Flatulence
Flatulence is defined as the enlargement of the abdominal area and its large size, which is accompanied by a feeling of discomfort and fullness in that area, and the abdomen is full of gases and their frequent release. The relationship between the presence of gases in the abdomen and its bloating is not clear, as some people suffer from flatulence without the presence of excessive amounts of gases, because some pathological and psychological conditions make the abdomen more sensitive to gases, even if the quantities are small, which causes flatulence.
Flatulence is usually a minor symptom caused by wrong behaviors while eating or eating certain foods, and it can be treated by following a specific diet, or by changing some behavioral habits. In other cases, flatulence is an indication of more serious diseases, especially if the bloating continues for long periods without disappearance, and if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as; Diarrhea, weight loss, or accompanied by severe abdominal pain, and then you should see a doctor to treat the health problem that causes bloating.
Flatulence treatment
Most cases of bloating can be mitigated or eliminated using simple home remedies, or by taking some types of simple medications, and in certain cases you may need to consult a doctor. Here is a list of ways to quickly treat flatulence:
- Walking: Walking helps move the intestines and get rid of flatulence and constipation as well. Take mint oil capsules: It is usually given to people with irritable bowel syndrome to relieve symptoms of the disease, but it is useful for getting rid of flatulence by calming the intestinal muscles.
- Take gas relief tablets: they contain simethicone, which works to move excess gases and remove them from the digestive system.
- Abdominal massage: Abdominal massage in the direction of the movement of substances in the large intestine helps to relieve flatulence, and the massage should be stopped if the pain is felt.
- Bathing with warm water: The heat helps relieve abdominal pain and relax, which reduces stress and improves the functioning of the digestive system, thus relieving bloating.
- Take digestive enzymes: These are health supplements that are available without a prescription and contain enzymes that help the digestion process, and convert some compounds such as; complex carbohydrates into simple, easily digestible substances.
- Consuming activated charcoal: Activated charcoal differs from regular charcoal in that it undergoes a special treatment that makes it suitable for human consumption. This charcoal binds with fluids in the abdomen, reduces flatulence, and the amounts of gases present in it.
- Avoid eating large amounts of food at the same time: Eating large amounts causes a feeling of bloating, and people who are more prone to bloating feel uncomfortable even when they eat snacks. It is also recommended to chew food well; This is to reduce the amount of air passing into the stomach with eating.
- Avoid eating allergic foods: Some types of food contain substances that cause allergies in some people, and this sensitivity causes increased gases in the abdomen and bloating, and among the most essential substances that cause allergies: are fructose, lactose, wheat, and the protein in it called gluten, in addition to eggs.
- Reducing the passage of air into the stomach: The air accumulated in the stomach increases when consuming soft drinks containing soda, as has carbon dioxide gas that is released from these drinks when it reaches the stomach and causes flatulence. Air also passes into the stomach when chewing gum, drinking using a straw, or talking while eating, in addition to eating quickly.
- See a doctor to check for medical conditions. Some diseases cause symptoms that include chronic flatulence, and it is necessary to consult a doctor to ensure the possibility of some types of diseases and health problems that cause this bloating.
- Avoid some types of foods: some foods cause flatulence, such as; Some types of raw vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, onions, and some types of fruits such as apricots, apples, and pears. And some legumes, such as: lentils and beans.
- Quit smoking: smoking causes air to enter the digestive system and flatulence.
- Avoid some types of sweeteners: some foods contain artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol, which is indigestible. Fructose is also difficult to digest for some people, and eating these substances leads to flatulence.
Diseases causing flatulence
As we mentioned above, flatulence may be accidental, caused by eating some types of foods, or chronic due to a certain disease or exposure to a health problem, which requires treatment of this disease in order for its symptoms to disappear. The following is a list of some diseases in which flatulence is one of the symptoms:
- Some types of cancer: These cancers are: ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, and liver cancer. Symptoms of these cancers include flatulence, in addition to many other symptoms.
- Diverticulitis: This problem causes inflammation in small cysts that form inside the colon, and causes several problems, including flatulence, and usually affects people over the age of fifty years.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease: Inflammation of the uterine wall, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. This condition usually occurs as a complication after infection with some types of sexually transmitted diseases or after childbirth or abortion.
- Crohn's disease: Crohn's disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the digestive system, especially the colon and small intestine. Its symptoms appear in the form of severe flatulence, in addition to weight loss, nausea, and vomiting after eating.
- Irritable bowel syndrome: It is a disorder of the large intestine, which causes abdominal pain and a change in excretory habits, in addition to suffering from flatulence, and the causes of its infection are still not clear until now.