GAS

Belching from Stomach

Some belching can be normal after eating. Frequent belching is annoying and inconvenient. Belching is caused by  too much swallowing and accumulation of air while eating or drinking. When in excess, the stomach releases this  air through the esophagus. Some people are air swallowers meaning they intake a large amount of air compared to  others. This can be corrected by changing lifestyle, eating less processed foods, and taking certain medications  if required.

How to reduce belching?

• Avoid smoking cigars and pipes. Chewing gum, sucking hard candy, and sipping through narrow straws should also be avoided.
• Avoid foods that contain air, whipped creams, and carbonated drinks.
• Eat slowly, don't gulp down food, and drink with frequent pauses between sips.

Bloating

Bloating is a condition of swelling of the belly or abdomen due to the accumulation of gas in the GI tract. It may be  a painful and can occur at inconvenient times. In addition, bloating may be associated with distention in some  patients. Typically, bloating causes increased flatulence, which can also occur at very inconvenient times.

Bloating may be associated with a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. For example, it is often associated with  irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in which spasms of bowel and dysfunctions of GI tract motility occur⁴.

How to reduce bloating?

• Proper diagnosis is necessary through radiographic studies and endoscopy
• Eat foods that are easily digestible
• Your physician may prescribe medications that increase intestinal motility.

Passing gas through rectum

Beneficial bacteria ferment food and produce gas in the large intestine as a byproduct. Eating certain foods or  vegetables can lead to increased gas production. When a patient is deficient in a specific enzyme (e.g., lactose  intolerant) they can accumulate gas in the large intestine which is passed through the rectum. There are individual  variations, meaning the same amount and type of foods, when eaten by different individuals, can cause belching,  bloating, and passing of gas from the rectum differently.

How to reduce rectal gas?

• Avoid excessive carbohydrates
• Decrease consumption of legumes and certain vegetables detailed below
• Exercise more, drink plenty of water and adopt a healthy lifestyle⁵

Which foods cause gas production?

• Legumes: especially dried beans and peas, baked beans, soybeans, lima beans⁶
• Milk Products: milk, ice cream, cheese
• Vegetables: cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumbers, sauerkraut,kohlrabi, asparagus
• Root Vegetables: potatoes, rutabaga, turnips, radishes, onions
• Fruits: prunes, apricots, apples, raisins, bananas
• Cereals & Bread: cereals, breads, pastries, and all foods containing wheat and wheat products. Check labels
• Fatty Foods: pan-fried or deep-fried foods, fatty meats, rich cream sauces and gravies, pastries, and high-fat food. Check labels
• Liquids: carbonated beverages, fizzy medicine

Summary

Although gas is not a lethal disease or condition, it can be uncomfortable and can occur at very inconvenient times.  It can also be associated with a variety of underlying digestive tract diseases. Therefore, we encourage early  evaluation for proper diagnosis and management.