Bloating in adults
Bloating can develop both in healthy people and be a sign of a disease. Many people needlessly ignore these issues. After all, increased formation of gases can indicate serious diseases.

Causes of bloating in adults

The formation of gases in the intestines is a normal physiological process. Some air is swallowed with food (aerophagy). But most of the gases are formed as a result of food processing and are released by the intestinal microflora. A normal person produces and releases about 600 ml of gas per day. But with flatulence (increased gas formation), the volume of gas reaches 3-4 liters, as a result of which the patient’s stomach bursts.

Intestinal gases are based on methane, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen, ammonia, carbon dioxide, oxygen, hydrogen, etc. Gases are located along the intestinal wall and are enclosed in bubbles, forming foam.

There can be many reasons for increased gas formation and it is impossible to determine it only on this basis alone.

Flatulence can be the result of non-compliance with the diet, as well as swallowing air. The main causes of aerophagia (swallowing air) are:

  • talking while eating;
  • smoking;
  • food on the go
  • chewing gum;
  • the use of low-quality prostheses, etc.

Gas formation is a symptom of such diseases of the gastrointestinal tract as:

  • gastritis;
  • enteritis;
  • colitis;
  • cholecystitis;
  • hepatitis;
  • Crohn’s disease
  • helminthic invasions;
  • intestinal tumors;
  • chronic pancreatitis;
  • intestinal infections (salmonellosis, dysentery, etc.).

It is also worth noting lactose tolerance, as one of the causes of gas formation. With this disease, the patient does not produce lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose, a carbohydrate found in milk.

Another syndrome that can cause bloating is celiac disease. With this disease, the body does not have enough enzymes to process gluten, a protein found in cereals.

Irritable bowel syndrome is another condition that is characterized by increased gas production. This ailment is more common in women than in men. Recently, scientists are inclined to believe that the cause of the development of this syndrome is stress, neurosis, and depression.

In women, the cause of bloating can be premenstrual syndrome, adnexitis, uterine fibroids, ectopic pregnancy.

What foods cause bloating

The products that lead to bloating are primarily carbonated water, kvass, beer, etc.

Some other products also contribute to increased gas formation. For example:

  • legumes – beans, peas, lentils;
  • milk and dairy products
  • some vegetables – cabbage, onions, celery, radishes;
  • grain crops – corn, bran, wheat germ;
  • pastry dough products – rolls, bagels, pizza.

Treatment of bloating in adults

Treatment for bloating depends on the underlying cause. If bloating occurs against the background of a change in diet, consumption of food that is unusual for the body, in this case, the diet will be the basis of treatment. It is necessary to limit the consumption of gas-producing foods – carbonated water, legumes, dairy products and sweets. And also give up bad habits, such as smoking, talking while eating, chewing gum, etc.

Medications

If gas formation is based on a disease of the gastrointestinal tract, treatment should be comprehensive and aimed at eliminating the main cause that caused swelling. For this purpose, drugs that eliminate flatulence can be prescribed. These include:

  • Enterosorbents – enterosgel, smecta, neosmectin, activated carbon. These drugs adsorb and remove toxins from the body that can cause bloating;
  • Defoamers – simethicone (Espumizan). Gas bubbles form foam in the intestines. Espumizan reduces the formation of gas bubbles and, thereby, reduces the symptoms of bloating;
  • Enzymes of gastric juice – facilitate the digestion of carbohydrates and proteins.

Folk remedies

Complementary or alternative medicine methods can be used to treat bloating. The so-called “carminative” remedies help treat flatulence, for example;

  • decoctions from the fruits of dill and fennel;
  • herbal collection of mint leaves, fennel, valerian root.

Diet for bloating in adults

For more effective treatment of bloating, as well as its prevention, patients need to follow a diet. It consists of 5-6 meals a day. The interval between meals should be no more than 3 hours. Food should not be too cold, but not too hot. Preference should be given to thermally processed dishes – boiled or stewed. Fried and smoked, and spicy, spicy, fatty foods should be excluded from the diet. It is important to drink plenty of fluids – at least 1,5 -2 liters per day. It is recommended to include dietary dishes in the menu – sour-milk products, lean meat, cereals.

Popular questions and answers

Questions about bloating we asked to answer gastroenterologist Dmitry Vinogradov.

Why is bloating dangerous?
Bloating is a symptom of many conditions and diseases that are manifested by an increase in the volume of the abdominal cavity. Often accompanied by a feeling of fullness, fullness, and pain. In most cases, bloating is associated with flatulence – an excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines, which, in turn, may indicate problems in the intestines themselves.

On the other hand, an increase in the abdomen may be the result of an oncological process of accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites) as a result of an inflammatory disease or cirrhosis of the liver, for example.

A one-time manifestation of such a symptom (for example, due to the introduction of new foods into the diet or overeating) should not cause concern. If bloating becomes a constant companion, this may be a sign that a person needs serious medical attention.

When to see a doctor for bloating?
When persistent symptoms appear that are not associated with the usual errors in eating and in the event of concomitant symptoms, such as pain or cramps.
What diseases can cause bloating, is it always a sign of digestive problems?
Not always an increase in the size of the abdomen is a digestive problem. This may be a manifestation of an oncological disease, ascites due to an inflammatory disease of the abdominal organs.
What foods should be avoided for people with bloating?
With the appearance of increased gas formation of the intestines and an increase in the size of the abdomen, it is advisable to exclude from the diet products that are incompatible with each other, such as milk and pickles.

But in general, the question is individual. Of course, there are foods that are not recommended for increased gas formation: starchy foods, sweets (may cause fermentation), foods that always cause gas formation, such as legumes (beans, peas, beans, lentils), cabbage, raw vegetables and fruits, carbonated drinks (kvass, lemonade, beer and other alcoholic drinks).

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