subject: Flatulence | Symptoms, Causes and Treatment for Gas Problem [print this page] Flatulence | Symptoms, Causes and Treatment for Gas Problem
Passing gas or passing wind is considered to be one of the most embarrassing acts that a person can commit in public. However, sometimes the urge becomes so strong that the person cannot control and becomes a laughingstock. Passing gas is actually a perfectly normal bodily function, but in some cases its severity becomes so high that it can be termed as a disease. About 30 to 40% of all people worldwide suffer from problems with flatulence.
Symptoms of Gas/Flatulence
There is a repeated and uncontrollable urge to pass wind.
The urge is felt at the anus. The nerve endings of the anal tract are specialized to understand the signal.
In flatulence, the urge can be so strong that the person could get confused between the signal for passing wind and for defecation. Hence there could be accidental defecation sometimes.
The wind passed by flatulent people has traces of methane in it due to undigested food. Due to this, the gas passed is foul-smelling.
Prevention of Gas/Flatulence
Avoid foods that cause flatulence. See the following list of foods that cause flatulence:-
Beans
Brans and whole grain cereals
Eggs
Fatty foods
Fermented foods such as breads, dosas and cakes
Fried foods
Fruits like apples, grapes and bananas
Meat with high fat content
Milk and milk products
Potatoes
Prunes such as jujube fruit
Pulses like black gram and Bengal gram
Sauces, chutneys and gravies.
Major cause of flatulence is swallowed air
Swallowed air, though this is a major cause of flatulence, it could still be a reason. Some people swallow air as a matter of habit, this condition is referred to as Aerophagia. While the oxygen present in the air thus inhaled is absorbed by the body, the nitrogen is expelled in flatus as it is poorly absorbed by the mucous lining.
Presence of excessive amounts of bacteria in the intestines
Consumption of large amounts of fibrous foods
Consumption of products that contain malt extracts
Find powerful herbal remedies
Natural Remedies for Flatulence
Digestive disorders that affect the GI tract such as gastroenteritis.
Irritable bowel syndrome
Irregular bowel movements or constipation.
Food or water that may be prepared under unhygienic conditions.
It would better to try out herbal remedies before resorting to allopathic medication to cure flatulence. Activated charcoal pills, lactose or bismuth products are remedies that are usually resorted to cure flatulence and belching.
