Belching, gas and bloating: Tips for reducing them Show
Belching, gas and bloating can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. Here's what causes these signs and symptoms — and how you can minimize them. By Mayo Clinic StaffBelching or passing gas (flatus) is natural and common. Excessive belching or flatus, accompanied by bloating, pain or swelling of the abdomen (distention), can occasionally interfere with daily activities or cause embarrassment. But these signs and symptoms usually don't point to a serious underlying condition and are often reduced with simple lifestyle changes. When belching, gas or bloating interferes with your daily activities, there may be something wrong. Find out how to reduce or avoid gas and gas pains, and when you may need to see your doctor. Belching: Getting rid of excess airBelching is commonly known as burping. It's your body's way of expelling excess air from your upper digestive tract. Most belching is caused by swallowing excess air. This air most often never even reaches the stomach but accumulates in the esophagus. You may swallow excess air if you eat or drink too fast, talk while you eat, chew gum, suck on hard candies, drink carbonated beverages, or smoke. Some people swallow air as a nervous habit even when they're not eating or drinking. Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can sometimes cause excessive belching by promoting increased swallowing. Chronic belching may also be related to inflammation of the stomach lining or to an infection with Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium responsible for some stomach ulcers. In these cases, the belching is accompanied by other symptoms, such as heartburn or abdominal pain. You can reduce belching if you:
Flatulence: Gas buildup in the intestinesGas in the small intestine or colon is typically caused by the digestion or fermentation of undigested food by bacteria found in the bowel. Gas can also form when your digestive system doesn't completely break down certain components in foods, such as gluten, found in most grains, or the sugar in dairy products and fruit. Other sources of intestinal gas may include:
To prevent excess gas, it may help to:
Bloating: Common but incompletely understoodBloating is a sensation of having a full stomach. Distension is a visible or measurable increase in abdominal size. People often describe abdominal symptoms as bloating, especially if those symptoms don't seem to be relieved by belching, passing gas or having a bowel movement. The exact connection between intestinal gas and bloating is not fully understood. Many people with bloating symptoms don't have any more gas in the intestine than do other people. Many people, particularly those with irritable bowel syndrome or anxiety, may have a greater sensitivity to abdominal symptoms and intestinal gas, rather than an excess amount. Nonetheless, bloating may be relieved by the behavioral changes that reduce belching, or the dietary changes that reduce flatus. When to see your doctorExcessive belching, passing gas and bloating often resolve on their own or with simple changes. If these are the only symptoms you have, they rarely represent any serious underlying condition. Consult your doctor if your symptoms don't improve with simple changes, particularly if you also notice:
These signs and symptoms could signal an underlying digestive condition. Intestinal symptoms can be embarrassing — but don't let embarrassment keep you from seeking help. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have
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. How long does trapped chest gas last?Gas pain in the chest should resolve relatively quickly. After starting natural remedies, it should start to recede within 30 to 45 minutes. There's no need to worry unless you experience emergency symptoms associated with heart attacks or your symptoms seem to last longer than 2 hours.
What does gas in chest feel like?24, 2021. Feeling any kind of pain or discomfort in your chest can certainly be scary; however, if you are simply dealing with gas pains you may notice a fullness or tightness in the chest. You may also notice that this pain radiates to your abdomen.
What causes gas stuck in chest?Dairy and wheat products and carbonated beverages are common culprits that cause gas pains in the chest. Food poisoning that occurs after eating contaminated foods can also cause you to experience this symptom. Health conditions that affect digestion and gut health are other common causes of gas pain in the chest.
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