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Flatulence – This is an excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines. It is manifested by bloating, swelling, bursting pain in the abdomen. Often accompanied by copious (explosive) release of large amounts of digestive gases.
Flatulence is a fairly common phenomenon in which a lot of gases accumulate in the digestive organs. However, flatulence is not always a manifestation of the disease. It happens that a person who does not suffer from any disease, having eaten a lot of heavy food, begins to suffer from flatulence. If the proportion between the appearance of gases in the digestive organs and their withdrawal, and absorption is disturbed, flatulence also begins to disturb. In this case, the gas is collected in the digestive tract and gives the person discomfort.
Sometimes with this condition, up to 3 liters of gas formation per day is possible. When there are too many of them, they line the entire intestinal mucosa with a thin layer and interfere with its normal functioning. The enzymatic ability is inhibited, the absorption of nutrients is disturbed, and the digestive function suffers.
In a normal state, a person has about two hundred milliliters of gas in the digestive organs. However, not all gases emitted from the body have an unpleasant odor. The smell of gases depends on various odorous substances synthesized in the intestines. It can be hydrogen sulfide, and skatole or indole. Substances like these are released when microorganisms in the large intestine attack poorly digested food debris.
In the gastrointestinal tract, gases look like foam, the basis of which is mucus. This substance tightly closes the internal lumen of the intestine, while further absorption of food is difficult. Enzymes are poorly produced, metabolism is disturbed. A person begins to be disturbed by a bursting feeling in the abdomen, uneven pains, vomiting or belching are possible. A person has no appetite, diarrhea or constipation may appear.
It should be understood that flatulence is not an independent disease. This is just a consequence of an improper lifestyle, or a symptom of a gastrointestinal disease.
Causes of flatulence in adults
There are a lot of reasons why a lot of gases accumulate in the intestines.
The causes of flatulence in adults are very different, among them:
Violation of the enzyme system. If a person has a lack of certain enzymes, then a large amount of undigested food debris will enter the intestines from the upper gastrointestinal tract. This food will help start the processes of decay and fermentation, which leads to the release of gases. In adulthood, enzymatic deficiency is the result of an unbalanced diet.
Intestinal dysbiosis. If we calibrate the causes of flatulence according to the frequency of their occurrence, then intestinal dysbacteriosis will be in second place after the insufficiency of the enzymatic system. When the microflora of the terminal parts of the digestive tract is not disturbed, most of the intestinal gases are absorbed by the bacteria that exist in the intestine. They are necessary for microorganisms for normal life. However, when the balance between gas-producing bacteria and gas-absorbing bacteria is disturbed, flatulence develops.
Postponed abdominal surgery. The third most common cause of flatulence is surgical interventions that were performed on the abdominal cavity. The intestinal wall is stretched, as the motor activity of the intestine after surgical interventions is reduced. All operations on the gastrointestinal tract always lead to a decrease in the motility of the terminal parts of the digestive organs. As a result, the normal movement of food through the intestines is disturbed, the processes of decay and fermentation are triggered, which leads to flatulence. In addition, after operations, adhesions of the abdominal cavity are often formed, which also leads to difficulty in the process of digestion of food and provokes flatulence.
Diseases of the digestive system. The intestine is part of the general system of the digestive system. Therefore, any of their diseases will contribute to the fact that his work will be disrupted, which means that flatulence will occur.
The main diseases of the digestive tract and the associated causes of flatulence, experts distinguish the following:
Gastritis, in which the acidity of the stomach is disturbed, which leads to a failure in the process of splitting proteins. They in a half-decayed form enter the intestines and cause flatulence.
Cholecystitis. With inflammation of the gallbladder, there is a violation of the outflow of bile, it is not enough for the normal functioning of the duodenum, which ultimately causes flatulence.
Duodenitis. In this case, the duodenum is involved in the inflammatory process. The digestive enzymes produced by it are produced in smaller quantities, they are not enough to break down food. As a result – the development of fermentation processes and flatulence.
Pancreatitis. Flatulence occurs due to the failure of the enzymatic function of the pancreas.
Enteritis. Flatulence becomes a consequence of impaired absorption and digestion of food by the small intestine, which occurs due to dystrophic changes in its mucous membrane.
Colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine, often of a dystrophic nature. This disease not only disrupts the process of digestion of food, but also provokes an imbalance in the intestinal microflora. As a result of pathological disorders, flatulence develops.
Cirrhosis of the liver. Flatulence occurs against the background of insufficiency of bile secretion, due to disturbances in the functioning of the liver. Its lack causes incomplete digestion of fats, as a result of which an increase in gas formation in cirrhosis is always observed after eating fatty foods.
Various intestinal infections, the pathogens of which enter the intestines with food. As a result, his work is disrupted, peristalsis deteriorates, food is not absorbed, flatulence occurs.
Intestinal obstruction causes flatulence due to a violation of its motor activity – it either decreases or increases. The cause of obstruction can be a tumor, a foreign body, parasites.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In this case, there are functional disorders in the large intestine associated with a change in the sensitivity of its parietal receptors.
Atony of the intestine, leading to a decrease in the rate of movement of feces. This contributes to the accumulation of gases in it.
Diverticula, which can be either congenital or acquired. One of the striking symptoms of this pathology is flatulence.
