How To Get Rid Of Gas Pains In Your Stomach

How To Prevent Gas

Gas pain can just be a nuisance or be due to a medical condition such as celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome, possibly requiring the aid of a medical professional. But in general, preventing gas pain is something that can be prevented by altering lifestyle habits and diet. The following are some tips you can start doing today to prevent stomach pain:

• Stop chewing gum, as you tend to swallow more air doing so
• Avoid smoking
• Chew with your mouth closed to avoid swallowing excess air
• Cut out gas triggering foods from your diet
• Avoid straws, as they are sucking a lot of air in as well
• Incorporate more exercise into your daily routine
• Avoid the consumption of carbonated beverages and food known to cause stomach upset
• Eat fewer fatty foods
• Read labels
• Temporarily cut back on high-fiber foods

These 23 natural remedies can help you finally get relief from embarrassing gas and painful bloating.

Related: Gastritis diet: Foods to eat and avoid, dietary plan and recommendations

Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.

Causes Of Stomach Gas

There are two main causes for stomach gas. These are swallowed air and gas produced as a by-product of food digestion. Air is swallowed when talking, eating and drinking. Excessive intake of air into the body can cause stomach gas. The most common reasons for excessive gas are drinking through straws, eating too fast, smoking, chewing gum, etc. Foods consumed enter the small intestines for digestion. However, fibers and carbohydrates bypass the small intestine and move onto the large intestine for digestion. Gas that results in flatulence occurs when sugar and fiber do not get digested in the large intestine. Therefore, people suffering from constant flatulence or stomach gas should avoid the excessive intake of foods rich in carbohydrates, lactose, sucrose and sorbitol.

Avoid Eating Too Fast

You are about to hit the road for work and need to get a bite. So, you try to eat quickly. By doing so, you risk swallowing air along with your food. It will make you asking can gas cause right and left shoulder pain later.

When you eat, whether it is a meal or just a snack, always consume the food slowly. Make time for your lunch. Sit down when having breakfast. When you chew your food properly and eat slowly, then you have a lower risk of swallowing air.

Make sure you are not on the move when having a meal. If you move around while eating, then you are also more likely to take in air with the food. Thus, try to sit down when you eat otherwise get ready to feel left and right shoulder pain after eating.

You May Like: What Causes Stomach Ulcers In Humans

Yoga And Sleeping Positions

Yoga can stretch the stomach and digestive tract to release trapped gas and relieve bloating. Yoga poses that relieve gas include wind-removing pose, supine twist, cat-cow pose, and happy baby.

The best sleeping positions to relieve gas include keeping your head elevated, sleeping on your left side, and lying face down.

Read more: Yoga and sleeping positions to relieve gas and bloating

How To Get Rid Of Gas Conventionally

When gas pains are severe and reoccur frequently, a trip to the doctor is in order. It is important to receive a proper diagnosis for the cause of the gas pain as some potentially serious conditions can present with bloating and pain.

In addition to a medical history and physical examination to check for distension, your physician will review your diet and perhaps order tests. Commonly requested tests include: blood tests, lactose intolerance tests, fructose malabsorption tests, colon cancer screening and, in some cases, an upper GI series of X-rays.

If persistent gas pain is determined to be caused by an underlying health condition, successful treatment of the condition should help to relieve symptoms. In other cases, your physician will often recommended dietary changes, lifestyle modifications and over-the-counter medications.

Medications recommended may include:

• Beano: Made from a sugar digesting enzyme, this medication may be recommended to help you digest the sugar in vegetables and beans.
• Lactase Supplements: A supplement made from lactase, the digestive enzyme that helps to breakdown lactose.
• Bisumth Subsalicylate : A medication that generally reduces the odor of flatus. This medication should not be taken long-term or if you have an allergy to aspirin.
• Simethicone Antacids : Medications that help to break up the bubbles in the gas, making it easier to expel.
• Antibiotics: In you have SIBO or another infection.

Read Also: What Helps Severe Stomach Pain

How To Get Rid Of Gas Pains Quickly

You may be relieved to know that gas pains are a very common problem among people. There are many individuals who suffer from gas pain on a daily basis. These pains are usually accompanied by undesirable sounds which can also make you feel uncomfortable. I know you are laughing silently after seeing this line. But to be honest, it is one of the most popular issues which opt for reason to laugh but yet frequent. Gas pains occurs when gas is formed in the intestine and is not released by the body during the digestion process, but remains trapped within the intestine instead.

Commit To Keeping Your Fiber Intake In Check

Fiber is a key part of a healthy diet and digestive system. It bulks up your stool, which helps you stay regular instead of getting constipated. But on the flip side, having too much fiber can make you gassy as the bacteria in your colon works to break this tough nutrient down, Dr. Farhadi says.

If you find that youre always in pain after you eat a salad with both broccoli and Brussels sprouts, its really best to avoid those foods until you feel betterand to try to space out when you eat them in the future.

