Flatulence

and Eva Rudolf-Müller, doctor

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

Brief overview

What is flatulence? too much air in the stomach - the stomach is swollen (meteorism). Often there are more intestinal winds (flatulence).
Causes: foods rich in fiber or gas (cabbage, legumes, onions, etc.), carbonated drinks, alcohol, coffee, swallowing air from hastily eating or speaking while eating, stress, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerance (such as lactose intolerance, celiac disease), Food allergy, disturbance of the intestinal flora (e.g. as a result of antibiotic therapy), dysfunction of the pancreas (pancreatic insufficiency), intestinal obstruction, colon cancer, liver cirrhosis; in babies: three-month colic
Treatment: defoaming agents, digestive and antispasmodic agents, home remedies; if necessary, treatment of the underlying disease
Home remedies: hot water bottle, warm wrap, potato topping, circular abdominal massage, tea made from aniseed, fennel and caraway seeds

Prevention: Avoid difficult to digest and gasping foods and drinks (e.g. fatty foods, cabbage, beans, carbonated drinks), use digestive spices when cooking (caraway seeds, aniseed, marjoram, etc.), eat slowly and chew thoroughly, take several small meals a day fewer large portions, sufficient exercise and sport (e.g. digestive walk, swimming, cycling)

Flatulence: causes

Having some air in the intestines and releasing it through the anus in the form of intestinal winds is completely normal. The unpleasant smell that can arise is also not unusual. It is caused by intestinal bacteria that produce sulphurous gases when the leftover food is broken down.

How people perceive flatulence varies. Some people find even small amounts of gas in the stomach annoying, others are less sensitive in this regard. Flatulence that occurs sporadically and without any other accompanying symptoms is not considered to be a disease. In some cases, however, they are symptoms of a disease.

How intestinal gases are created

Intestinal gases arise mainly during digestion - especially when high-fiber foods or large amounts of carbohydrates or protein are broken down by the intestinal bacteria. The microbes produce hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide, among other things. Most of these gases pass into the blood and are exhaled through the lungs. The rest escapes through the intestines.

What Causes Flatulence?

In the vast majority of cases, the bloated stomach is harmless and can be traced back to the wrong diet and lifestyle. But there can also be diseases behind it.

Flatulent foods and drinks

For example, cabbage, legumes, and onions can cause severe gas. Food that is too rich, fatty or sweet also leads to increased gas build-up in the stomach. The enzymes present there cannot then completely break down the nutrients, bacteria become active.

Carbonated beverages, alcohol, and coffee can also cause gas.

Another reason for flatulence can be the sudden change in diet to whole grain products, because the digestive tract first has to adapt to the unfamiliar food. Much of the indigestible fiber found in whole grain products is broken down by bacteria in the colon. This creates waste products that can lead to a bloated stomach.

Ingestion of air (aerophagia)

Those who swallow their meals hastily swallow around twice as much air as slow eaters - and it collects in the intestines.

Sedentary lifestyle

Those who spend most of their day sitting down are also more prone to gas: a lack of exercise makes the bowel sluggish and promotes flatulence.

Psychological triggers

Lumps in the stomach, stones in the stomach - a negative mental state has a significant effect on digestion. Stress and anxiety disrupt digestion and can also result in flatulence.

pregnancy

Flatulence during pregnancy is not uncommon. The expectant mother's body produces the hormone progesterone. It relaxes the muscle tissue of organs including the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract. This slows down digestion. This makes it easier for people to get flatulence, and when diseases cause flatulence

Diseases

Flatulence is rarely caused by diseases. These include, for example, food allergies and food intolerances. Life-threatening diseases very rarely cause gas. The most important disease-related causes of a bloated stomach are:

