Relieving Gas and Gas Pain in the Digestive Tract (2024)

Gases travel through and are produced by the digestive tract. Stomach gas is often due to swallowing air while eating, while intestinal gas is produced during digestion. Too much gas in the digestive system can result in pain and other symptoms.

Excess stomach gas can lead to belching (burping), while excess intestinal gas leads to bloating and flatulence.

This article will discuss the symptoms of gas, what causes gas, how much gas is too much, and what to do to reduce intestinal gas.

Symptoms of Gas

Everyone experiences gas, and its symptoms can vary by person. Some of the more common symptoms are:

• Belching (burping)
• Flatulence ("passing gas" rectally)
• Abdominal pain from collected gas
• Abdominal bloating, which can be a sign of an intestinal motility disorder (and affects your intestines' ability to move or contract properly)

Causes of Gas

Gas in the digestive tract has two main causes, which are:

• Swallowing air
• Foods and digestion

Some medical conditions can also cause gas.

Stomach Gas From Swallowing Air

Some amount of air swallowing (aerophagia) is normal and inevitable, but some things can cause you to swallow an excessive amount, leading to belching or flatulence.

Excess air swallowing can happen with the following:

• Eating or drinking too quickly or not chewing well
• Chewing gum
• Smoking
• Loose dentures
• Postnasal drip
• Sucking on items such as pen tops or hard candy
• Drinking hot or carbonated ("fizzy") beverages
• Anxiety

Intestinal Gas From Foods and Digestion

Gases are produced when good bacteria in the large intestine break down some foods that were not digested and absorbed in the small intestine.

Some foods are more likely to cause gas than others.

Foods that contain a lot of unabsorbable carbohydrates (nutrients found in sugars, starches, and fibers) can cause gas, such as:

• Apples
• Artichokes
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Legumes (beans, lentils, and peas)
• Onions
• Prunes

Soluble fiber (fiber that becomes liquid in water) can cause gas and is found in foods such as:

• Beans
• Oat bran
• Peas
• Most fruit

Starches can cause gas and are found in foods like:

• Corn
• Pasta
• Potatoes
• Wheat

The following sugars and sweeteners can cause gas:

• Fructose
• Lactose
• Raffinose
• Sorbitol

Medical Conditions

Gas is not a medical condition, but some health conditions can produce excess gas.

Stomach gas may be a symptom of stomach disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heartburn, or peptic ulcer disease.

Intestinal gas may be a symptom of:

• Lactose intolerance (the inability to digest lactose in milk products)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (a digestive condition that can cause symptoms such as constipation, cramps, bloating, and diarrhea)
• Inflammation in the intestines (such as inflammatory bowel disease)
• Malabsorption (the inability to properly absorb nutrients)
• Maldigestion (the inability to properly digest nutrients)
• Constipation
• Celiac disease (intolerance to gluten)
• Gastroenteritis (infection in the stomach/bowel)
• Overgrowth of normal bacteria in the small intestine

How to Treat Gas

If gas is a symptom of an underlying condition, treating the condition is important. If it is not part of a bigger problem, it only needs treating if it's bothering you.

To determine a treatment plan, your healthcare provider will consider factors such as:

• Age
• Overall health
• Lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise
• Medications you're taking
• Goals for symptom reduction

Some ways to reduce swallowing air and experiencing stomach gas include:

• Avoid smoking, chewing gum, drinking carbonated drinks, drinking with a straw, and sucking on hard candy.
• If you wear dentures, ensure they fit properly.
• Eat and drink slowly, chewing your food well.
• Go for a short walk after eating.

Stomach gas due to heartburn may be relieved by over-the-counter (OTC) antacids. But you should consult a healthcare provider if you have frequent heartburn to get appropriate medications.

Some ways to help reduce excessive intestinal gas include:

• Avoid foods that increase gas (make sure you are still eating a nutritious, balanced diet)
• Choose carbohydrates that are less likely to cause gas, including rice, bananas, grapes, citrus fruits, lettuce, and yogurt
• Keep a food diary to see if certain foods increase your stomach gas or intestinal gas symptoms
  
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals instead of three large ones
• Get regular exercise, including going for a short walk after eating
• Avoid sugar-free candies

If lifestyle changes don't help, you may wish to consider medications or dietary supplements with the help of your healthcare provider. These may include:

• Peppermint oil or peppermint tea
• Ginger supplements or small amounts of fresh ginger (pregnant people should consult with their healthcare provider before taking ginger or ginger products)
• Charcoal tablets (may cause problems with other medications, such as causing them to be less effective)
• Beano (alpha-galactosidase)
• Probiotics from supplements or some yogurts
• Gas-X (simethicone)
• Pepto Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) (reduces the noxious odor of some intestinal gases)
• Antibiotics (if there is an overgrowth of bacteria)

The efficacy of these medications and supplements has been debated, but some research suggests they may help. Talk to your healthcare provider about whether they may be worth trying.

Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Gas?

Your healthcare provider may want to investigate if an underlying condition could be causing your gas symptoms. They may start with a physical exam that includes the following:

• Looking for distention (swelling or enlargement of the abdomen)
• Using a stethoscope to listen to sounds in the abdomen
• Tapping on the abdomen (to check for tenderness or pain or to listen for a drumlike sound called tympany, which can signal the presence of gas in the digestive tract)
• Performing a digital rectal exam, if needed

If necessary, your healthcare provider may use diagnostic tools such as:

• Abdominal computed tomography (CT scan)
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Barium enema X-ray (an X-ray with barium sulfate inserted into the colon as a contrast material)
• Barium swallow X-ray (an X-ray that involves swallowing a drink that contains a powered metal called barium mixed with water)
• Blood work such as a complete blood count (CBC) or blood differential (measures the amount of each type of white blood cell)
• Sigmoidoscopy (examines the last part of the large intestine using a flexible, lighted tube)
• Upper endoscopy (a flexible tube with a light and camera is inserted down the throat)
• Breath test (involves blowing into balloon-like bags to check for stomach problems such as bacterial overgrowth)
• Testing for celiac disease (a condition caused by eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, in rye)
  

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Gas usually doesn't require medical attention, but see your healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms that may indicate your gas is part of a more severe condition, including:

• Stomach/abdominal pain (especially if persistent)
• Rectal pain
• Heartburn
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Unexplained weight loss
• Diarrhea
  
• Constipation
• Oily or foul-smelling stools
  
• Black, tarry stool
• Blood in the stool
• An increase or change in symptoms
• Treatments that worked before no longer work
• Signs of infection such as fever, chills, vomiting, and joint and/or muscle pain
• Bowel incontinence
  

Summary

Intestinal gas is normal and experienced by everyone. It is caused by swallowing air and the breakdown of food in the large intestine. Gas is released from the body through belching and passing gas rectally.

Gas itself is not dangerous, but see your healthcare provider if other symptoms are present, including persistent pain, changes in stool, or signs of infection.