Often the human body fails. In this case, a variety of phenomena can occur that are inconvenient for its owner. In this article, I would like to consider the causes of bloating and gas formation.
Terminology
At the very beginning, you need to understand the terms that will be actively used in this article. So, bloating. In medical practice, this phenomenon is most often called "flatulence" or "flatulence". The people say simply - "gas formation". This is a special state of the body when a lot of gases accumulate in the intestines due to a number of reasons. They can cause not only discomfort, but also pain.
Symptomatics
What are the symptoms of a person with bloating? Flatulence may be accompanied by the following conditions:
- Feeling "bloated" in the abdomen.
- Heaviness in the stomach.
- Gas passing. Often with unpleasant sounds.
- Burp.
- Bad taste in mouth.
- Decrease or complete lack of appetite.
- Irritability, weakness, general malaise.
About the reasons
So what are the top causes of bloating and gas? First of all, I would like to say that gases in the intestines are formed due to bacteria that actively ferment carbohydrates in the large intestine (not previously “processed” in the small intestine). Therefore, we can draw a simple conclusion that the main cause of gas formation is precisely the intake of certain foods.
Reason 1. Food
So, consider the main causes of bloating and gas formation. As mentioned above, the first of them is nutrition. After all, some food can be a provocateur of such an unpleasant state. This is especially true for foods that are rich in fiber. But it is impossible to completely abandon them, because along with the fact that they can cause active formation of gases in the intestines, they also play the most important role in the process of digestion of food and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. What are these products?
- Beans.
- Fresh vegetables.
- Fresh fruits.
- Whole grains.
Various kinds of dietary supplements containing fiber (including flea plantain) can also lead to increased gas formation. This will be especially noticeable if such drugs are introduced into the diet too rapidly. In addition, bloating and gas can be “gotten” if you eat food that is called “fast food”.
Reason 2. Diet
The causes of bloating after eating are hidden in a variety of errors in the human diet. What, then, should be known and remembered?
- Beans can increase intestinal gas up to 10 times.
- If you want to avoid flatulence and bloating, it is better to refuse excessive and too frequent consumption of foods such as cabbage, sorrel, grapes, spinach, raspberries, gooseberries, sweet apples, dates, raisins, beer, kvass, black bread.
- Raw vegetables should be eaten in small quantities. It is best to boil or steam them.
- Meat and poultry should also be cooked in the same way. Too fatty and fried foods can also contribute to excessive gas production and bloating.
- Eat only in a calm state of the body. This must be done while sitting. Food must be chewed carefully, slowly. Also, doctors do not recommend drinking water with food.
Reason 3. Water
We further consider the causes of bloating and gas formation. Drinking water can also lead to such an unpleasant state.
- If you drink soda too often.
- If you abruptly change the water habitual for the body (this happens when a person moves for a certain time to a new region of residence - to visit, on vacation, etc.).
- If a person likes to drink water with food.
Reason 4. Swallowing air
What are the reasonsfrequent bloating? So, it may be a habit of swallowing air too much and often. It is worth saying that every person swallows a certain amount of it daily. This happens at the time of eating, drinking, talking. This is fine. But in some cases, you can capture too much air, which will lead to its large accumulation in the intestines. Some of it will come out with belching, while some will have to leave the body in a different natural way. When can a person swallow too much excess air (which leads to bloating and excessive gas formation)?
- This often happens to people who like chewing gum.
- Increased gas formation threatens those who like to talk while eating.
- Also, excess air enters the body if a person drinks water through a straw.
- Doctors say that you should not drink water with food. This also leads to gas formation.
- People who like to eat "on the go" also suffer from this problem.
Reason 5. Stress and poor lifestyle
What other causes of frequent bloating are there? So, it can be the most common stress. In this case, the body fails. It can be almost anything. Including increased gas formation. A wrong way of life also leads to a similar phenomenon. What does that mean?
- Inactivity. Those. when a person leads an inactive, sedentary lifestyle. Scientists say that in this case, most oftenintestinal motility slows down, constipation may occur, which is accompanied by the processes of fermentation and putrefaction in its lower sections (which leads to active gas formation).
- With a wrong lifestyle, a person is often diagnosed with "lazy intestines", which is also accompanied by increased gas formation.
- It should also be said that for the proper functioning of the body, a person must have enough time to rest. In this case, proper sleep is very important. Only in this way can the intestines "rest" and prepare for work.