Irritable bowel syndrome: In irritable bowel syndrome, the function of the digestive tract is disturbed. In addition to flatulence, there are pain, cramps and abnormal sensations as well as changes in the stool.
Milk sugar intolerance (lactose intolerance): People with a lactose intolerance cannot break down milk sugar (lactose) into its individual components. The lactose is then broken down by intestinal bacteria, which can cause flatulence, abdominal pain or cramps and diarrhea.
Gluten intolerance (celiac disease): In the case of gluten intolerance, the body is overly sensitive to the gluten contained in cereals. Typical symptoms of this form of food intolerance are flatulence, weight loss, chronic diarrhea and nausea.
Food allergies: Some people are allergic to certain foods, such as nuts, fruits, or milk. The consumption of the allergy triggers causes flatulence, itching, swelling in the mouth, diarrhea and eczema of the skin in them, for example.
Disturbance of the intestinal flora: Flatulence can also occur when the intestinal flora is out of balance, for example as a result of taking antibiotics.
Pancreatic disease: If the pancreas weakens, the digestion of fatty foods in particular causes problems. Sufferers get gas and a bloated stomach, belching, severe cramps and sometimes diarrhea.
Colon cancer (colorectal cancer): Colon cancer is a malignant growth in the intestine. In addition to chronic flatulence and irregular digestion, a change in the stool and the blood it contains can be an indication of colon cancer.
Liver cirrhosis: Severe flatulence also occurs with liver cirrhosis. Other complaints are fatigue, poor performance, loss of appetite, nausea, constipation and pressure under the right costal arch.
Intestinal obstruction: This usually manifests itself initially in constipation, abdominal pain and flatulence. The causes of the obstruction can be paralysis of the bowel movement (peristalsis), scarred adhesions after an operation, Crohn's disease, and tumors or foreign bodies in the bowel.

Location of the small and large intestines:

Flatulence in babies and children

Babies very often suffer from wind (flatulence), particularly in the first three months of life. Gases inflate the little one's stomach painfully. In some cases, air enters the digestive tract simply by swallowing while drinking. For this reason, infants should "burp" after drinking. This allows the air to escape from the stomach again.

Food intolerance

Food intolerance can be just as troublesome for children as it is for adults. The intolerance of milk sugar (lactose intolerance) or gluten (celiac disease) as well as functional disorders of the pancreas (pancreatic insufficiency) impair digestion and thus promote flatulence.

Keyword: three-month colic

Some infants cry excessively, especially in the early evening hours. The most common baby cribs are found in the age group 0 to 3 months. The children affected suffer from so-called three-month colic. This outdated term clarifies what was previously thought to be the cause of the excessive screaming attacks - a lot of air in the stomach, which causes abdominal pain and gas.

It is now assumed that the air in the belly of the little ones is the result and not the cause of the many screaming (swallowing air during violent, persistent screaming!). Instead, it is believed that the cause of the crying attacks is that the affected babies still have problems calming themselves. They may also be more sensitive than their peers and thus overwhelmed by environmental stimuli more quickly. In any case, the three-month colic is now considered a regulatory disorder (as well as feeding and sleeping disorders in babies) - the affected infants have not yet made the developmental step to adequately regulate their behavior in certain contexts (self-calming, screaming, sleeping, etc.).

Remedies for flatulence

Flatulence is usually harmless and goes away on its own. If you want to do something against the bloated stomach, you can try various home remedies. If they don't help, you can take various gas medicines.

Flatulence: home remedies

There are various home remedies for flatulence. Tea, warmth and massage - you can find out what helps you here.

Tea against flatulence

Various herbal teas have a puffing effect and relieve stomach ache. Suitable medicinal plants are:

anise
Caraway seed
Lemon balm
sage
fennel
Turmeric
ginger
chamomile
Vermouth

Read more about the preparation in the corresponding medicinal plants article.

You can also crush a mixture of 50 grams each of anise, fennel and caraway seeds, pour 150 milliliters of boiling water over a teaspoon of this mixture and leave it covered for ten minutes. Drink a cup for gas several times a day.

Warmth against flatulence

Another thing that helps against flatulence is warmth. It relaxes the bowel. A hot water bottle or a grain pillow (cherry stone pillow) are suitable. If you want to intensify the effect, you can place a damp washcloth between the hot water bottle and your stomach (damp heat).

Belly pad with chamomile: A hot, humid belly pad with chamomile has a pain-relieving, antispasmodic and relaxing effect. To do this, pour half a liter of boiling water over one to two tablespoons of chamomile flowers, cover and let stand for five minutes and strain the parts of the plant.

Place a rolled-up inner cloth in a second cloth, roll the whole thing up to make a wrap. Let this soak through the hot tea with the ends hanging out, wring it out. Place the inner cloth around the stomach without creases. Wrap a dry cloth around it. After 20 to 30 minutes, lose weight and rest for half an hour. Use a maximum of twice a day.

Potato wrap: The warmth of a potato wrap (or potato topping) has a relaxing, pain-relieving effect and promotes blood circulation. Cook the potatoes until soft, drain and allow to evaporate. Place on a cloth and mash with a fork.

Place an intermediate towel on your stomach, close the overlay to form a packet and place it on top. Fix with an outer cloth (e.g. towel) and leave for 30 to 60 minutes. Then rest.

