6 symptoms of gas (stomach and intestinal)

Symptoms of intestinal or stomach gas are relatively frequent and include the feeling of a bloated belly, slight abdominal discomfort and constant burping, for example.

Usually these symptoms appear after a very large meal or when talking a lot while eating, due to swallowing air, improving easily after the elimination of gases, either through intestinal release or in the form of burping.

However, there are also cases where these gases cannot be easily eliminated, which happens especially in people with constipation. In these situations, the symptoms can be more intense and even lead the person to suspect serious problems, such as heart changes or even a heart attack, as pain in the chest region is common.

Depending on where the gases are accumulating, the symptoms may be different:

1. Stomach gas

When gas accumulates in the stomach, it can cause:

1. Stomach bloated feeling;
2. Frequent burping;
3. Loss of appetite;
4. Throat burning;
5. Stuck in the chest;
6. Feeling short of breath.

It is possible to reduce stomach gas by avoiding chewing gum and eating slowly and avoiding talking during the meal so that air does not enter the digestive tract during eating.

2. Intestinal gas

Symptoms that may indicate the presence of gas in the intestine are usually:

1. Intense abdominal pain, sometimes stabbing;
2. Abdominal swelling;
3. Tough belly;
4. Flatulence;
5. Constipation;
6. Intestinal colic.

These symptoms may vary in intensity according to each person's sensitivity and the amount of gas present in the digestive system.

What causes excess gas

The presence of gas in the stomach is usually caused by the ingestion of air with food, and this is more frequent when talking a lot during the meal or when drinking carbonated drinks, such as soda or sparkling water.

The accumulation of gases in the intestine is usually related to the existence of a pattern of intestinal functioning of constipation or excessive consumption of foods that facilitate the formation of gases in the large intestine. Some of these foods include eggs, cauliflower, garlic, onions, and peas. Sweeteners like sorbitol, fructose, and excess vitamin C also cause gas in certain people.

Check out a more complete list of foods that cause gas.

How to get rid of gas

Some forms of home treatments to prevent excess gas formation are:

• Have a cup of fennel or mint tea after meals;
• Go for a 20-30 minute walk after lunch or dinner;
• Have a balanced diet, eating fiber-rich foods daily and drinking plenty of water;
• Avoid soft drinks and other carbonated drinks with meals;
• Avoid excess carbohydrate-rich foods such as pasta, lasagna and fondue;
• Avoid excess milk and its derivatives and also meat dishes prepared with milk such as stroganoff, for example.