The main causes of bloating. Causes and treatment of severe flatulence and gas formation

Bloating and gas - This is a common phenomenon, characterized by excessive accumulation of gases in the intestine due to impaired absorption or insufficient formation, is also called. Such a problem gives a person not only physiological discomfort, but also psychological inconvenience.

Why does bloating occur?

Experts identify the following causes of bloating and gas production:

  1. Excessive swallowing of air during meals, with inflammatory pathologies of the throat, with smoking and the presence of dentures in the mouth or.
  2. Food products, which include, provokes fermentation processes.
  3. intestines.
  4. Functional impairment.
  5. Growth and maturation digestive system in newborns.
  6. Impaired absorption of gases in the intestine, caused by portal or ischemic.
  7. Mechanical obstruction of the intestine due to stenosis, tumors or abnormal organ structure.
  8. Weak peristalsis caused by hormonal disruption, intestinal innervation, lack of vegetables and fruits in the diet and a sedentary lifestyle.
  9. Frequent stressful situations and emotional turmoil. Stress hormones inhibit intestinal motility, provoking constriction of the vessels that feed the organ. This leads to a violation of the natural elimination of gases.
  10. Genetic abnormalities causing.
  11. High-rise. With a sharp rise in altitude, the gases expand, and their volume increases significantly.

Intestinal gas contains air swallowed during food intake, products of fermentation and decay and food, substances that bacteria release during fermentation of food and gases obtained from the blood. An unpleasant smell is caused by ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.


With normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, 200-500 ml of intestinal gas is produced, with bloating - up to 3-4 liters

According to statistics, 100% of people experience periodic bloating. More than 70% of babies suffer from intestinal colic. In 24 hours human body generates up to 20 liters of gases. Have healthy person intestinal gas rate is 200-500 ml. With bloating, the amount of gas released can increase to 3-4 liters.

Quite often, flatulence occurs in pregnant women. This is due to a change in hormonal levels, a decrease in intestinal tone, which leads to difficulty in the digestion process. Also, during pregnancy, doctors notice a deterioration in activity. This leads to a deficiency of enzymes for the digestion of food.

Symptoms of flatulence

With flatulence in adults, the following symptoms are characteristic:

  • enlargement of the abdomen in volume, internal distension and bloating;
  • short-term pain in;
  • rumbling in the stomach;
  • the release of accumulated gases to the outside, accompanied by various sounds;
  • belching;
  • stool disturbance;
  • general weak condition;
  • deterioration in sleep quality.

Diagnostics of the increased formations of gas in the abdomen

To determine the cause of the bloating, the doctor first probes the patient's abdomen. On palpation, the soreness of the swollen area increases. In newborns with flatulence, the abdomen becomes bulging and hard. When tapping the belly, a loud sound is noted over the place where the gases are contained. You will also need to pass the following tests:

  • general blood analysis;
  • coprogram;
  • fecal culture;
  • ultrasound procedure;
  • radiography.

To identify the causes of bloating, palpation is performed, and the patient is also tested

A blood test shows the number of leukocytes. If their level significantly exceeded the norm, then this indicates an infectious pathology or inflammation of any organ. With the help of a specialist, a liver disease is detected, leading to a decrease in the amount in the intestine, which provokes a disruption in the activity of the digestive system.

Pills for bloating and gas

To eliminate flatulence, doctors prescribe the following groups of drugs:

  1. Adsorbents... Particles of these medicines actively sorb different kinds bacteria and secreted by them toxic substances... The most common drugs include activated carbon, Diosmectite, Enterosorb, Polysorb, Smecta and Polyphepan.
  2. Defoamers... They lower the surface tension of the vesicles containing the gas, thereby lowering the gut wall and releasing it from toxins. The group of defoamers includes Espumisan and Colikid.
  3. Prokinetics... Increase intestinal peristalsis and remove gases, have antiemetic effects. Prokinetics include Motilium and Passages.
  4. Enzymatic medicines... They contain enzymes and auxiliary substances. They actively break down fats and vegetable, improving the absorption process nutrients... The most famous enzyme preparations are Festal and.
  5. Antispasmodics... Have a relaxing effect on smooth muscles intestines, eliminating pain. Antispasmodics include Dolche, Drotaverin, Pantestin and Papaverine.
  6. Phytopreparations... They improve intestinal peristalsis and remove gases, relieve spasm and pain with flatulence.

Quite often, a gas tube is used to remove gases in newborns and bedridden patients. If you use it often, then the procedure can be addictive in children, as a result of which the body cannot get rid of accumulated gases on its own. If administered incorrectly, there is a chance of damaging the intestinal wall or provoking.

