![]() Occasionally, gas-related symptoms can be features of long-term diseases. For example, acute gastroenteritis (also known as a 'tummy bug'), often caused by infection with a virus, can result in a short-term condition associated with increased gas. Sometimes, the illness can be short-lived. However, occasionally these symptoms can be caused by diseases of the bowel. Most people with gas-related symptoms have increased sensitivity to gas or have one of the causes of increased gas production mentioned above. Antacids such as magnesium trisilicate help to combat indigestion but they can increase the amount of carbon dioxide produced in the stomach, and aggravate belching. Metformin (a medicine for diabetes) and lactulose (a laxative) are well known to cause these symptoms. Some people swallow air deliberately to cause belching, as they find this helps to relieve symptoms of indigestion.Ĭheck the leaflet of any medicines you are taking, as wind, gas or bloating can be side-effects. However, sometimes air is sucked into the back of the throat (the pharynx) and is burped out before it reaches the oesophagus. Usually, air swallowed in this way passes into the gullet (oesophagus) and down into the stomach. ![]() It can be aggravated by chewing gum and smoking. This often happens in people who are under stress. You may not be aware of it but you may be swallowing air frequently or in large amounts. There are some conditions associated with larger than normal amounts of gas in the tummy: Swallowing too much air The reasons for this are not entirely clear. As mentioned above, people are occasionally sensitive to normal amounts of gas in the tummy. Some people complain they are feeling bloated all the time. In most cases, this is part of the natural working of the body and the symptoms soon pass. What causes trapped wind?Įverybody has trapped wind symptoms from time to time. People with irritable bowel syndrome may complain of severe bloating, whilst in those with coeliac disease the bloating may be mild, moderate or severe. Just to complicate matters further, the amount of bloating does not relate to the seriousness of the cause. See the separate leaflet called Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition in which bouts of tummy pain are associated with bloating and changes in bowel habit such as constipation and diarrhoea. However, it is now considered that some patients with irritable bowel syndrome do produce larger than normal volumes of gas. Most people who are bothered by these types of symptoms do not actually produce more gas than usual, they are just more sensitive to normal amounts. This can cause pain in the upper right or upper left areas of your tummy. Gas sometimes settles in the curves of the large bowel (large intestine) under the liver or spleen. Symptoms of trapped wind and bloating include burping excessively, passing a lot of wind from the back passage, crampy stomach pains and a bloated belly. It results in a swollen stomach and the waistband of a skirt or a pair of trousers may feel uncomfortable. This is responsible for the unpleasant smell experienced when you pass wind through the back passage.Ībdominal bloating is the term used when the tummy feels blown out, tight or full of gas. It may contain traces of a chemical called sulfur. ![]() The gas that is made is mainly composed of carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane. The number of germs in the bowel also has an effect on the volume of gas produced. Broccoli, baked beans and Brussels sprouts are well-known culprits. This is more likely to happen with some foods than others. Gas can also be produced due to germs (bacteria) acting on partially digested food in the gut. People often refer to this as 'farting' or, more politely, 'passing wind'/'passing gas', or flatulence. The gas eventually enters the small bowel (small intestine) and escapes through the back passage (anus). This can result in bloating after eating and a hard, swollen tummy. If you are lying flat, the air tends to pass downwards causing gas in the stomach. If you are sitting up, the air tends to go back up the oesophagus and escapes again through the mouth in the process of belching. The swallowed air goes down into the gullet (the oesophagus). Larger amounts can be swallowed when you eat quickly, gulp down a drink or chew gum. It can also happen during smoking or when swallowing saliva. Most of this comes from air swallowed whilst you eat or drink. There is always a certain amount of gas in the bowel.
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