What makes abdominal gas

When it collects on the left side of the colon, the pain can be confused with heart disease. When it collects on the right side of the colon, the pain may feel like the pain associated with gallstones or appendicitis. The symptoms of gas may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis.

Symptoms of gas may be caused by a serious disorder, which should be determined. In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, your doctor may suggest the following activities to assist in the diagnosis:.

Abdominal X-ray. Food diary. For people 50 years of age and older, and for those with a family history, the possibility of colorectal cancer is considered. Colonoscopy is a procedure that allows the doctor to view the entire length of the large intestine, and can often help identify abnormal growths, inflamed tissue, ulcers, and bleeding. It involves inserting a colonoscope, a long, flexible, lighted tube, in through the rectum up into the colon. The colonoscope allows the doctor to see the lining of the colon, remove tissue for further examination, and possibly treat some problems that are discovered.

A sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that allows the doctor to examine the inside of a portion of the large intestine, and is helpful in identifying the causes of diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, abnormal growths, and bleeding. A short, flexible, lighted tube, called a sigmoidoscope, is inserted into the intestine through the rectum. The scope blows air into the intestine to inflate it and make viewing the inside easier. Upper GI gastrointestinal series also called barium swallow.

For chronic belching, your doctor will look for signs or causes of excessive air swallowing and may request an upper GI series. An upper GI series is a diagnostic test that examines the organs of the upper part of the digestive system: the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum the first section of the small intestine.

A fluid called barium a metallic, chemical, chalky, liquid used to coat the inside of organs so that they will show up on an X-ray is swallowed. X-rays are then taken to evaluate the digestive organs. If your abdomen becomes larger than usual, doctors call this distention. Only about half of people with bloating also have distention. Studies suggest that people pass gas through the anus an average of 8 to 14 times a day. Experts consider passing gas up to 25 times a day to be normal. Excess gas in the digestive tract that leads to passing gas is called flatulence.

The gas that passes is called flatus. People who have problems with flatulence may feel they pass too much gas or that the flatus has an unpleasant odor. The odor may be due to sulfur in the flatus. Gas normally enters your digestive tract when you swallow air and when bacteria in your large intestine break down undigested carbohydrates.

You may have more gas symptoms if you swallow more air or consume more of certain foods and drinks. The various packet sweeteners — yellow sucralose , pink saccharine , and blue aspartame — are not associated with gas or laxative effects. Some research suggests a number of herbs may help relieve excess gas. For example, a review published in April in European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Studies found ginger helps speed digestion. This is helpful because if the stomach empties faster, gas can move more quickly to the small intestine to relieve bloating and discomfort.

A review published in in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology found that peppermint oil significantly improved symptoms of IBS , including abdominal pain. Chamomile is thought to aid in a number of digestive issues, including upset stomach , bloating, and intestinal gas, by relaxing GI muscles and improving digestion.

If excessive gas is persistent or severe, consult your doctor — it could be a sign of a more serious digestive condition, such as:. Also, warns Bickston, if you've had abdominal surgery, a hernia , or significant weight loss or weight gain, never dismiss your gas-like symptoms as normal. Get them checked out. But if your gas is excessive, painful, or chronic, talk to your doctor about possible causes and remedies.

By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Gas can also be caused by:. Your doctor can determine the underlying cause. Often, your gas is caused by what you eat. Food is digested primarily in your small intestine. What is left undigested is fermented in your colon with bacteria, fungi, and yeast, as part of digestion. This process produces methane and hydrogen, which are expelled as flatus.

For many people, changing dietary habits is enough to alleviate gas and its accompanying symptoms. One way to determine which foods are giving you gas is by keeping a food diary. Common culprits include:. Studies have shown that peppermint tea or supplements may reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome , including gas.

Talk to your doctor before you start using supplements. Peppermint can interfere with iron absorption and certain medications. It may also cause heartburn in some people. Supplements will have directions about how much you should take on the bottle. For peppermint tea, drink one cup before each meal for best results. Chamomile tea can also help reduce indigestion , trapped gas, and bloating.

Drinking chamomile tea before meals and at bedtime may reduce symptoms for some people. Simethicone is an over-the-counter medication that is available under several different brand names.