Read Also: What Kind Of Yogurt Is Good For Stomach Ulcer

Gas: Whats Normal And What Isnt

7 min Read Time

Everyone burps and passes gas. Some do these things more often than others. It can be loud and sometimes smelly, but gas is a normal part of the digestive process even if its uncomfortable or embarrassing.

Understanding what causes gas can help you feel less self-conscious and find some relief. Its also important to recognize when gas, bloating and belly pain are actually warning signs of a more serious health condition, according to Brian van der Linden, MD, an HCA Healthcare gastroenterologist.

Medical Conditions That Cause Gas

Some medical conditions can increase intestinal gas, gas pains, or bloating including:

• Intestinal diseases chronic intestinal diseases like Crohnâs disease, ulcerative colitis, and diverticulitis can cause excess gas.
• Overgrowth of bacteria A change or increase in small intestine bacteria may cause excess gas, weight loss, or diarrhea.
• Food intolerance some food intolerances can cause excess intestinal gas. This is caused by an inability to properly break down the sugar in dairy products or gluten .
• Constipation It may be difficult to pass gas when experiencing constipation.

Don’t Miss: Does Bad Breath Come From Your Stomach

When Gas Is A Symptom Of Something Else

If excessive gas is persistent or severe, consult your doctor it could be a sign of a more serious digestive condition, such as:

• Lactose intolerance This is the inability to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk and milk products. I test with a milk challenge, says Bickston. The patient drinks a pint or two of milk it can be any percent fat. What follows tells the patients whether they should limit their milk intake. If avoiding milk reduces your symptoms you may be lactose intolerant.
• Irritable bowel syndrome Patients who meet the diagnostic checklist for irritable bowel syndrome suffer more pain at the lower levels of the abdominal cavity, he says.
• Colon cancer Excess gas is rarely the main symptom of patients with colon cancer, Bickston notes. But it does trigger my reflex to remind patients to get screened for colorectal cancer.
• Upper gastrointestinal disorders Occasional belching is normal, but frequent belching may be a sign of an upper gastrointestinal disorder. These include peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease , or gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying.

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.

As annoying as it might be, some gas is a natural by-product of the bodys digestive system. But if your gas is excessive, painful, or chronic, talk to your doctor about possible causes and remedies.

Try Herbs For Gas Relief

Some research suggests a number of herbs may help relieve excess gas. For example, a review published in April 2015 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.

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.

Read Also: How To Alleviate Stomach Pain

Gas Accumulation In The Gut

To understand the question can gas cause shoulder pain, we need to look at how the body deals with gas.

When you breathe, the air pushes into your lungs. Sometimes, you swallow air too. If the air is a significant amount, then you will experience aerophagia. Many factors can cause aerophagia.

For example, when you chew gum, it is possible to swallow some air in the process. Some people swallow air when they eat or drink too fast. Other causes include postnasal drip, as well as smoking.

When you swallow air, gas starts to collect in your stomach. If you belch or burp, then most of the gas exits your body through the esophagus and mouth.

The small intestine usually absorbs a small amount of the gas in your stomach. And rest of the gas moves toward your large intestine. And it exits your body through the rectum as a fart!

Sometimes, the gas is too much for the intestines to be absorbed.

Additionally, good bacteria in your large intestine break down some of the undigested foods rich in fiber, starch, and sugar. When bacteria break these carbohydrates down, it produces carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and a little bit of methane gas.

If the gas production is massive doctors refer to the situation as trapped gas. Trapped gas can develop certain symptoms like pain, nausea, bloated feeling, and whatnot. The gas can also affect areas other than the gastrointestinal tract.

Natural And Other Remedies For Gas

Two products on the market can help with food-related gas and bloating. Both products are packaged forms of the enzymes needed to break down the problematic carbohydrates. Lactase, found in products such as Dairy Ease and Lactaid, can be taken with dairy foods to help break down lactose and lessen gas. Beano helps digest the indigestible carbohydrate in beans and other gas-producing vegetables.

Natural remedies for gas include:

• Peppermint tea

Also Check: Is Stomach Stapling Covered By Insurance

When To See A Doctor

While most cases of stomach pain and gas can be treated at home, you should talk to your doctor if you are worried. You should also consult your doctor if:

• Your pain lasts more than a couple days
• Stomach gas and pain remain well after an immediate cause, such as constipation, is relieved

Potential causes of more enduring gas pain include celiac disease and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth . If you suspect you may have celiac disease, pay attention to your gluten intake to discover whether pain changes accordingly.

SIBO is generally seen in people who have:

• Had abdominal surgeries

Why Laproscopic Surgery Causes Gas

A laparoscopic surgeon will first make a small incision to pass a long, thin Veress needle into the abdominal cavity, being sure to avoid the organs. Then gas is passed through the needle to inflate the abdomen, causing the abdominal wall to form a dome over the organs. Having the abdominal cavity inflated and the abdominal wall separated from the organs, gives the surgeon room to operate without making large incisions. Other small incisions are made to pass the small instruments to perform the surgery.