As soon as the heat becomes uncomfortable, remove the wrap or pad immediately.

Abdominal massage and rubbing

Gentle massages are also a tried and tested home remedy for flatulence.

Abdominal massage: A gentle abdominal massage can activate the natural bowel movement, relieve tension, relieve gastrointestinal complaints and help against flatulence. To do this, stroke the stomach with both hands and gently pressure in a clockwise direction for several minutes. This home remedy is particularly suitable for children.

Abdominal rubbing: A stomach rubbing with diluted fennel, lemon balm, chamomile or caraway oil warms, relieves cramps and pain and stimulates digestion. To do this, warm a few drops of oil in your hands and rub it gently into your stomach in a clockwise direction for a few minutes. Don't work with too much pressure. Then rest well covered for about half an hour. Repeat several times a day as needed.

Some essential oils can cause shortness of breath in children and babies. You should always discuss the application with your pediatrician first.

Anti-flatulence drugs

Various over-the-counter and prescription drugs are available to treat severe flatulence. They have a defoaming, antispasmodic or digestive effect. They are available in different preparations, such as drops or capsules.

Defoaming agents: They reduce the surface tension of the foam bubbles in the chyme, in which gases are trapped. This allows the gases to escape, be absorbed into the body or leave the anus. Defoamers have a purely physical effect and do not get into the blood. They should be taken with meals or in the evening before going to bed. Well-known representatives of this group of active ingredients are Simeticon and Dimeticon.

This is how defoaming agents work

Defoaming agents (detergents) lower the surface tension of gas bubbles. The foam dissolves and can now be more easily absorbed by the intestinal wall or released naturally.

Digestive Enzymes: Some people cannot properly digest foods that contain fat, protein, or carbohydrates. The reason for this is that the glandular cells of the digestive tract (in the stomach, pancreas and liver) do not produce the appropriate digestive enzymes in sufficient quantities. Flatulence is the result. Medicines that contain the missing enzymes can help here. They should be taken with meals to help digest food.

Antispasmodic agents: Antispasmodic agents such as butylscopolamine, mebeverine or trospium chloride can help against flatulence associated with colicky abdominal pain. They relax the muscles of the intestine. Some of these drugs require a prescription.

Flatulence: prevention

Flatulence is in most cases harmless and caused by wrong living and eating habits. Therefore, you should consider the following:

Avoid flatulent foods: Every bean makes a tone, as the saying goes. Flatulence is mostly caused by "explosive" foods. If the causes of the flatulence are known, those affected can easily take remedial action by avoiding them. Die-hard bean fans, for example, should soak the legumes for twelve hours and cook for a long time. This reduces the gas-forming properties. Be careful with onions, cabbage vegetables, unripe fruit, freshly baked bread and coarse (heavy) whole grain bread and carbonated drinks.
Light fare: Eat mostly foods that are easy to digest. High-fat, heavy, and luscious meals are hugely challenging for the digestive tract and can easily lead to gas and gas.
Helpful spices: Use digestive spices such as caraway, anise, marjoram or coriander as often as possible in the kitchen to prevent flatulence and indigestion.
Enjoy instead of gorging: take time to eat, chew thoroughly and speak little during the meal. This way, not so much air gets into the intestines. Incidentally, several small meals spread over the day are cheaper than a few large ones.
Gut on the go: Exercise and sport get the gut going. If you don't like exercise, at least try a little digestive walk after meals. Home remedies such as a hot water bottle, circular abdominal massages and medicinal herbal teas such as caraway or chamomile tea can also be helpful.

When should you see a doctor?

Flatulence is usually harmless. Only in rare cases is a serious illness behind the annoying symptoms. However, you should see a doctor in the following cases:

The flatulence is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, vomiting and altered bowel movements.
They keep recurring in certain contexts.
They last for a long time.

What does the doctor?

In order to get to the bottom of the cause of the flatulence, the doctor will first ask questions about your medical history (anamnesis). The flatulence or meteorism can be described in more detail and inquires about any other complaints (abdominal pain, changes in stool, nausea, etc.).He also asks about your diet and lifestyle as well as any underlying illnesses.

The doctor then palpates the abdomen and uses the stethoscope to check the intestinal noises. If he suspects that an organic disease is the cause of the flatulence, he initiates further investigations. These include, for example, an ultrasound examination (sonography) of the abdomen, stool examinations or tests for food intolerance such as a lactose tolerance test.

If the findings reveal a disease that requires treatment as the cause of the flatulence, the doctor will suggest a suitable therapy.

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