Everyone has intestinal gas, which can lead to uncomfortable bloating and even pain. But how can you tell when excessive gas might be something more serious?
Gas is a normal, yet often uncomfortable, part of the digestive process. It’s a by-product of many of the foods we eat.
Is It Just Intestinal Gas?
Keep in mind that some people pass gas more than 20 times a day, and that can be considered normal depending on the individual. Unless there are underlying problems or alarming symptoms, such as blood in the stool, weight loss, abdominal pain, family history of malignancy, or difficulty swallowing, it’s probably nothing to be concerned about, according to doctors of AMRI Hospitals. So what you may think is excessive gas may be a rather ordinary amount. Keeping and reviewing a diet journal could easily help you identify the source of the problem as one of the many gas-producing foods.
Here are some simple ways to tell if intestinal gas is behind your bloating and discomfort:
What Else Could It Be?
Although not usually a sign of serious illness, excessive gas can be a warning sign of an underlying medical issue. Excessive gas could be a sign of an abnormality with your digestive system, like gastroparesis, for example. Also, what you think are gas pains could actually be any one of a number of health problems.
Here are just a few possible causes of abdominal pain and bloating:
In most of these cases, you will notice symptoms other than just gas and bloating. For instance, in the case of appendicitis, there will most likely be changes to your abdomen, including stiffness and extreme tenderness. Gas pain doesn’t make your belly sensitive to the touch, so if you notice extreme pain, always seek medical advice.
If your pain, bloating, and excessive gas problems are persistent, take steps to find out the cause.
Diagnosing the Problem
A physical exam and diagnostic tests may be performed to help rule out other more serious medical conditions that could be mimicking excessive gas pain. If lactose intolerance is suspected, your doctor may schedule you for a breath test. Depending on the potential causes, other tests may include blood work, imaging — such as X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) — and endoscopy.
Gas is a normal, yet often uncomfortable, part of the digestive process. It’s a by-product of many of the foods we eat.
Is It Just Intestinal Gas?
Keep in mind that some people pass gas more than 20 times a day, and that can be considered normal depending on the individual. Unless there are underlying problems or alarming symptoms, such as blood in the stool, weight loss, abdominal pain, family history of malignancy, or difficulty swallowing, it’s probably nothing to be concerned about, according to doctors of AMRI Hospitals. So what you may think is excessive gas may be a rather ordinary amount. Keeping and reviewing a diet journal could easily help you identify the source of the problem as one of the many gas-producing foods.
Here are some simple ways to tell if intestinal gas is behind your bloating and discomfort:
- You feel the urge to pass gas or to belch.
- You get relief from the bloating and pain when you pass gas.
- Your pain and bloating don’t persist or worsen.
- Excessive gas and bloating get better when you make certain changes to your diet, like eliminating dairy, cutting back on fiber, or limiting high-fat foods.
- Pain and bloating improve when you swallow less air, which is what happens when, for example, you chew gum or eat too quickly.
What Else Could It Be?
Although not usually a sign of serious illness, excessive gas can be a warning sign of an underlying medical issue. Excessive gas could be a sign of an abnormality with your digestive system, like gastroparesis, for example. Also, what you think are gas pains could actually be any one of a number of health problems.
Here are just a few possible causes of abdominal pain and bloating:
- Constipation
- Lactose intolerance or another food intolerance or allergy
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or indigestion
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Kidney stones, gallstones, or an inflamed gallbladder
- Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (inflammatory bowel disease)
- An ulcer in the digestive tract
- Appendicitis’
- An obstruction in the bowel
- A tumor in the abdomen
In most of these cases, you will notice symptoms other than just gas and bloating. For instance, in the case of appendicitis, there will most likely be changes to your abdomen, including stiffness and extreme tenderness. Gas pain doesn’t make your belly sensitive to the touch, so if you notice extreme pain, always seek medical advice.
If your pain, bloating, and excessive gas problems are persistent, take steps to find out the cause.
Diagnosing the Problem
A physical exam and diagnostic tests may be performed to help rule out other more serious medical conditions that could be mimicking excessive gas pain. If lactose intolerance is suspected, your doctor may schedule you for a breath test. Depending on the potential causes, other tests may include blood work, imaging — such as X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) — and endoscopy.
No comments:
Post a Comment