Reason 6. Age
What other causes of severe bloating are there? So, this phenomenon is often observed in older people. This happens due to age-related changes in the body. Over time, the intestinal muscles weaken, which causes flatulence. In medical practice, this condition is called “age-related atony.”
Reason 7. Profession
It is also worth mentioning that the causes of bloating in men (as well as in women) can be associated with professional activities. So, experts say that climbers often suffer from increased gas formation. This phenomenon is called "high- altitude mountaineering". It all happens due to a change in pressure during the ascent to a certain height.
Reason 8. Taking medication
What are the causes of bloating in the upper abdomen? So, taking certain medications can lead to a similar phenomenon.
- Antibiotics. During theirintake often destroys the intestinal microflora, which causes increased flatulence.
- Laxatives. If a person abuses their intake, this can lead to increased gas formation, bloating. A similar phenomenon affects ladies who want to lose weight by cleansing their body with the help of such medical products.
Reason 9. Diseases
Some diseases are also major causes of bloating and nausea. If the diet and intake of certain foods should not cause a similar condition, you should check with a gastroenterologist. After all, certain diseases can be the culprits. So, flatulence, bloating may indicate that a person has diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, Crohn's disease, or another disease.
Reason 10. Constipation
There are other reasons for bloating after eating. So, it may be the most common constipation. In this case, a person has an accumulation of feces, which prevents the normal periodic discharge of gases. They accumulate in the body, which causes bloating, discomfort and other unpleasant sensations.
Reason 11. Food intolerances
What other causes of bloating in the upper abdomen? So, if a person observes a similar condition after consuming certain foods, one should seek medical help. After all, it may be that the body simply cannot or does not know how to process the carbohydrates contained in this food product. For example, it could be celiac disease,when a person cannot eat cereals. When they are consumed, excessive gas formation and bloating occur.
Women
Separately, I would like to consider the causes of bloating in a woman. Indeed, often among the fair sex, a similar phenomenon can occur regardless of all of the above reasons.
- Menopause. Bloating often worries women during this period in life (age 45 to 60 years). Everything is to blame in this case are hormones that affect the functioning of the whole organism, including the intestines.
- Premenstrual period. Often, bloating is observed in women in the period before menstruation. Again, in this case, everything happens due to changes in hormonal levels.
- Pregnancy. Also during pregnancy, a woman experiences excessive bloating. If this happens in the first trimester, the hormonal background is again to blame. If in the last months, this may be due to the fact that the enlarged uterus presses on the intestines, which prevents its normal functioning.
From all the above reasons, we can make a simple conclusion that any hormonal changes in a woman's body can cause a variety of problems and unforeseen situations, including strength and bloating.
Children
What are the causes of bloating in a child? If we talk about newborns, then the setting of the baby's gastrointestinal tract is to blame. The organs of the crumbs are not yet workingjust like in an adult, they only develop, adjust. In addition, they are still too weak to fully digest even the food that enters the body - mother's milk or formula. Often this leads to colic, which affects almost all babies under the age of three months. Most often, after this period, the gastrointestinal tract adjusts to work, is already getting used to new conditions, and this phenomenon disappears by itself. The causes of bloating in the lower abdomen in an older child most often lie in the wrong diet or the consumption of those foods that contribute to increased gas formation. If the parents exclude this, it is necessary to seek help from a doctor. After all, such a phenomenon may be a symptom of some disease.
What to do?
Having considered all the possible causes of bloating in a woman, man and child, I would like to say a few words about how you can deal with this problem. First of all, you need to determine the reason why this is happening. And only then begin to act. You can use the following medications:
- Drug "Motilium". Produced by a Belgian company. This is a remedy for increased gas formation. Available in three forms: tablets (including lingual), as well as in suspension. An important point: the medicine does not need to be washed down, it quickly dissolves on the tongue, immediately starting its work in the intestines.
- Drug "Bobotik". These are the drops of the Polish manufacturer, whichmainly prescribed to children (including newborns). However, adults can also use the drug. Doctors often prescribe it to women during pregnancy and lactation.
- The drug "Motilac". A Russian remedy, where the active element is a synthetically created domperidone. The drug is designed to improve intestinal motility, "relieve" bloating, relieve feelings of overeating, belching and heartburn.
- Drug "Unienzyme". Indian origin. It is an enzymatic digestive remedy containing ingredients that reduce flatulence.
- Drug "Enterosgel". This is a new generation adsorbent. Its main component - polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate - resembles a silicon sponge that absorbs substances harmful to the body. Available as a paste or suspension. It has no side effects and can be safely taken with other medications.
