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Chronic Gas Problems of the Stomach

Gas is caused by swallowing air while you eat or drink or by the natural breakdown of the foods you eat. Excessive gas is usually caused by a medical condition or dietary habits. Usually, changing what and how you eat can control gas.

  1. Excessive Gas

    • Normal people will burp or pass gas approximately 20 times a day, according to everydayhealth.com. If you are experiencing considerably more gas than this per day, then you have excessive gas.

    Symptoms and Causes

    • Chronic gas can cause painful bloating in your upper (stomach) and lower digestive tract. It can also cause embarrassing flatulence of gas that passes through the rectum. As the gas leaves your stomach, it collects sulfur and bacteria from your digestive tract and lower colon, creating a terrible smell on emission.

    Health Conditions

    • A health condition that contributes to excessive gas is called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The excessive gas produced in your stomach moves down through your digestive tract. Changing your diet and taking special medication can help with IBS.

    Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

    • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is also a medical condition that causes excessive gas in the stomach. GERD is exacerbated by the foods you eat and how much air you swallow while eating.

    Foods that Cause Gas

    • Foods to avoid that may cause gas include beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, milk and dairy products, artificial sweeteners, peaches, prunes, tomatoes, citrus fruit, brussels sprouts, radishes, onions, pasta, wheat, lettuce, raisins and carbonated drinks.

    Prevention/Solution

    • If you want to reduce your chronic gas problem, stop chewing gum, gulping your food and drink down and smoking.

      Chronic gas may be helped by taking digestive enzymes to help digest the food you eat.

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