Trapped Gas

Trapped Gas






Gas is normally eliminated either by burping or releasing it through rectum. However some people have trouble of trapped gases inside their stomach. On an average healthy individual passes gas about 10-13 times a day. Gas released out is usually odorless if it contains vapors of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. But sometimes it may have foul smell if it contains bacteria indicating presence of sulphur compounds in it.

What Causes Gas to Get Trapped?

Gas is basically produced by swallowing of air particles and by the digestive process of foods. Swallowing of air (aerophagia) is also one of the common causes of trapped gas. We all swallow minute quantities of air while drinking and eating and smoking. It is normally released out by burping and some quantity of gas is sent into the small intestine and further into the large intestine. Most of the gaseous particles are reabsorbed into the blood and only some amounts will enter the rectum.

Gas also gets trapped when undigested food is acted upon bacteria to produce hydrogen, CO2 and methane.

However individuals vary from one another in producing gas. Some individuals are capable of producing gases whatever food they take in.

Foods rich in carbohydrates, sugars like raffinose (present in beans), lactose, fructose and starches like potatoes, noodles and wheat products. However fats and proteins do not make any gases. Rice is an exceptional starch that does not produce any gas.

Fibrous foods and soluble fiber like beans, peas, bran and many fruits produce gas in the large intestine where it gets digested fully.

Symptoms :

Common signs of trapped gas are flatulence, belching and abdominal bloating. Again there is variation from one person to another in the amount of gas they discharge. Similarly the symptoms also vary widely with respect to how much gas is produced in their body.

Belching is quite common after taking meals which indicates stomach is full. But there are people who belch largely because they swallow more air while eating rapidly and release them frequently before it enters the abdomen. In case a person belches widely he may have GERD or ulcer.

Meganblase syndrome is the condition of chronic belching which arises due to the formation of large gas bubble inside the stomach. Gas bloat syndrome is present in individuals who are operated for GERD.

Flatulence is the release of gas through the rectum which is also a symptom of trapped gas. There may also be abdominal pain with discomfort for the people who have gas inside the intestine.

Diagnoses :

Your doctor will ask your dietary habits and look for other symptoms. Very often, doctors will ask the patient to maintain a record of number of times he/she releases gas per day. In case if the person has other symptoms of abdominal pain, Diarrhea and Weight Loss, Colonoscopy is done for checking the function of colon.

Treatment :

The best and easy way to manage gas is by diet. You should follow eating more number of small amounts of food in frequent intervals than eating full meals. You can reduce the intake of fatty foods so that your stomach becomes empty fast. Since there is variation from one person to another in the process of digestion, one should adopt trial and error method for finding the right diet habit to minimize trapped gas.

Non prescription medicines include antacids that contain simethicone (Mylanta, Maalox II) can make belching easily and help in not retaining gases inside. Some people try using enzyme lactase in the form of Lactaid for clearing gases produced by dairy products.

Prescription drugs commonly recommended by doctors include metoclopramide, cisapride and other prokinetic drugs.

Another easy method to get rid of trapped gas is by reducing the amount of swallowing in air particles.
Start eating small meals slowly instead of eating large meals rapidly.

Trapped Gas

Trapped Gas

What is Trapped Gas?

Gas can make one burp too frequently and even suddenly, which can cause a person embarrassment and alter their comfort. It is normal that one burps before or after a meal. The downside of gas trapped in our stomach or chest is the accompanying discomfort along with it. Normally, a person can produce about 1 to 3 pints of gas each day, which is passed through the anus 14 to 23 times a day. But others have different levels of gas production, and it depends on one’s diet and other factors to be discussed below. Medical conditions can also be a cause of excessive gas formation and provides trapped gas another form of symptom or complain of the patient.

Causes of Trapped Gas

The following are the causes of increased gas:

Swallowed air

Repeated belching can occur if one had swallowed large amounts of air.

Food intake

Intake of gas-forming foods such as those that contain carbohydrate raffinose, can increase gas production. Bean, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and asparagus are some of the gas-forming foods. Starch and soluble fiber can also add up gas.