Note! Flatulence is not life-threatening for the patient. Taking antispasmodic drugs and adsorbents improves the condition after 20-30 minutes. Bloating pain disappears immediately after the act of defecation.

If the pain syndrome does not leave a person after emptying the intestines, then this may be a sign of serious pathologies:

  • acute appendicitis;
  • intestinal obstruction;
  • ruptured ovarian cyst.

If you suspect such diseases, you should immediately call an ambulance.

With increased gas production caused by anticholinergics, which reduce the formation of hydrochloric acid and enzymes that destroy the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. These include Vikair and Pirenzepine. To protect mucous cells, cytoprotectors are prescribed - Sucralfate or Misoprostol. The drugs De-nol and Bismofalk have an antiseptic effect.


Usually, after emptying the intestines, the pain syndrome goes away, if the pain continues, then this may indicate the development of a serious pathology

Corticosteroids can also help reduce bloating. They are anti-inflammatory. These medicines include Prednisolone. For ulcerative colitis, immunosuppressants are prescribed - Cyclosporine and Azathioprine. You can fill the lack of digestive enzymes with drugs or Mezim-Forte.

You can quickly eliminate abdominal discomfort with potato juice. It is recommended to take 100 ml of juice in the morning on an empty stomach, then lie down for 20-30 minutes. The course of admission is 8-10 days, then take a 7-day break and repeat the treatment.


or potato juice will help you quickly get rid of the discomfort caused by bloating

According to numerous reviews, effective method treatment for flatulence is a soda solution. You should dilute 20 g of soda in a glass of boiled water. Drink 15 minutes before meals up to 3 times a day.

It is effective with increased gas formation to apply a heating pad with warm water on the stomach. It will quickly help eliminate unpleasant symptoms.

Infusions

You can get rid of bloating with an infusion of dill:

  1. Take 25 g of crushed seeds.
  2. Add 300 ml of boiling water.
  3. Insist 30 minutes.
  4. Filter out.

Drink infusion should be 100 ml 2 hours before meals.

Use various herbs effectively for bloating. It is useful to take an infusion based on mint, anise, and chamomile flowers for a month. To prepare it, follow these steps:

  1. Mix all ingredients in an equal amount in a clay container.
  2. Pour 30 g of 250 ml of boiling water.
  3. Cover and leave for 15 minutes.

Drink infusion of 100 ml every 2 hours.

Medicinal. It should be prepared according to the following scheme:

  1. Grind 30 g of roots.
  2. Pour in 250 ml of chilled water.
  3. Insist 50 minutes.

Drink 50 ml 4 times a day before meals. It also improves metabolism.

For the treatment of flatulence, you can use an infusion based on herbal sweet clover:

  1. Pour 25 g of grass in 250 ml of room temperature water.
  2. Insist 2 hours.
  3. Filter out.

Take 75 ml three times a day.

Decoctions

An effective remedy for bloating is a coriander-based decoction, and. It must be prepared as follows: One of the most popular is a chamomile-based decoction. It relieves stomach cramps and has a beneficial effect on work. You can prepare a decoction according to the following scheme:

  1. Mix 25 g of flowers with 250 ml of boiling water.
  2. Leave on for 15 minutes.
  3. Strain.

Take the resulting broth half an hour before meals, 100 ml. Repeat until unpleasant symptoms disappear.

No less effective remedy is a high decoction. To prepare it, follow these steps:

  1. Combine 20 g of rhizomes with 1 liter of water.
  2. Insist 1 hour.
  3. Strain.

Drink a decoction for bloating throughout the day.

Prevention

To avoid bloating, you should follow these rules:

  1. Provide adequate sleep. Chronic lack of sleep can lead to dysfunction of all organs and reduce intestinal motility.
  2. Long walks and sports. Useful to perform physical exercisesin which the abdominal muscles are involved. They normalize intestinal motility.
  3. Avoid extreme stress.
  4. Quit smoking.
  5. Adjust the meal schedule. You should adhere to 5 meals a day in small portions.
  6. Eat food of moderate temperature.
  7. Eat desserts and fruits 2-3 hours after lunch.
  8. Drink 1.5-2 liters of water a day to prevent.

To prevent colic in newborn babies, a nursing mother needs to avoid foods that provoke flatulence. You can improve intestinal motility in a child with the help of massage. It is recommended to do it before every feeding. The baby should massage the abdomen clockwise in a circular motion... After feeding, the baby should be held for 10 minutes upright position... It is also recommended to let your baby suck on pacifiers as little as possible.

This article is posted solely for the general educational purposes of visitors and is not scientific material, universal instructions or professional medical advice, and does not replace a doctor's appointment. For diagnosis and treatment, consult only qualified doctors.

