Gas, Bloating, and Burping

Overview

Gas (flatus), bloating, and burping are all normal conditions. Gas is made in the stomach and intestines as your body breaks down food into energy. Gas and burping may sometimes be embarrassing. Bloating, which is a feeling of fullness in the belly, can make you uncomfortable. Many people think that they pass gas too often or have too much gas. But it's rare to have too much gas. Changing what you eat and drink can sometimes cut down on gas and relieve discomfort caused by gas.

Belching or burping (eructation) is the voluntary or involuntary and sometimes noisy release of air from the stomach or esophagus through the mouth. Burping 3 or 4 times after eating a meal is normal. It's usually caused by swallowing air. Other causes of burping include nervous habits or other medical conditions, such as an ulcer or a gallbladder problem. In some cultures, a person may belch loudly after eating to show that they enjoyed the meal.

All people pass gas, but some people produce more gas than others. It's normal to pass gas from 6 to 20 times a day. This may embarrass or annoy you. But a lot of intestinal gas usually isn't caused by a serious health condition.

Common causes of gas and bloating include:

• Swallowed air. If swallowed air isn't burped up, it passes through the digestive tract. Then it's released through the anus as flatus. Swallowing a lot of air may cause hiccups.
• Foods and drinks. The amount of gas that different foods cause varies from person to person.
• Lactose intolerance. A person who can't easily digest lactose, a type of natural sugar found in milk and dairy products, can have both gas and bloating as well as other symptoms.
• Constipation. It can cause bloating but generally doesn't increase gas.
• Medicines or nutritional supplements. Both prescription and nonprescription medicines, as well as dietary supplements, can cause bloating and gas as side effects.
• A medical condition, such as a bowel obstruction or Crohn's disease.
• Changes in hormone levels. It's common for women to have bloating right before their periods. That's because their bodies retain fluid.

Dyspepsia is a medical term that is used to describe a vague feeling of fullness, gnawing, or burning in the chest or upper belly, especially after eating. A person may describe this feeling as "gas." Other symptoms may occur at the same time, such as belching, rumbling noises in the belly, increased flatus, poor appetite, and a change in bowel habits. Causes of dyspepsia can vary from minor to serious.

In some cases, a person may dismiss serious symptoms, such as symptoms of a heart attack, as "just gas" or indigestion.

Self-Care

Gas, bloating, and burping are usually harmless and go away without treatment. If gas, bloating, or burping is making you uncomfortable, take these steps to help manage your symptoms.

• Drink more fluids, especially water.
• Avoid fizzy drinks and alcohol.
• Take a medicine that you can buy without a prescription.

  Be sure to follow the instructions on the label.

  • Activated charcoal tablets, such as CharcoCaps, may decrease odor from gas. Charcoal is usually taken after meals or at the first sign of gas discomfort.
  • Antacids, such as Maalox Anti-Gas and Mylanta Gas, allow gas to be belched away more easily. But these medicines often have no effect on gas that's already in the intestines. Be careful when you take over-the-counter antacids. Many of these medicines have aspirin in them. Read the label to make sure that you aren't taking more than the recommended dose. Too much aspirin can be harmful.
  • Food enzymes, such as Beano, help break down the sugars found in vegetables and grains. They can be added to foods that cause you to have gas.

Treating hiccups at home

Hiccups are usually harmless and go away without any treatment. But if hiccups are making you uncomfortable, here are some safe and easy things you can do at home to help manage your symptoms.

• Swallow a teaspoon of dry granulated sugar.

  Don't use this remedy if you have diabetes.

• Hold your breath, and count slowly to 10.
• Breathe repeatedly into a paper bag for a short time.
• Quickly drink a glass of cold water.

When to call for help during self-care

Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

• Symptoms are not relieved by home treatment and medicine.
• Swallowing problems don't improve.
• Weight loss continues for no reason.
• Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.

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