How to Relieve Gas Pain: Home Remedies and Prevention Tips

Gas formation is a part of the normal digestive process. But if gas is being formed in your intestines and you are not able to remove it, then you start getting pain and other problems from it.

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Where does gas pain occur and what are its symptoms?

The following can be the symptoms of gas and gas pain:

• Belching
• Frequent gas passing
• Stomach pain
• Stomach cramps or feeling like a lump in the stomach
• Stomach bloating
• Severe pain in the stomach or feeling like a stomach cramp. The pain in the stomach can move around the stomach.
• Stomach size becoming larger than normal

Belching is a common condition, which is usually felt during and after eating food. Most people pass gas more than 10 times a day. That is why a situation of feeling a little uncomfortable and embarrassing arises while passing gas. In very few cases, belching or gas passing is a sign of any health problem.

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When should one consult a doctor?
You should see a doctor as soon as possible if you have the following conditions along with gas pain, such as:

• Pain on touching the abdomen
• Stomach becoming hard and rigid
• Difficulty breathing
• Inability to pass stools (especially if you are vomiting)
• Vomiting blood or blood in the stools (especially red, black or tar-coloured stools)
• Stomach pain that does not go away for 24 to 48 hours or keeps recurring
• Nausea and vomiting along with stomach pain
• Diarrhea for 5 consecutive days.
• Long-term lack of appetite or poor appetite . 
• Body weight loss for an unknown reason
• Pain in the neck, shoulder or chest 
• Sudden, severe abdominal pain
• Pain in or between the shoulder blades and pain in the neck Nausea
• Possible pregnancy or being pregnant
• Having had a recent or recent abdominal injury
• Having recently undergone cancer treatment, etc.

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Why does gas pain occur?
Swallowing air while eating or drinking beverages is the main cause of gas in the stomach. Any condition that causes constipation or diarrhea can increase the problem of bloating or gas pain.

There are three main ways to remove gas from the body : burping, storing it in the stomach and expelling gas from the anus. Air swallowed through the mouth that remains inside the stomach for some time is usually expelled with a burp. The problem of flatulence occurs when gas gets trapped in the small or large intestine. The air inside the intestines is usually able to come out only through the anus.

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When bacteria ferment carbohydrates, fiber, some types of starch and some types of sugar that come to the large intestine undigested from the small intestine, gas starts forming. These bacteria also consume some of the gas, but the remaining gas passes out of the body through the anus. There are also certain foods that can cause gas, such as:

• Certain vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower
• Prunes and plums or their juices
• Fried foods
• Fiber drinks and supplements
• Dairy products
• Spicy foods
• High-fat foods
• Legumes (including beans and lentils)
• Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sorbitol
• Garlic and onions

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There are also certain habits that can cause gas:

• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Using a straw to drink beverages or drinking beverages from a sports bottle
• Talking while eating
• Eating when you're upset
• Drinking from a fountain
• Wearing tight-fitting clothes
• Being too full
• Deep breathing
• Taking long-term medicines to relieve cold symptoms
• Drinking too cold or too hot water Drinking
• Chewing gum or sucking toffees etc.

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When does the risk of gas pain increase?

If you have any of the following problems, then you may be at increased risk of gas pain:

• If your digestive system is unable to break down or absorb a particular type of food into small pieces, then problems like gas formation and flatulence start occurring. 
• Constipation can also cause difficulty in passing gas. 
• If excessive gas is being formed, then it can be a sign of a health problem such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or any long-term intestinal problem etc.
• Increasing the number of bacteria in the small intestine or any change in the bacteria causes problems like excessive gas formation, diarrhea and loss of body weight

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How to prevent gas pain?

The following are some steps that can help prevent gas pain:

• One should drink adequate amount of water every day
• Beverages should not be drunk by cooling them too much or heating them too much.
• While chewing gum, there is a high possibility of a person swallowing air. Swallowing air traps the air inside the stomach and increases the risk of gas pain. Sugarless candy also contains artificial sweeteners, which causes problems of gas and bloating in the stomach.
• Often drinking beverages with a straw causes air to enter the person. Drinking water or other beverages from a bottle also causes air to enter the stomach, although it depends on the size and shape of the bottle. If you want to avoid gas pain or bloating, drink water and other beverages from a glass.
• While smoking cigarettes, air enters the digestive system. Smoking causes many health problems, so it is best to quit it completely.
• Try to keep the body a little active during the day.
• Keep exercising regularly.
• If you use false teeth (dentures), then keep in mind whether they are fitting properly in your mouth or not. Because if your teeth are not fitting properly in your mouth, then due to this you can also swallow more air.
• By eating food fast or doing some other work along with eating, you swallow air along with food, which causes gas pain. People who eat food fast should slow down their speed and chew each bite at least 30 times. Breaking the food properly (chewing it) helps in digesting it easily and this prevents problems like bloating and indigestion.
• One should not sleep or lie down immediately after eating.
• After eating, you should walk a little instead of sitting or lying down.
• If you have gas pain, then do not eat such foods which cause gas problems.
• Eat food slowly and eat small quantities many times instead of eating large amounts at once.
• Before swallowing the food, chew it well and break it into small particles, doing this makes it easier to digest the food. 