A large percentage of people are faced with such a problem as bloating. Most often, this symptom occurs in people over thirty or in pregnant women. Sometimes it indicates the occurrence of a disease or pathology. internal organs.

The scientific name for this rather unpleasant, but at the same time quite common phenomenon is flatulence. This phenomenon consists in the fact that a sufficiently large volume of gases, liquids and solids accumulates in the intestine, which lead to bloating. In principle, this phenomenon is quite common, but if it leads to unpleasant or even painful sensations, then we can talk about problems in the body.

In this article, we will talk about bloating in adults, consider the main causes of this unpleasant symptom, and effective ways home treatment.

Causes of bloating in adults

Bloating, the causes of which we will try to find out now, can be persistent or occurring from time to time. A constant increase in volume usually indicates abdominal conditions such as organ enlargement, swelling, fluid accumulation, and obesity. Recurrent bloating is caused by indigestion and may also be accompanied by fluid or gas buildup. Permanent bloating differs from periodic bloating in that it does not go away for a long period of time.

The causes of bloating can be very different: from excessive enthusiasm for carbonated drinks and foods with high content fat before having a serious illness. The most common ones should be considered:

  1. If in the diet foods that contain a lot of fiber are constantly present, gases are formed in the body. Carbohydrates are easy to digest and trigger the fermentation process, which results in heaviness and bloating. Therefore, you need to be careful with the use of legumes, apples, eggs, black bread and kvass, and also cabbage.
  2. Bloating after eating... Eating food, a person swallows some air in the process. In a hurry, quick bites, someone who likes to talk while eating, the stomach is filled with air much more than it should be. This leads to a feeling of a congested gastrointestinal tract. Gas can cause nausea, sharp, short-term pain.
  3. Too much food... This is one of the main causes of bloating and occurs when too much food is eaten at one time. Too much salt, foods high in salt such as chips can cause flatulence. Foods high in sodium make the body retain water and lead to bloating.
  4. ... If intestinal motility is impaired, and its movements become disordered and chaotic, then this disease occurs. The intestines may look completely normal. A person suffering from such an ailment experiences frequent pain, periodically there is an urge to stool or, on the contrary, constipation.
  5. Very often we can observe bloating with, enteritis,. Thus, you can sometimes even diagnose yourself for certain diseases yourself. For example, if the belly swells up right after you have eaten, then you can be sure that there is or.
  6. is the cause of the increased formation of gases in the colon. The large intestine normally contains microbes, they are beneficial for us, as they protect our body from other, harmful microbes. When the protective properties of the body fall, foreign microbes appear in the intestines with their own ways of digesting food (rotting and fermentation), which is accompanied by the formation of a large amount of gas, often with a fetid odor, since such gases include methane, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia.
  7. Bloating is also quite common. during pregnancy... On early dates this may be due to increased content in the body of progesterone, which provokes not only relaxation of the muscles of the uterus, but also reduces the motor function of the intestines and stomach. In the third trimester, a significant increase in the uterus can lead to this.
  8. The reasons may also be congenital insufficiency of digestive enzymes, malnutrition, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
  9. Constipation This usually happens when you have a low fiber intake in your diet, or you are not drinking enough fluids to ease regular bowel movements.

In addition to all of the above diseases, ailments such as blockage of the urinary tract, diverculitis, ulcers, etc., can lead to bloating.

Causes of persistent bloating

If we consider the causes of constant bloating in patients, then almost always they lie in their diseases. So, people are susceptible to this symptom if they have diseases:

  • peritonitis;
  • dysbiosis;
  • hepatoma.

If we consider the provoking factors for healthy people, then we can distinguish:

  • improper food intake, swallowing in large portions with poor chewing;
  • consumption of foods high in starch;
  • addiction to sweets and starchy foods;
  • consumption of soda.

As is the case with accompanying symptoms, you can get rid of increased gas production by completely curing the underlying disease, or by adjusting your diet.

Symptoms

With bloating, a person has characteristic symptoms:

  • feeling of fullness and heaviness;
  • aching pains or colic in various parts of the abdomen.

Intestinal colic usually goes away after the flatulence has passed. In addition, in the presence of a large amount of gas in the intestines, nausea, constipation or diarrhea, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, impaired appetite, belching, bad smell from mouth.

Consult your doctor if bloating is accompanied by such problems:

  1. Severe, prolonged, or repeated abdominal pain.
  2. Nausea and vomiting.
  3. Weight loss.
  4. Temperature increase.
  5. Chest pain.