At the end of the operation, the abdomen is allowed to deflate. However, it is not possible to remove all of the gas. The little bit that is left behind can irritate the peritoneum the lining over the abdominal organs and sometimes the organs themselves. A patient may experience this as sharp or achy pains.

In addition, the CO2 can settle up under the diaphragm, the muscle that helps you breathe. You might experience this as irritation in the lower chest and even all the way up into the shoulder.

This type of pain can be quite uncomfortable and may last several days. It will eventually resolve on its own, but can be aided by walking and moving around. In this case,pain medications may be helpful and will not make this type of gas pain worse.

You May Like: How To Eliminate Stomach Acid

Causes Of Abdominal Pain In Adults

There are many reasons why you may have pain in your abdomen. People often worry about appendicitis, gallstones, ulcers, infections and pregnancy problems. Doctors also worry about these, as well as many other conditions. Abdominal pain may not come from the abdomen. Some surprising causes include heart attacks and pneumonias, conditions in the pelvis or groin, some skin rashes like shingles, and problems with stomach muscles like a strain. The pain may occur along with problems in passing urine or with bowel motions, or period problems.With so many organs and structures in the abdomen, it can be hard for a doctor to be absolutely sure about the cause of your problem. The doctor will ask you several questions and then examine you carefully. The doctor may perform no further tests. The cause of your pain may be quite clearly not serious. Another scenario may be that the doctor is unable to find a cause, but the pain gets better within hours or days. All the doctor can do is to be sure that the pain does not require surgery or admission to hospital.

Take A Closer Look At Your Diet

What we eat matters for several reasons. When we prepare any meal, in most cases, we ignore whether it can build up gas. There are some foods known to cause a higher accumulation of gas in the gut. Avoiding these foods can be helpful. If you cannot completely avoid them, at least try to limit your consumption of the foods or ingredients.

A few foods that you need to exclude rather than asking can gas cause shoulder pain:

• Foods that are deep fried
• Meals that contain a large number of onions and garlic
• Products that contain dairy
• Foods and drinks that contain maltitol, sorbitol, or aspartame
• Supplements with a high dose of fiber
• Meals and snacks that are high in fat
• Beans, lentils, and other legumes
• Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and other types of cruciferous vegetables

It may be hard to cut out all of these foods from your diet. Some people find it very useful to start a food diary. This allows you to track the foods you eat, as well as scenarios of symptoms like left shoulder and abdominal pain.

You can then analyze the notes you take to determine which foods are triggers for your symptoms. When you identify such foods, then you should aim to exclude them first.

Eliminate trigger foods one at a time if needed. You should feel an improvement in your symptoms if you remove the culprit foods from your diet. You should also read the labels of products that you buy.

Read Also: What Causes Inflamation In The Stomach

Here Are 9 Ways To Relieve Gas Pain

Since youre probably extremely curious about how to relieve gas pain, we hate to break it to you: There isnt one magic pill that will immediately get rid of any painful gas you may be experiencing. Figuring out how to cure gas is the holy grail for us, Dr. Staller says. There are, however, a few tricks you can try to either make the gas go away or, at the very least, make yourself feel better.

Treatment For Abdominal Pain In Adults

Your treatment depends on what is causing your pain, but may include:

• Pain relief your pain may not go away fully with painkillers, but it should ease.
• Fluids you may have fluids given into a vein to correct fluid loss and rest your bowel.
• Medicines for example, you may be given something to stop you vomiting.
• Fasting your doctor may ask you not to eat or drink anything until the cause of your pain is known.

Also Check: What Foods To Eat To Lose Stomach Fat

How To Get Rid Of Gas: 8 Natural Treatments

By Kathleen McCoy, BS

• Precautions

Flatulence and gas are normal bodily functions, and most healthy adults pass gas somewhere between 13 and 21 times each day. Flatulence is a healthy part of the digestive process, but it can cause discomfort and pain as gas builds up in the intestines. Expelling the gas normally relieves the pain however, if the pain persists or worsens, it may be a sign of a more serious condition and you should consult with your physician as soon as possible.

In addition to pain and flatulence, gas can cause bloating. Bloating is a temporary condition caused when air or gas becomes stuck in the abdomen. The result can be visible as the stomach, depending on the level of air and gas build up, can protrude significantly. In the vast majority of cases, gas pains and bloating are nothing to worry about, however, if you experience any of the following symptoms along with gas, seek medical attention as quickly as possible:

• Hives or a skin rash that develops quickly
• Tight throat or trouble breathing which may signal an allergic reaction
• Fever
• Persistent or recurrent nausea or vomiting
• Trouble concentrating

If youve recently changed your diet by adding high-fiber foods or cruciferous vegetables, you can expect some gas and gas pain. In addition, foods known as FODMAPs as well as foods you have a sensitivity to like lactose, can also cause gas pain. And, of course, if you overindulge in a high-fat or a spicy meal, you may experience more gas than normal.