If you're feeling bloated from excess sodium, “the best tip for quick-ish relief is to drink more water and eat mild foods with potassium, like banana, avocado, and sweet potato,” says Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD.
To keep belly bloat at bay, reach for peppermint, ginger, or fennel tea, Doyle says. “These teas have different properties, which may relax the digestive tract and relieve bloating and gas,” Fullenweider says.
While trapped gas may cause discomfort, it usually passes on its own after a few hours. Some people may be able to relieve pain due to trapped gas using natural remedies, certain body positions, or OTC medications. Avoiding known trigger foods or drinks can help prevent trapped gas from occurring.
Left Side Sleeping
Gravity can help waste move with greater ease through the digestive tract from the small intestine to the large intestine. This can help to ease discomfort from gas and bloating and other digestive discomforts.
Although many people who are experiencing gas or bloating feel better when they go horizontal, it's actually better to stay upright. "Simply lying down often provides relief from bloating," Palmer says.
Sometimes gas pain is severe enough to make you wonder whether you should get emergency help, but it seldom requires immediate attention. However, if you have other accompanying symptoms, they're a clue that your gas may represent a more serious problem.
Excessive flatulence can be caused by swallowing more air than usual or eating food that's difficult to digest. It can also be related to an underlying health problem affecting the digestive system, such as recurring indigestion or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Temporary discomfort and bloating could signal a normal buildup of gas, but excessive gas that's accompanied by abdominal pain, bloating or fullness, nausea or weight loss could be a warning sign of a more serious health issue – especially if you haven't made any significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.
By itself, intestinal gas rarely indicates a serious condition. It can cause discomfort and embarrassment, but it's usually just a sign of a normally functioning digestive system. If you're bothered by intestinal gas, try changing your diet.
Sip a glass of water slowly.
Drinking water does two things, says Dr. Wakim-Fleming: It can help move any gas-causing foods in your system through the digestive process, and it makes it harder for your intestines to contract in a way that gasses you up.
Intestinal gas also consists of carbon dioxide and hydrogen. As gas moves through the digestive tract, it can stretch the stomach and intestines. This can result in sharp, jabbing pain and bloating or cramping that is highly uncomfortable.
you have persistent bloating, gas, or heartburn. your stools contain blood or mucus. there have been major changes to your bowel movements. your symptoms are making it difficult to function.
See a GP if:
you've been feeling bloated for 3 weeks or more. you feel bloated regularly (more than 12 times a month) you've tried changing your diet but keep feeling bloated.
Functional reasons for a distended abdomen tend to involve digestive problems that cause gas and/or digestive contents to accumulate. Causes might include: Gas from functional indigestion, food intolerances or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Constipation causing a build-up of feces and back-up of digestive contents.
You should see a doctor if you have gas and bloating along with any of these symptoms: Blood or mucus in your stool. Changing your eating habits didn't help. Chronic or frequent diarrhea, constipation, or vomiting.
Trouble Passing Gas
According to the Mount Sinai Medical Center, a tumor, scar tissue (adhesions), or narrowing of the intestines are all likely causes of abdominal obstruction. If you're experiencing gas pain and you either can't pass gas or have excessive flatulence, speak to your healthcare provider.
Drink warm water
Water stimulates peristalsis (movement in the intestine). Drinking a cup of warm water may help relieve gas and cramps.
As bananas ripen, their resistant starch is turned into simple sugars, which are more digestible. As such, eating ripe bananas may help reduce gas and bloating ( 13 ).
This may surprise you, but coffee can indeed cause gas. When you drink it on an empty stomach, and it reduces the hydrochloric acid, your stomach may have trouble breaking down protein. All that undigested protein starts eating all the gut bacteria that produce hydrogen sulfide. The result is, well, a gassy stomach.