It is worth knowing that with prolonged digestive disorders, accompanied by increased gas production, signs of intoxication appear - general weakness, insomnia, malaise, irritability, depression, headaches, heart rhythm disturbances, shortness of breath, and so on.

Diagnostics

Before determining how to treat bloating, it is worth getting tested to determine what causes it. First of all, attention should be paid to the diet and food intake. This will help you determine which foods may have been causing the gas.

Then the attending physician will give a referral to:

  • analysis of feces for intestinal microflora;
  • bile research;
  • study of gastric juice;
  • bacterial analysis of feces;
  • ultrasound examination of the digestive system.

Depending on the diagnostic data obtained, as well as the severity of the symptoms of flatulence, a treatment regimen is determined.

Treating bloating

As with any disease, the first priority in treating bloating is to address the cause of the increased gas production:

  • nutritional correction;
  • treatment of the underlying disease;
  • restoration of motor function (by prescribing prokinetics);
  • treatment of imbalances in the intestinal microflora (, biologics, herbal medicine);
  • removal of accumulated gases from the intestinal lumen.

At home, you should normalize your diet. Exclude from the diet foods that emit large amounts of gases during digestion. These are cabbage, legumes, rice, whole milk. Eat regular whole grain bread, fermented milk products, fresh vegetables and fruits.

Start exercising daily and make it a rule to walk at least 3 km a day. If you do not have any serious diseases of internal organs, then this program will definitely help you get rid of bloating.

Treatment of bloating caused by intestinal dysbiosis, gastritis, peptic ulcer or enterocolitis, is reduced to the treatment of the disease itself, initiating flatulence. With flatulence, which is a consequence of chronic pancreatitis, i.e. lack of pancreatic enzymes, treatment is carried out with drugs containing these enzymes.

Pills

Modern pharmacology offers the following tablets for treating bloating at home:

  1. Activated carbonreleased in pill form. With flatulence, this medicine is taken on the eve of meals, 1 - 3 pcs. Children under 7 years of age are given 1 - 2 tablets. They are washed down with ordinary boiled water;
  2. Espumisan and other simethicone-based preparations. Take Espumisan in the form of capsules or emulsion, two to three times a day with meals, sometimes it is recommended to take this drug additionally before bedtime. Espumisan can also be used to relieve episodic accumulation of gas in the intestine, which occurred due to a violation of the diet, in postoperative period or for constipation.
  3. The composition of tablets for intestinal distention called " White coal»Is based on dietary fiber. As they swell, they absorb many toxins and gases. Take them before meals for 1 - 2 pcs.

It should be borne in mind that the above intestinal adsorbents are drugs with surface activity that can collect gases, but they will not solve the main cause of flatulence. Therefore, such tablets can be used only when symptomatic treatment, in case of violation of the diet: with overeating, poisoning, the use of dairy products with lactose deficiency. The listed situations are not chronic, and flatulence is just an unpleasant symptom that can be easily removed with a pill against bloating.

Folk remedies

Such folk recipes help to cope well with bloating:

  1. Parsley broth - 20 grams of plant fruits, pour 1 tbsp of warm water, steam for about 30 minutes, cool. Strain and consume 1 tbsp 4-5 times a day;
  2. Dill water - 1 tbsp of dry dill seeds pour 1 tbsp of boiling water, leave for 1-2 hours, strain and take 1/4 cup 2-3 times a day;
  3. Wormwood decoction - 1 tsp of dry grass, pour 1 tbsp of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, strain, cool and take 1 tbsp 3 times a day before meals.

If the bloating is not caused by an unhealthy diet, but is a consequence of any disease, then the very cause of flatulence should be treated, in consultation with a doctor.

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Bloating brings not only internal discomfort and painbut also social problems. But this is not the most important thing. Bloating and increased gas production can be a symptom of serious diseases of the digestive system, their treatment cannot be ignored, and for this you need to find out the reasons for the appearance.

Why does bloating occur?

In medicine, bloating is called flatulence. This is an unhealthy condition that occurs when gas builds up and accumulates in the abdominal organs. It is accompanied by pain (often severe, but short-term), belching, excess gas through the rectum (flatulence).

Where does excess gas come from in the body? Its formation is a natural reaction that accompanies digestion. Normally, on a daily basis, the human body takes it out in an amount of 50 to 500 ml. In a pathological state, this volume reaches 3 liters. Up to 50% comes from outside (exogenous pathway), the other half is formed internally (endogenous).

Outside, the air gets in by swallowing it with food, while smoking, drinking chewing gum, talking while eating, as a result of the rapid absorption of food. This condition is called alimentary flatulence.

