Gas in the digestive tract is a normal condition when excess air is in the large or small intestines. For the majority of people, it is not a serious condition. People typically pass gas a few times every day. Burps and flatulence are the body’s way of ridding the body of gas. Burps are often the way the body releases swallowed air and flatulence is the typical release of the gas that is created during digestion. When a person experiences excessive gas, it is often a symptom of another condition. To get relieve symptoms, it is important to determine the specific cause of excessive gas and bloating.Symptoms
When gas in the intestinal tract become excessive, patients are likely to feel symptoms such as:
- Feeling overly full and bloated on a regular basis
- Continual pains
- Frequent, extended bouts of burping, belching, and flatulence
Causes
| Cruciferous vegetables | Food Intolerance | Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) |
| Beans | Carbonated Drinks | Chewing gum |
| Artificial sweeteners | Swallowing air | Eating too quickly |
| Fatty food | Gut fermentation | Bacterial, yeast, fungal infections |
| Liver Cancer | Pancreatic Cancer | Irritable Bowel Disease |
| Colon Cancer | Diverticulitis | Gallbladder Disease |
| Cystic Fibrosis | Celiac Disease | Pancreatic Disease |
Treatment
The treatment for your condition depends on the results of testing. Limiting or eliminating foods that cause gas and bloating is effective for managing food intolerances. For SIBO, antibiotics can be prescribed to kill the bacterial overgrowth.
The treatment for gas depends on the underlying cause of the gas. Many times, gas can be reduced through diet and lifestyle changes including eliminating artificial sweeteners, beans, dairy and carbonated beverages. If one experiences excessive gas that is painful and other symptoms, it could be due to a serious underlying condition.
Food sensitivities such as fructose or lactose intolerance and dysfunction of the small bowel such as small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) are common causes of frequent digestive discomfort.
We’ve been brainwashed the last several decades into thinking that the digestive acids produced by the stomach are the root of all digestive problems. Consequently, so-called “acid blockers” are commonly prescribed as the quick fix for all forms of indigestion, making them one of the best-selling OTC categories in history.
Board-Certified physicians Dr. Ranvir Singh, Dr. Stephen Rashbaum, Dr. Nitin J. Parikh, Dr. Long B. Nguyen, Dr. Ruth Montalvo, Dr. Jae Kim, and providers Tammi D’Elena, PA-C and Vanessa T. Bridgeman, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC; care for patients in the North Atlanta, GA; area including Johns Creek, GA, Cumming, GA, Lawrenceville, GA, Alpharetta, GA, and Dawsonville, GA. The in-house endoscopy suite at Digestive Care Physicians is a certified facility which has achieved the highest level of accreditation by the Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). If you suffer from gastrointestinal problems, abdominal pain, or need a colorectal cancer screening, contact us at (770) 227-2222 to schedule an appointment.
