the digestion of food, the air consumed while eating, or when swallowing saliva. Although the air swallowed in an upright sitting position tends to come out, in situations such as lying down or standing bent over, it gets stuck in the stomach and causes discomfort. This swallowed air in the stomach combines with the gas formed as a result of digestion and reaches the intestines. When this gas cannot be expelled from the intestines, it increases in amount and creates a feeling of tightness.
What Causes Gas Compression?
When partially digested food reaching the intestine during the digestion process is exposed to the final stage of digestion by intestinal bacteria, a gas is released. Some foods are more difficult to digest by these bacteria, and therefore the amount of gas formed increases. This gas produced consists of carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane gas. This problem, which is usually solved in a short time, can also cause serious pain in some cases.
Swallowing Too Much Air
This condition, called aerophagia, can occur while eating or drinking. People swallow large amounts of air during the day without realizing it. Although this is a situation that is especially common in stressed people, chewing gum and using straws are also among the causes. Causes of air swallowing are:
- Chewing gum
- Consumption of carbonated drinks
- Consuming hard candies by sucking them
- smoking
- Dentures are loose
- Eating too fast
- Pipette use
Diet
Consuming some foods causes more gas production because they are more difficult to digest. Gas formation is more common, especially if people have food intolerances such as lactose intolerance. Because nutrients that cannot be tolerated by the body require more effort to be digested. As a result of this effort, an increase in gas formation is also observed. Foods that cause more gas than normal are:
- Fruits and juices (especially in case of fructose intolerance)
- carbonated drinks
- whole grains
- Green leafy vegetables (arugula, spinach, etc.)
- Dairy products
- Foods with extra fiber
- Broccoli
- brussels sprouts
- Dry beans
- Onion
- Garlic
- Cabbage
- Pea
Some Medicines
Some diabetes medications, laxatives used to treat constipation, or some antacids may cause more gas formation than normal. When this gas cannot be removed from the body, it causes gas compression.
Various Diseases
As a result of diseases affecting the intestines, gas formation in the body may increase and cause gas jams. These diseases are:
- Celiac: Some people cannot tolerate foods containing wheat, barley and rye because they contain gluten. In this case, the small intestine is affected, causing excessive gas formation.
- Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease cause inflammation in the large intestine. This inflammation causes gas formation and flatulence, as well as diarrhea and abdominal pain.
- Diverticulitis: Gas formation may increase due to infected sacs formed in the large intestine wall, which may cause gas compression.
- Short Bowel Syndrome: Short bowel syndrome, which may occur as a result of intestinal surgery, causes problems in food absorption. This can affect digestion and cause more gas formation.
- Overgrowth of Bacteria in the Small Intestines: With the increase in harmful bacteria in the small intestine, the microbiota is disrupted and negatively affects digestion. This may cause gas formation.
- Irritable Colon Syndrome: It is a digestive system problem that occurs in 15% of the population and continues with gas tightness, cramps, diarrhea and constipation attacks of unknown cause. In irritable colon disease, whose exact cause and treatment is unknown, treatment and lifestyle changes are recommended to reduce symptoms.
How to Diagnose Gas Compression?
Tests are often not needed to diagnose gas entrapment. The person’s medical history is reviewed by the doctor. At the same time, the foods consumed and existing diseases play a role in diagnosis. Medical history is important as side effects of some medications used may also cause gas formation. During the physical examination, the person’s intestines can be listened to with the help of a stethoscope. The presence of swelling and tenderness in the abdomen is also checked physically. Since some diseases that may require surgery may start with complaints of gas compression, your doctor may request an abdominal X-ray, tomography or ultrasound. If the cause of the person’s flatulence is not found, gastrointestinal examination can be performed with lactose intolerance test, advanced imaging tests, stool sample and endoscopy.
What are the symptoms that occur with gas compression?
Since the cause of gas compression is digestive problems or excessive gas formation, the symptoms that may occur with gas compression also occur in the digestive system. These symptoms are:
- Diarrhea
- blood in stool
- Anorexia
- Fire
- Feeling of swelling in the abdomen
- difficulty swallowing
- To vomit
- Pain
- Constipation
Flatulence Treatment
Various methods are available to treat trapped gas. These methods vary depending on the degree of gas compression. If the person constantly experiences gas compression, medication may be prescribed by the doctor or a new nutrition plan may be adopted.
Diet
The situation that causes flatulence in a person may be excess gas created by foods that are difficult to digest. Therefore, removing or reducing these foods from the diet reduces gas formation and prevents congestion. It may be beneficial to avoid consuming milk and dairy products, whole grains, sweeteners or dried legumes for a while as they may increase gas formation. However, in order to temporarily remove foods from the diet, it must first be ensured that the person does not have a food intolerance. If a person has a food intolerance, those foods should be completely removed from the diet. At the same time, the balance of bacteria in the intestines also plays a role in gas formation. In order to prevent the number of harmful bacteria from increasing, the intestinal microbiota can be balanced by adding probiotic foods to the diet.
Another effective method, other than eliminating foods from the diet, is to consume relaxing herbal teas. Herbal teas such as mint, fennel, and chamomile, when consumed in a controlled manner, have an antispasmodic effect, facilitating the passage of gas and correcting gas congestion. Other natural methods that facilitate gas release are spices such as anise, cumin, coriander and turmeric. However, a doctor should be consulted before using these herbal teas and spices to relieve flatulence.
Exercise
Physical exercise can help gas move through the intestines and outflow. Yoga positions, in particular, can help with relaxation. Abdominal massage combined with physical exercise is also an effective method for gas relief. However, when these physical exercises are performed incorrectly, they may cause more gas compression, so a specialist should be consulted.
Drug Use
If the person’s gas problem is serious and cannot be resolved with lifestyle changes, carminative medications may be prescribed by the doctor. These medications help remove gas from the body by removing bubbles or ensuring their movement. Some medications can be used before meals to prevent excess gas formation and prevent flatulence.
Gas formation, which is a part of digestion in daily life, can cause uncomfortable symptoms when it cannot be eliminated from the body. If you have gas spasms that have not gone away for a while, it may be useful to consult a health institution as soon as possible.