From the inside, pathology develops along following reasons:

  • Nervous and mental disorders.
  • Changes in the intestinal microflora with a predominance of bacteria emitting gases.
  • Violation of blood circulation in the intestine.
  • Lack of enzymes.
  • Muscle weakness of the intestines (decreased peristalsis).
  • Lowered atmospheric pressure.

One of the main reasons for increased gas production is the use of foods that are either incompatible with each other or cause bloating by themselves.

The accumulation of gases in the stomach, intestines occurs due to the violation of certain processes:

Gastritis

A change in the acidity of gastric juice worsens the breakdown of proteins, intestinal peristalsis is disturbed and the excretion of gases to the outside slows down.

  • Belching.
  • Heartburn.
  • Pain, heaviness in the stomach.

Duodenitis

Inflammation prevents the normal flow of enzymes into the duodenum through the sphincter of Oddi, as a result, digestion is slower, the processes of fermentation and decay begin.

  • Feeling of a swollen abdomen in the upper part.
  • Constipation.
  • Nausea with vomiting.
  • Weakness.

Cholecystitis

Bile is an essential component of digestion. With inflammation of the gallbladder, its outflow is disturbed, this leads to inadequate digestion in the intestine, it is there that bile performs its function.

  • Belching.
  • Bitter or sour taste.
  • Nausea, vomiting.

Pancreatitis

Structural changes in the tissue of the pancreas significantly reduce the release of pancreatic juice. This causes bloating after eating, as it disrupts normal digestion. Without the enzymes of pancreatic juice, it is almost impossible to digest what you eat.

  • Strong painoften encircling.
  • Nausea, vomiting.
  • Flatulence.

Liver disease

Severe bloating often occurs after eating fatty foods, this happens when the secretion of bile is impaired, its lack leads to incomplete breakdown of fats and the appearance of toxic substances.

Neuroses

In a state of increased excitability, central nervous system quickly depleted, one of the consequences is a violation of the intestinal innervation. Gases cease to be excreted and absorbed normally, various dyspeptic disorders occur.

Dysbacteriosis

When the balance is imbalanced, the opportunistic microflora begins to actively multiply, causing bloating and many others side effects.

  • Diarrhea.
  • Excessive flatulence in the intestines.
  • Pain in the abdomen.

All types of intestinal pathologies cause flatulence due to changes in motility and microflora composition. The reason for the accumulation of gas and bloating after meals can be mechanical obstacles in the form of internal adhesions, narrowing of the intestine or neoplasms.

In newborns, this condition occurs due to the lack of certain digestive enzymes. In elderly people - due to the weakening of the work of individual glands, age-related stretching of the intestine and atrophy of its sections muscle wall.

Eating disorders

Frequent bloating does not necessarily mean illness. This could be the wrong diet, food on the run, or an unacceptable combination of foods. Many of them cause fermentation, accompanied by the release of excess gas.

Bloating accompanies weight loss diets. They cause constipation, which traps gas. Changing your diet, such as a vegetarian or raw food diet, is also a factor in the digestive system.

The condition can be caused by the fact that a person often eats heated food. Not all housewives think about this when they prepare food for future use for several days, and heating in the microwave or on the stove can be one of the causes of digestive problems. This also affects those who often do not eat at home; in establishments, the quality of food varies greatly not for the better.

Bloating in women

The causes of bloating and gas formation in women, in addition to those described above, are associated with hormonal background. Throughout the entire childbearing period, a woman may suffer from this before menstruation. A similar condition is associated with hormonal cycles that cause disruption of water metabolism, leading not only to bloating in the lower abdomen, but even to pain, swelling of the extremities, and short-term weight gain. Also, as a result of hormonal changes, during menopause, a woman suffers from malfunctions in the digestive system, which cause unpleasant disturbances.

If there is a feeling of accumulated gas, but there is no apparent natural reason for this, a woman should consult a gynecologist. This condition can occur with inflammation of the ovaries or uterus, and also be a symptom of the appearance of cysts or tumors.

Diagnostics

If the abdomen is regularly swollen, the reasons must be established together with the doctor using special examination methods. It begins with an examination, finding out the history and symptoms from the patient's words. Already with palpation, percussion (tapping), auscultation (listening), the doctor will determine what examinations he needs to make an accurate diagnosis. The following methods are commonly used:

  • X-ray examination (irrigoscopy) will help to establish mechanical obstacles in the intestine (adhesions, polyps), the relief of the mucous membrane, functional state different departments.
  • Endoscopic - will reveal the condition of the stomach, duodenum, large, small intestine. The probe will visually show all disorders, inflammations and other possible pathologies.
  • An ultrasound will show the structure and condition of the abdominal organs.