The nature of the food consumed. Human health directly depends on the quality of food. Often, people look for the causes of flatulence in diseases, and they are hidden in the foods that they consume daily. The most powerful provocateurs of excessive gas formation are: legumes, foods rich in coarse fiber, lamb. Contribute to flatulence highly carbonated drinks, including kvass and beer. Causes the process of fermentation in the intestine Kombucha, Borodino bread. If there is lactose intolerance, then the flatulence will contribute to the use of milk. A powerful provocative factor is also a diet that is enriched with cellulose.
Stress. Emotional upheavals can cause spasm of the intestinal muscles and slow down its work. Therefore, the causes of flatulence may lie in nervous disorders.
senile flatulence. This pathological condition affects people older than 65-70 years. Most often it occurs against the background of the process of atrophy of the muscular layer of the intestine. Also, the causes of flatulence in old age can be: lengthening of the intestine, deterioration in the functioning of the glands that produce digestive enzymes.
Pregnancy. If a woman is carrying a child, then increased gas formation can occur when her intestines are clamped by a growing uterus. The movement of food masses slows down, as well as the process of absorption of nutrients from them.
flatulence symptoms
Symptoms of flatulence are manifested by the following intestinal disorders:
Bloating;
Pain, both paroxysmal and cramping (sometimes they can radiate to the sternum, resemble aching heart pains, in the lower back, right hypochondrium);
Burping;
Nausea;
Stool retention, or, conversely, diarrhea;
Decreased appetite;
An increase in the volume of the abdomen, a feeling of discomfort that appears in it;
Increased discharge of gases;
Rumbling and overflow of intestinal contents;
The resulting sensation of increased intra-abdominal pressure;
Feeling of discomfort in the epigastric region.
It has been established that the symptoms of flatulence can manifest themselves in extraintestinal disorders:
From the side of the heart: violations of its rhythm and the occurrence of a burning sensation in the chest;
Deterioration of mood and performance;
sleep problems;
Headache;
General weakness.
Bloating with flatulence
Bloating with flatulence is one of the most striking manifestations of an increase in the amount of gases in the intestines. It is impossible not to notice it, since swelling is accompanied by pain and a feeling of pronounced discomfort.
The abdomen increases in size due to the overflow of the intestines with gases. At the same time, their discharge does not occur, since the large intestine is spasmodic. Therefore, distension of the intestines and pressure on it from the inside is characterized by people as bloating and is one of the clinical variants of the course of flatulence.
Answers to popular questions:
Is flatulence dangerous? By itself, flatulence cannot pose a threat to human life. However, the danger of this pathological condition of the intestine is that it can indicate serious diseases. These are pathologies of the stomach, gallbladder, liver, intestines, an oncological process is not excluded. Therefore, with frequent flatulence, which does not depend on the diet, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Is it possible to drink kefir with flatulence? Most experts are inclined to believe that the use of kefir has a positive effect on the functioning of the intestines. This drink helps to normalize the balance between the microbes that inhabit it. It is especially useful for flatulence, provoked by dysbacteriosis. However, with increased gas formation, it is necessary to consume kefir in small quantities for a long time. The drink must be fresh (no more than three days from the date of manufacture).
What to do if flatulence begins?
To understand what to do if flatulence has begun, it is necessary to determine the cause that provoked it. This will eliminate increased gas formation in the intestines, restore the quality of life.
If it is established that flatulence is the result of an irrational approach to nutrition, then the existing errors should be eliminated. It is important to eat regularly, even snacks between breakfast, lunch and dinner should take place in a relaxed atmosphere. Doctors recommend including fermented milk products in the diet. If their intake is regular, the metabolic activity of the microflora will normalize, the motor function of the intestine will be restored.
If flatulence is a consequence of any disease, then it is necessary to direct efforts to eliminate it. Only a specialist should deal with the treatment of diseases.
In lactose intolerance, it is important to follow an appropriate diet that is low in calories and avoids milk sugar.
For a while, it is necessary to reduce the amount of foods containing coarse vegetable fiber if flatulence is provoked by irritable bowel syndrome. It is important to consult a psychologist and a neurologist. To reduce the pain caused by bloating, you can use antispasmodics, such as Duspatalin.
With dysbacteriosis, probiotics are prescribed. It can be Linex, Rioflora Immuno, Hilak forte, Bifidumbacterin, etc. These drugs help to normalize the intestinal microbial balance.
To save a person from the symptoms of flatulence, he may be recommended drugs belonging to the group of defoamers. They contain such an active substance as simethicone. It has no side effects and has no age restrictions. Simethicone preparations include: Meteospasmil, Gestide, Maalox plus, Disflatil, Espumizan.
Additional means to help alleviate the patient’s condition are adsorbents. It can be: Polyphepan, preparations containing bismuth, aluminum phosphate, activated carbon. However, the effect of activated charcoal is delayed in time and very short, and other means help to slow down the passage of feces through the large intestine. Together with gases, they also remove vitamins, beneficial microflora and mineral compounds from the body.
It is also advisable to take pancreatic enzymes, since flatulence almost always occurs against the background of indigestion. Such drugs can be: Creon, Pancreatin, Pankreoflat (enzymes in combination with simethicone).