Flatulence?

Flatulence?

Flatulence is normal and usually not serious. But some people are more bothered than others. Flatulence can be embarrassing and painful. There is a lot of good preventive advice, and treatment when air pollution occurs.

Symptoms of flatulence

• Voluntary or involuntary passing of air (flatulence and/or belching).

• Sharp, pressing pains or cramps in the stomach. When the pain occurs in the upper, left part of the abdominal cavity, it can be misinterpreted as pain from the heart.

• Bloating.

Normally, there is always some air in the intestine because you swallow air in connection with meals, consume carbonated drinks and because intestinal bacteria produce gas when breaking down certain nutrients.

Causes of air pollution

Air pollution can have many causes.

Constipation can cause extra air in the stomach. Use of laxatives or medicines that cause constipation can also cause flatulence.

• Diarrhea can cause problems with flatulence. Imodium Comp can be tried for complaints with both a loose stomach and a lot of wind.

• Food products. Healthy food with a high fiber content, unfortunately, often causes gas in the stomach. This applies to vegetables (broccoli, peas, beans, lentils, cabbage, onions, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower), prunes and juice. Carbonated drinks and coffee also often cause flatulence.

• Swallowing air. If you eat very quickly, you often swallow more air. Chewing gum or using straws can also cause you to swallow air.

• Food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance and celiac disease (intolerance to gluten), can cause flatulence.

• Diseases such as irritable bowel, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease often cause air complaints.

• Antibiotics disrupt the normal bacterial flora in the stomach. This can result in increased air formation.

• Artificial sweeteners, such as mannitol and sorbitol, are poorly tolerated by many and can cause flatulence.

Pregnant and flatulence

Many pregnant women experience challenges with a lot of air in the stomach during pregnancy. This is usually completely normal, and often a consequence of the organs and intestines being pressed together more to make room for the growing baby in the mother's stomach. Hormonal changes can also lead to changes in bowel movement, which in turn can cause problems with flatulence. Physical activity and regular meals can help reduce flatulence. Also avoid foods you react to and which can give you flatulence.

Air in baby's stomach

Small babies have a digestive system that is not fully developed, which can lead to a lot of flatulence in some. In addition, breastfeeding children may react with signs of flatulence to certain foods that have been consumed by the mother.

Read more about colic and baby here.

Prevention of air pain

Eat less of foods that give you flatulence.

Eat calmly and without talking at the same time - many people swallow air when they eat and talk at the same time.

Eat often and less, rather than rarely and a lot.

Keep moving after eating - this gives the digestive system good working conditions.

Establish regular toilet habits.

Do not smoke. Smoke can increase the amount of air you swallow.

Self-treatment

At the pharmacy, you can buy silicone preparations (such as (Imogas, Minifom and Dulcogas) and combination preparations (Redugas) which can help with flatulence. Silicone works by breaking down foam and air bubbles, and the effect comes after 2-3 days. Not everyone experiences a good effect of such products. The combination preparation contains both silicone and lactic acid bacteria, the lactic acid bacteria contribute to normal intestinal flora and can reduce future gas formation. The effect comes quickly. Digestive enzymes work by breaking down long carbohydrate chains, and can therefore reduce gas formation.