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The first thing to do is to adjust the power supply. And this applies to both the composition of food and eating habits. Proper nutrition - it's not just a diet for bloating. You need to accustom yourself to:

  • Eat fractionally - often and in small portions.
  • Set the interval between meals at least 3 hours so that it has time to be digested.
  • Chew food thoroughly, so less air gets into the stomach.
  • Do not eat hot or very cold food as well as drinks.
  • Avoid fried, smoked foods.
  • Do not eat fruit for lunch or dinner, eat them at least 2 hours after eating other food.
  • To prevent constipation, drink 1.5–2 liters of water per day.

As for the diet, it is necessary to limit as much as possible, and if possible completely exclude products that cause fermentation - peas, beans, cabbage, fresh bread and baked goods, dairy products (except for sour milk), soda, bran, black bread and others. It is better to prefer them to cereals (crumbly porridge), baked fruits and vegetables, easily digestible meats.

Observing such a diet, you can permanently get rid of the unpleasant sensations that greatly poison your life.

Exercises

Any mother knows how to help a newborn baby get rid of gas. She massages his stomach in a circular motion, bends the legs, pressing them to the tummy. And the baby gets better.

Such exercises for bloating exist for adults as well. Simple and effective gymnastics, which can be done constantly for prevention, but only at moments of strong gas accumulation:

  1. Basic gymnastics 10-15 times to strain and relax the abdominal muscles.
  2. Lie on your back, pull your legs bent at the knees to your stomach, wrapping your arms around them. Lie in this position for a couple of minutes.
  3. Bend your knees while lying down. As you exhale, firmly press your hands on the intestinal area, hold your breath for a few seconds. On hold, make stroking movements with your hands towards the navel. Exhale, relax and inflate your belly.
  4. Get on all fours and rest your arms outstretched on the floor. While inhaling, bend down, throw your head back, while exhaling, lower your head and arch your back up. During the exercise, the abdominal muscles contract and relax. Repeat several times.
  5. The starting position is on your knees. One leg lunges forward, while you need to bend back in the lower back with your arms raised and hold this position for a few seconds. Repeat the lunge with the other leg.
  6. Starting position - sitting with one leg bent under itself. The second is bent at the knee. Move the body in a spiral with a delay in this position for a few seconds. This exercise is an excellent massage for the abdominal organs.

Bloating is not a serious health threat, but it can reduce the quality of life. It is easy to get rid of the unpleasant condition by observing normal nutrition and doctor's recommendations.

Gas formation in the intestine is a natural process that occurs in the body of a healthy person. Normally, a person does not feel any discomfort at the same time, but for a number of reasons, gases can form too actively and the state of health worsens. Increased gas production can be considered in those cases when the release of gases occurs more than 25 times a day at a rate of about 10-14. What are the reasons for this phenomenon and how to get rid of the problem?

The gases produced in the intestines are methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and hydrogen. They provide normal peristalsis, help food move through the intestines and are excreted by belching or through the rectum, and a small amount is absorbed into the bloodstream.

With excessive gas formation, a phenomenon arises, which is commonly called bloating - it becomes hard, increases in size, and a person has an eructation, gas discharge from unpleasant odor, rumbling and discomfort. Sometimes bloating is accompanied by nausea, painful cramps, general weakness and heaviness in the abdomen, but usually all unpleasant symptoms disappear after a bowel movement. The causes of excessive gas formation can be non-pathological, that is, those that are not associated with diseases of the internal organs, or pathological. The first category includes the following factors:


Use junk food - one of possible reasons

In the above cases, gas formation and flatulence do not require medical care - it is enough to adjust the lifestyle and diet. With the development of diseases and pathologies of the digestive system, which are often the causes of bloating, one cannot do without medical advice, otherwise malfunctions in the body can cause unpleasant consequences. Most often, gas formation caused by pathological reasons, accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms and manifestations.

Table. The causes of bloating, symptoms.

The reason for the bloatingAdditional symptoms
Dysbacteriosis (imbalance between beneficial and pathogenic intestinal microflora)Mild abdominal discomfort, yellowish or greenish stool, vomiting, fever, and severe cramps are absent
Ulcerative lesions of the stomach and duodenumHeartburn, pain, defecation disorder
CholecystitisBitter taste in the mouth, heartburn (with increased acid production or stones), fever
Inflammatory bowel processes, dynamic obstructionPassage of gas, constipation, nausea and vomiting
PancreatitisIntense abdominal pain, nausea, loose stools, aversion to fatty foods
Infectious bowel diseases (bacterial infection, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis)Soreness in the abdomen, frequent loose stools, nausea and vomiting, fever (often to high numbers)
Mechanical obstruction (adhesions, tumors, stenosis)Pale skin, paroxysmal pain, confusion, fainting, abdominal distention
Helminthic invasionDiarrhea, abdominal discomfort, itching and burning in the anus
Vascular obstructionUnpleasant sensations in the abdomen, diarrhea with blood in the stool

Why is bloating dangerous?

