Why gas builds up in the stomach

This may be because they lack the enzymes required. Your colon processes carbohydrates like beans, bran, cabbage, and broccoli into hydrogen and carbon dioxide gases. For some people, this can cause an excess of gas that may become trapped. Some people do not have enough lactase, which is the enzyme required to digest some milk products. This is called lactose intolerance. Others may have symptoms after eating gluten containing foods, which is called non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth SIBO occurs when bacteria that normally grows in other parts of the gut starts growing in the small intestine. This may cause more than normal intestinal gas. Constipation is one of the most common digestive problems in the United States. Many habits can contribute to more gas production, especially behaviors that allow more air intake when you eat.

Examples include:. If your discomfort from gas is prolonged and if you have other symptoms, you may have a more serious digestive problem. Some possibilities include:. You can lower your risk of getting a painful trapped gas bubble by watching what and how you eat. It may be useful to keep a food diary. This can help you keep track of the foods and circumstances that lead to a gas bubble. Then you can avoid those foods or behaviors that seem to give you a problem. Your doctor can diagnose other possible conditions.

They may also advise you to take a probiotic or a prescription antibiotic. Trapped gas can be acutely painful. Getting rapid relief may take some experimenting with different remedies to see what works for you.

Gas is a normal part of the digestion process. If you're unable to expel gas, you may start to feel pain and discomfort. Many factors influence gas passage and these include the amount of swallowed air, the nature and frequency of dietary intake, and the motility of the bowel, all of which can be affected by food, medications, and stress. For most, the passage of gas through the digestive tract causes no symptoms, but some experience frequent burping or belching, uncomfortable abdominal bloating, and repeating flatus.

Researchers have noted that when some individuals drink a beverage, they might swallow twice as much air as liquid, especially if drinking through a straw. As gas builds up, the abdomen may painfully distend, especially right after eating. Sometimes bloating is so severe that clothing becomes tight or may no longer fit. Since distension of the digestive tract affects intestinal contractions, increased gas passing from the stomach into the intestine may increase normal peristalsis that, if strong enough, may cause painful cramping.

Ingested gas passing through the bowel will eventually leave via the anus as flatus, as will gas produced in the colon, but it is the latter which is usually foul smelling.

Exogenous Gas : To reduce this major source of intestinal gas, you must swallow less air. Gum chewing, smoking, poor fitting dentures, a chronic postnasal discharge, chronic pain, and anxiety or tension all cause you to swallow more air, as does gulping of food, washing food down with liquids, sipping hot beverages, and drinking through a straw.

Limiting these activities will help cut down on the amount of air you swallow. Endogenous Gas : There is little gas production in the small intestine because bacterial concentration is low. However, the colon contains many gas-producing bacteria that thrive on foods containing poorly digested starches and sugars carbohydrates. Smelly gas forms as the bacteria ferment these foods when they pass through the colon.

This fermentation is similar to the production of bubbles in the fermenting of grapes into champagne. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is most often a complication of other health conditions.

A number of other digestive diseases and conditions may lead to more gas or gas symptoms, including. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public.

When should I talk with a doctor about my gas symptoms? What causes gas? What health conditions can cause problems with gas symptoms? What are the symptoms of gas? Gas symptoms may be a problem if they occur often, bother you, or affect your daily activities. Belching Belching, or burping, is a release of gas from your stomach through your mouth. Bloating and distention Bloating is a feeling of fullness or swelling in your abdomen , or belly.

The most common symptoms of GERD are acid reflux and heartburn. As a case study notes, stomach gas and belching are other common symptoms of GERD. People who experience GERD-related stomach gas may notice that their burps have a foul taste or cause them to regurgitate food.

A person experiencing symptoms of gas in the lower part of their belly or abdomen may be experiencing gas from fermentation. Stomach acid helps to break down food and pass it on to the intestines. The intestines break down the food even further in a process that sometimes releases gases. These gases either make their way to the stomach and leave the body as a burp or travel through the intestines and leave the body as flatulence.

Some foods may produce gas more than others. Irritable bowel syndrome IBS is an umbrella term for a group of digestive symptoms that can cause pain, discomfort, and changes in bowel movements.

A person with IBS may experience an excessive amount of intestinal gas. This excess gas may lead to abdominal pain, bloating, and flatulence. Other possible symptoms of IBS include:.

The exact cause of IBS remains unknown. However, experts believe that it may be due to food passing through the intestines too quickly or too slowly. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth SIBO is the medical term for excess bacteria in the small intestine. Experts believe that the condition is due to a lack of movement in the small intestine.

Excessive intestinal bacteria can cause a build-up of gas, which may lead to bloating and flatulence. In extreme cases, the small intestine may be unable to absorb sufficient nutrients from food. This may lead to complications, such as weight loss and anemia. A study notes that SIBO is a common but underdiagnosed condition, as the symptoms appear similar to other digestive disorders. Frequent bloating and intestinal gas can sometimes indicate a food intolerance.