Struggling with excessive gas buildup in your day-to-day life is not only embarrassing, but it can be downright uncomfortable and painful. In fact, as much as 5% of emergency room visits are attributed to abdominal pain, caused by a buildup of gas.
Your colon is continually working to process waste products to be removed from the body. This means that it’s continually producing gas — up to 2 liters per day! But flatulence is not the only form of gas your body eliminates. Excessive gas can also be described as belching, burping, bloating, and reflux.
If you find that you’re always cramping and gassy and can’t figure out why, this blog may be able to help.
Flatulence (also known as farting) is described as excess gas that builds up in the colon, which escapes through the rectum. Belching and burping refer to gas that escapes from the mouth, while bloating is caused by trapped gas in the stomach which causes swelling. Acid reflux, also known as heartburn, can be extremely uncomfortable. It feels like a hot, acidic sensation rising from the stomach to the throat.
If you struggle with excessive amounts of any of these forms of gas, it can be disruptive to your daily life. So, what is to blame?
There is no exact answer to this because everyone’s digestive system works in different ways. However, there are a few common culprits such as:
Passing gas, whether it’s flatulence, burping, or belching is very normal. The healthy range of passing gas is between 13-21 times per day. But this can vary depending on what you’ve eaten that day, too.
However, if your everyday life is affected by stomach pain, cramping, and excessive gas you may want to look into what could be causing it. There are plenty of ways to treat trapped or excessive gas. But the key to getting it under control is to pindown the root cause. For now, here are a few helpful remedies.
In today’s day and age, there are a number of over-the-counter (OTC) solutions to help you find relief from excessive gas buildup, pain, and bloating. However, what works for one person, may not work for you. It’s about trial and error, so you’ll need to find the right product to suit your needs.
If your body cannot tolerate dairy very well this could lead to excessive gas buildup. The best products to use for relief are enzyme preparations. But they are best used as a preventative measure.
Products for lactose intolerance include a natural enzyme called alpha-galactosidase which helps to prevent the buildup of excessive gas and prohibit bloating. If you struggle with digestive discomfort, bloating, and excessive flatulence, not related to lactose intolerance, enzyme preparations are also effective.
These products include naturally-occurring enzymes, fiber, and prebiotics to encourage healthy bowel movement and digestive function. Highly-rated products include Phloe Bowel Health and Phloe Chewable Tablets.
Another effective product for the relief of excessive gas is absorbents. Basically, these products break up bubbles in the gas in your colon, allowing it to pass without discomfort.
Some popular products include activated charcoal tablets, capsules, or powder to help reduce and break up gas accumulation in the body. Check out Red Seal Activated Charcoal which acts as a natural detoxifier in cases of bloating, flatulence, and loose bowels.
If you struggle with the uncomfortable effects of heartburn or acid reflux, then carbonate-based products are your go-to. Gaviscon Dual-Action tablets work well to soothe the burning sensation of heartburn, and they act fast. This product is one of the most effective in reducing excess stomach acid, while forming a protective layer over your stomach contents.
In combination with these OTC solutions, you could also try some of these at-home remedies for relief. Again, some of these home remedies may not work for everyone — you’ll need to find what works best for you.
It sounds simple, but a good solution to expelling trapped gas is through movement. This could be through walking around, don’t lie down as this could make your symptoms worse. You could also massage your stomach area to help loosen up pockets of trapped gas.
Certain yoga and stretching poses are also effective. Yoga helps the body to relax while twisting the bowel into different positions to release trapped gas.
Non-carbonated liquids are important when trying to find relief from trapped gas. Specifically, warm drinks with ginger, peppermint, and chamomile. You can also make your own soothing tea combination with several different herbs you may have in your pantry. Some popular natural remedies for gas include:
Another effective drink you can concoct is with bicarbonate of soda. It may not taste amazing, but it may offer relief. Simply dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of bicarb in a glass of warm water. Remember not to overdo it with the bicarb though, as this could have an adverse effect — stick to a 1/2 teaspoon! Apple cider vinegar is another option. Dissolve one teaspoon in a glass of warm water and this could also offer relief from pain and bloating.
If you’re always cramping and gassy you don’t have to accept this as your everyday reality. You can find a solution that works for you just a click away with Kiwi Drug. We offer a plethora of digestive treatments for all the relief you need.
Browse our digestive solutions and get your cramping, gas, and bloating under control.