Bloating in itself cannot be called a disease, so it does not pose a direct threat to life or health. But diseases and pathologies that are accompanied by this phenomenon can cause serious complications - for example, intestinal obstruction is a dangerous pathology that requires immediate surgical intervention.

In addition, constant gas production can cause disruptions in the digestive system, impairment of absorption of nutrients, decreased intestinal tone and the development of putrefactive processes in the intestines. Digestive troubles have a negative impact on performance, appearance and the psychoemotional background of a person: the patient becomes irritable, gets tired faster, the skin becomes salty and dirty, the hair becomes dull and brittle.

What to do if you have symptoms of bloating?

If bloating is rare and has precise causes (for example, it occurs after a heavy meal, eating certain foods, etc.), the patient should not have serious concerns. In cases where this condition accompanies a person for a long time, it is recommended to consult a doctor as soon as possible. To establish the cause of gas formation, the patient will need to undergo a number of studies, including blood, feces, ultrasound and abdominal X-rays, gastroscopy of the stomach. Comprehensive diagnostics will help to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.

To eliminate bloating and gas formation, first of all, you should normalize the diet. Food should be taken at the same time, and the meals should be complete (first, second), chew it thoroughly, without talking or being distracted by extraneous activities. Food should not be washed down with water, this can also provoke increased gas formation. It is better to exclude whole milk from the diet, replacing it with fermented milk products, fatty meats, offal, baked goods, peas, buckwheat, carbonated drinks, chocolate and coffee.

In addition, you need to limit consumption raw vegetables and fruits - despite the fact that they contain vitamins and minerals, such foods cause fermentation in the intestines. It is preferable to use them in a thermally processed form - boil, bake, steam.

To normalize the digestive processes, you need to give up heavy physical activity, especially after eating, lead an active lifestyle and eliminate bad habits.

Treatment of bloating with medications

To eliminate bloating, several groups of medications are used that relieve unpleasant symptoms and improve the patient's well-being.

  1. Defoamers... Mechanism of action medicines based on the deposition of mucous foam, which contains air bubbles that cause discomfort. After taking the drug, air is removed from the intestines through the mucous membrane. Defoamers are non-addictive, non-toxic, and can even be used in childhood... Among the most effective drugs includes "Espumizan", "Redugaz", "Simetikon".
  2. Probiotics... This category includes agents that populate the microflora with beneficial microorganisms and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Usually used to eliminate dysbiosis and the consequences of taking antibiotics. The most famous probiotic preparations are Hilak Forte, Linex, Yogulakt, Bifidumbacterin.
  3. Enterosorbents... Medicines that absorb excess gases in the intestines along with toxins and harmful substances. The disadvantage of drugs is that together with gases they remove useful elements, so it is not recommended to take enterocents for a long time. This group of drugs includes white and black coal, Enterosgel, Polysorb, Smecta.
  4. Enzymatic preparations... They are used in case of insufficient production of pancreatic enzymes, eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of overeating. The list of such medications includes "Creon", "Festal", "Pancreatin".
  5. Dopamine antagonists... Drugs that block the activity of special receptors and improve intestinal peristalsis. Effectively eliminate nausea, belching and abdominal pain, provide normal bowel movements and gas. The most common drugs in this category are Domperidone, Motilium.

Before taking any of the above drugs, you should consult your doctor and carefully read the list of contraindications and side effects. Do not forget that everything medications, used for bloating, relieve only the symptoms, not the cause of the discomfort. In case of serious diseases and pathologies, they are able to lubricate clinical picture diseases and complicate the diagnosis.

Treatment of bloating with folk remedies

In addition to medicines, gas and flatulence can be treated with folk recipes, which are no less effective than pharmaceutical preparations.


Since regular bloating can indicate serious diseases of the digestive system and internal organs, self-medication can aggravate the patient's condition, therefore, when characteristic symptoms you should consult your doctor. read on our website.

Video - Bloating. Causes and features

The unpleasant phenomenon of bloating is quite common. Its synonyms: tympathy, flatulence, gas formation, swelling. This process takes place in the gastrointestinal tract and is associated with the accumulation of excess gases.

In a person who does not suffer from gastrointestinal diseases, the amount of gas depends on age, nutrition, lifestyle. Most of them are in the stomach and intestines, much less in small intestine, the colon and sigmoid colon. If the body cannot cope with excretion, then bloating, symptoms which is unpleasant enough.