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How is gas pain tested?
The doctor diagnoses the gas pain and its cause by examining your health history, your symptoms, eating habits and your physical examination.

During the physical examination, the doctor examines your stomach and finds out if you are feeling pain when touched. Apart from this, stomach related abnormalities can also be detected by touching the stomach. 

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The sound inside your stomach is heard with the help of a stethoscope. This helps the doctor to find out how well your digestive system is working.

Along with the physical examination, some other tests are also done, which determine whether this pain is caused by any other dangerous disease instead of gas. 

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Depending on your physical and some symptoms (such as blood in stool, diarrhea or weight loss), some other tests may also be suggested, such as:

If the doctor thinks that you have lactose intolerance, then the doctor may suggest you get a breath test done. Depending on some possible causes of gas pain, the doctor may suggest some other tests, such as blood test, X-ray, CT scan and endoscopy etc.

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How is gas pain treated?

Medicines for gas pain:
Probiotics:
Probiotic supplements help to bring good bacteria into the intestines. These bacteria cure many digestive problems including infectious diarrhea. 

Simethicone:
Some simethicone medicines are available at medical stores without a doctor's prescription. These medicines work to break up gas bubbles. 

Lactase supplements:
Lactase enzyme supplements help digest lactose. If you have lactose intolerance, these supplements can be very beneficial for you. You can also use some dairy products that do not contain lactose or contain it in small quantities.

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Home remedies for gas pain:
The following are some home remedies to prevent the formation of excess gas and to expel the gas that has already formed:

• If the gas is not able to go out of the body, it causes bloating, pain and other problems. The easiest way to avoid all these problems is to let the gas go out.
• With the help of some light exercises, the intestinal muscles get relaxed, due to which the gas stuck in the digestive system can move here and there. Walking after eating and doing some types of yoga can be very beneficial.
• Gas can also be passed by defecating. Along with the stool, the gas trapped in the intestines also goes out of the body through the anus during defecation.
• Drinking carbonated beverages like soda water etc. causes a lot of gas to enter the stomach, which causes problems like bloating and gas pain etc. These beverages should not be consumed.
• Peppermint prevents iron from being absorbed. Therefore, peppermint capsules should not be taken with iron supplements. You should also not take these capsules if you have anemia.
• Clove oil is also used to treat digestive problems, mainly bloating, gas formation and indigestion. Cloves also have ulcer-fighting properties. Taking a little clove oil after a meal strengthens the digestive system and also reduces the amount of gas in the intestines.
• Some people believe that taking deep breaths can reduce gas pain and other related problems.
• Do not eat problematic foods. Eating certain types of food leads to gas formation. Therefore, these foods cause gas pain in some people.
• Fennel is a very old home remedy for gas problems. Chewing a teaspoon of fennel can cure many gas-related problems.
• Apple cider vinegar helps in producing stomach acid and digestive enzymes. It also gives instant relief from gas pain.
• Mix one teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water and drink it before eating. After drinking, rinse your mouth with clean water immediately, as vinegar destroys the enamel (protective layer) of teeth.
• Taking peppermint supplements or peppermint oil capsules for a long time cures problems like bloating, constipation and gas pain etc.
• When there is gas pain, put hot water in a bottle or place a heating pad on the stomach. Hot compress relaxes the intestinal muscles, which gives space for the gas to come out. Hot compress also reduces pain.
• People suffering from lactose intolerance who have frequent gas pain problems should completely stop consuming lactose products or take lactose supplements.

(Read more - What to do for indigestion?)

What problems can occur due to gas pain?

Gas pain does not last long. It subsides within 30 to 45 minutes after taking any natural or home remedy. Gas pain can also be associated with many other serious problems, such as weight loss, anorexia, severe diarrhea, and severe abdominal pain. It can also indicate several other gastrointestinal and digestive problems that need to be treated:

• Ulcer
• Celiac disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Lactose intolerance
• Pancreatitis
• Appendix
• Gallstones

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Gas pain is characterized by abdominal cramps, heaviness, bloating, and sometimes sharp stinging sensations. It occurs when excess gas accumulates in the digestive system. Its main causes include unhealthy eating habits, eating too quickly, consuming too much fried or spicy food, and stress. Drinking lukewarm water, consuming mint or ginger tea, and light exercise can be beneficial to relieve gas pain. Also, eating a fiber-rich diet and avoiding lying down immediately after meals can reduce this problem. If the pain is severe or recurrent, it is necessary to consult a doctor.