Lactose intolerance

Undigested lactose can include symptoms such as Diarrhea, abdominal pain, and flatulence.

Sugar intolerance

Fructose containing foods such as dried fruits, honey, sucrose, onions, artichokes and corn syrup can cause bloating.

Diseases

Celiac Disease is believed to cause bloating and increased gas formation in the digestive system.

Gas and bloating can be identified without the need of further testing. The presenting symptoms would then assist the person of having too much gas in the system. Since the presenting symptoms will be presented below, the tests for those signs are the following:

• Examination of stool for blood, Steatorrhea (fat in stools), or parasite.


• Lactose tolerance test.


• X-ray examination of the small intestine.


• Others may or may not be necessary: endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or Colonoscopy.


• Blood test for celiac disease.

Trapped Gas in Chest

Pain in the chest area can cause an alarm to a person. Others would think that this can be related to heart ailments and Heart Attack, but one should not conclude to such. The person with trapped gas in the chest would have an uneasy sensation to breathe. The person affected would complain heavy weight over the chest. Belching and bloating of the abdomen is also a symptom of trapped gas in the chest.

Trapped Gas in Stomach

Typically, a person develops trapped gas in the stomach when one is too sensitive to gas. Here are the following causes of trapped gas in the stomach:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
This condition can be sensitive to the normal amount of gas. Pain is the most common presenting symptom of this condition. The intestines may feel overactive, which is accompanied by pain.

You're reading Trapped Gas posted by minhhai2d, the information is for reference only.

Functional dyspepsia

The term refers to recurrent or persistent pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen. There is increased sensitivity to gas in the upper intestines.

Irritation of the anus

More discomfort can happen for gas can be continually trapped in the digestive system.

Trapped Gas Symptoms

The common symptoms of gas and bloating are the following:

• Burping


• Bloated stomach


• Abdominal pain


• Chest pain

Trapped Gas Treatment

Several methods have been developed in order to reduce the bloating and the accompanying discomfort of trapped gas. Here are the following tips to consider for trapped gas:

Diet

One should avoid gas forming foods that can aggravate the presenting symptoms. These foods are milk, dairy products, certain fruits or vegetables, whole grains, artificial sweeteners and carbonated beverages. One can notice that after drinking carbonated drinks, we tend to burp and feel good after. But in a while, one can feel bloated from drinking such product. Lactose intolerant people should avoid foods that contain lactose. A person should use or take lactose-digestive aid such as lactose-reduced milk (Lactaid). Calcium supplements are provided to patients who can’t drink milk. We need to avoid the following food products that can contribute to intestinal gas: asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, fructose, lactose, potatoes, wheat or sorbitol.

Over-the-counter medications

Drugs such as those with simethicone, antacids: Maalox, Anti-Gas, Mylanta, Gas-X, Phazyme are those recommended drugs for too much gas in the body. A product that contains activated charcoal can provide benefit too. Beano is an over-the-counter product that can help in the breakdown of certain complex carbohydrates. This can been effective in reducing gas after eating foods such as beans and vegetables that contain raffinose. Bismuth subsalicylate or Pepto-Bismol reduces the odor of unpleasant smelling gas.

Deodorizing products

This cannot prevent gas formation, instead it can deodorize gas by this made from carbon fiber.

Walking

The mere brisk walk or getting some other form of exercise can facilitate expulsion of intestinal gas.

Pain Relief

Pain relief is a priority for these conditions. This would include pain relief. In order to do that, preventing for further gas entrapment:

• One should avoid overeating.


• Avoid over swallowing of gas by laughing too hard.


• Belching can relieve the trapped gas in the chest.


• Mix soda bicarbonate in a glass of water to enhance belching and induce burping to relieve gas in the chest and stomach area.


• Ginger can digest cholagogue that can help digest heavy food and reduce gas formation.


• Coriander seed is a chest remedy that can help release trapped gas in the chest.