All people, young and old, can face the problem of bloating: men and women (including pregnant women), adults and newborns. What causes bloating? The main reason is flatulence - an excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines due to their increased formation, insufficient absorption and excretion. It is manifested by a feeling of fullness and heaviness, rumbling and cramping pains and bloating, passing after the discharge of gases. Flatulence can be combined with hiccups, belching, headaches.

There is always a small amount of gas in the stomach and intestines of a healthy person to maintain their tone. They can fall into digestive tract by swallowing air. One of the causes of flatulence is aerophagia - increased swallowing of air during hasty eating, swallowing poorly chewed food, frequent smoking, runny nose, and chewing gum.

What can cause flatulence?

There are several reasons for increased gas production:

  • the release of an excess amount of gases during the digestive process due to the neutralization of gastric juice;
  • swallowing air while drinking or eating (aerophagia);
  • the formation of excess gases with unhealthy intestinal microflora due to its vital activity;
  • the flow of gases into abdominal cavity from blood.

Bloating, gascan be triggered by several factors, which, as a rule, include:

  • eating a lot of drinks or food that cause fermentation and flatulence (legumes, apples, cabbage, black bread, beer, kvass, etc.) For those who are lactose intolerant, this unpleasant symptom is often caused by dairy products;
  • occurs due to squeezing of the intestines and stomach by the growing uterus, therefore, the processes of digestion and movement of food slow down significantly;
  • swallowing air during meals or drinks often causes bloating, and the intestines suffer from excess gas. If you ate, as they say, on the run, and even washed down your meal with a carbonated drink, then bloating, most likely, will not keep you waiting long. When a large amount of gases from the outside enters the stomach, the processes of secretion of juices are disrupted, food does not break down, slags are formed, which begin to rot and ferment. In this case, the stomach often hurts, the bloating lasts a long time and is rather difficult;
  • bloating often accompanies other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: enzyme deficiency, tumors, adhesions, stenosis, hernia, peritonitis, infections, intoxication, dysbiosis, colitis, pancreatitis and many others. Therefore, before deciding how to get rid of bloating, it is necessary to identify its cause and, if necessary, begin to treat the primary disease;
  • hysterical states, stress, overwork can also cause increased flatulence.

Persistent bloatingmay be accompanied by symptoms such as belching, nausea, vomiting, bad taste and bad breath, abdominal pain, loud rumbling, diarrhea, or constipation. These pathologies should serve as a signal that you should not postpone your visit to the doctor. They, as a rule, accompany such serious diseases as cirrhosis, chronic liver or intestinal pathologies, Crohn's disease, etc.

Flatulence or bloating after eating can occur in a completely healthy person (when overeating), after eating foods that cause increased gas formation - legumes, black bread, cabbage, spinach, potatoes, whole milk, grapes, sweet apples, raisins, dates kvass, beer, etc.

Flatulence can be a manifestation of the following pathological conditions:

  • with syndromes of impaired digestion and intestinal absorption (chronic enteritis, celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis, etc.) in patients with intestinal fermentopathies;
  • with stenotic lesions of the intestine (adhesions, tumors);
  • with violations of secretion in the intestine and its motility (irritable bowel syndrome);
  • with local and general circulatory disorders (acute and chronic abdominal ischemia).
  • Abundant gas formation is observed during putrefactive and fermentative processes in the intestine when the normal microflora changes (dysbiosis).

That is, frequent bloating can accompany almost any disturbance from the digestive system.

In women, flatulence can be associated with gynecological problems. A feeling of bloating can often occur during menstruation. It can often occur bloating during pregnancy.

If severe bloating is accompanied by an increase in temperature, then this is a reason for immediate medical attention. When asked what to do if the child is often worried about bloating, the answer will be the same.

How to get rid of bloating?

If you notice that it mostly torments you bloating after eatingthen, first of all, it is necessary to establish a diet, excluding apples, cabbage, coffee, seeds, legumes, carbonated drinks, raisins, radishes and some other products from it. If this does not help, then you should consult a doctor to determine the possible causes of the trouble. If bloating, gas is caused by more serious illness, then in no case should you self-medicate. It should only be prescribed by a doctor after a comprehensive and thorough examination.

Avoid overeating, especially the foods listed above. In case of flatulence, you can take espumisan, activated carbon.

If you experience persistent bloating, see your doctor.

Frequent mistakes in self-medication.

With constant bloating, the lack of diagnosis and treatment of the cause of flatulence.

Which doctor should I go to?

Consult a gastroenterologist, general practitioner, gynecologist.

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