How is gas treated?
Experience has shown that the most common ways to reduce the discomfort of gas are taking medicines, changing diet, and reducing the amount of air swallowed.
Nonprescription Medicines
Several nonprescription, over-the-counter products are available to help reduce symptoms, including products containing simethicone, such as Phazyme®. Digestive enzymes, such as found in Beano, actually help digest carbohydrates and may allow people to eat foods that normally cause gas.
Prescription Medicines
Doctors may prescribe medicines to help reduce symptoms, especially for people with a disorder such as IBS.
Diet
Doctors may tell people to eat fewer foods that cause gas. However, for some people this may mean cutting out healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and milk products. For more information on how to prevent gas from many vegetables, beans and whole grains, visit www.beano.net.
Doctors may also suggest limiting high-fat foods to reduce bloating and discomfort. This helps the stomach empty faster, allowing gases to move into the small intestine.
Unfortunately, the amount of gas caused by certain foods varies from person to person. Effective dietary changes depend on learning through trial and error how much of the offending foods one can handle.
Reducing Swallowed Air
For those who have chronic belching, doctors may suggest ways to reduce the amount of air swallowed. Recommendations are to avoid chewing gum and to avoid eating hard candy. Eating at a slow pace and checking with a dentist to make sure dentures fit properly should also help.
Points to remember
- Everyone has gas in the digestive tract
- People often believe normal passage of gas to be excessive
- Gas comes from two main sources: swallowed air and normal breakdown of certain foods by harmless bacteria naturally present in the large intestine
- Many foods with carbohydrates can cause gas. Fats and proteins cause little gas
- The most common symptoms of gas are belching, flatulence, bloating, and abdominal pain. However, some of these symptoms are often caused by an intestinal disorder, such as irritable bowel syndrome, rather than too much gas
- One of the more common ways to reduce the discomfort of gas is to take a product that contains simethicone, the ingredient found in Phazyme®