Dorothy FarrarAir in the stomach
The colloquial term air in the stomach describes flatulence with and without wind. Air in the stomach can sometimes be recognized from the outside by a visibly rounded abdomen.
What is air in the stomach?
The human digestive tract is a complex interplay of different biochemical processes, which are partly related to our own digestive materials and partly to the components of food . When substances from human digestion come into contact with food, gases can develop at various points in the gastrointestinal tract. These escape as wind and are not harmful, even if they smell unpleasant.
Whether they develop depends in part on the food and in part on how well it is digested individually – because everyone tolerates food a little differently. If there is air in the stomach, gases are already formed in the stomach and the stomach is visibly bloated after eating. Wind can, but does not have to, occur immediately – the person affected often only notices the recognizable bulge in the abdomen, which disappears as soon as the food and thus the air in the stomach continues to move into the intestine. Another possible side effect of air in the stomach is belching . While gas in the stomach can be a normal occurrence, it can also result from an intolerance to a particular food.
causes
The reasons for air in the stomach lie in the composition of the food and its tolerability in individual cases. Typical flatulent foods such as cabbage lead to some gas in most people in large quantities, but the phenomenon can also vary in severity from person to person. It becomes uncomfortable when the air in the stomach causes the stomach to bulge, the pants become too tight and movements become uncomfortable.
In addition to normal reactions to certain flatulent foods, intolerances are also possible. If an intolerable food is ingested, the affected person usually reacts with other symptoms besides air in the stomach. Another special case is pregnancy , usually from the second or third trimester. Since the baby is now pressing on the organs from below and is getting bigger, some things can change in the digestive tract.
A not too common consequence can be that the woman reacts to some foods with air in her stomach. If the phenomenon occurs for the first time or occurs more frequently and differently than usual, is associated with pain or is otherwise abnormal, a doctor should be consulted, since a serious cause such as gastritis or, rarely, cancer of the digestive tract could be the trigger.
Diseases
When to the doctor?
Air in the stomach means flatulence , which is usually even characterized by a round belly. As a rule, a trip to the doctor is not absolutely necessary, since the air in the stomach is due to the food ingested. In such a case, a doctor would only advise against taking the food in question.
The situation is different if the air in the stomach is caused by an allergy . In such a case, going to the doctor can be very advisable, because this way an effective allergy therapy can take place. If air forms regularly in the stomach, this clinical picture should also be examined by a doctor. Frequent bloating can be much more of a psychological problem, as foul-smelling wind is often very uncomfortable in public. In such cases, those affected withdraw completely and isolate themselves completely from the outside world.
In such a case, the cause of the formation of air in the abdomen must be found urgently. Only in this way can targeted treatment take place that will help the person concerned in such a situation. In rare cases, gastritis can be stuck under a recurrent occurrence of air in the abdomen. For this reason, a doctor should be consulted at an early stage if there is constant air in the stomach.
diagnosis and course
Air in the stomach develops relatively soon after eating. Some people feel air forming in their stomachs just a few hours after eating. The visibly round stomach persists for a few more hours and then improves on its own. Wind can still occur while there is still air in the stomach, but this usually only occurs when the stomach seems flatter again. The food is then already in the intestines .
If the air in the stomach causes belching, this usually improves when the chyme enters the intestines. If gas in the stomach is actually caused by a particular food, then it will accumulate again and again when the food in question is eaten again. The doctor makes a diagnosis based on the patient’s descriptions and can examine suspected intolerance to certain foods.
complications
At first glance, air in the stomach is not a worrying disease that must be treated by a doctor. As a rule, the air in the stomach is emptied by flatulence. However, it can become very uncomfortable for those affected if the flatulence occurs frequently or chronically. In such a case, going public becomes a huge task, since escaping winds can be very embarrassing. However, a significant change in bowel movements can also occur in connection with flatulence. This could be a first sign of colon cancer , so it should be investigated more closely.
If there is air in the stomach only after eating certain foods, this indicates an intolerance to certain foods. An intestinal obstruction can also be indicated by air in the abdomen. However, this is usually only the case if permanent constipation occurs in addition to the flatulence. In general, therefore, if you suffer from air in your stomach, this is a completely normal symptom. However, there can be other complications that can indicate serious illnesses. For this reason, a doctor should be consulted if further complications arise.
treatment and therapy
Air in the stomach is uncomfortable for those affected, but does not necessarily have to be treated. If it’s just a reaction to a known gas-inducing food like cabbage, your doctor will advise you to cut back on cabbage or stop eating it altogether. Instead, you should switch to alternatives that do not create air in your stomach. In the case of intolerances, the procedure is similar. In this case, too, the patient must no longer eat the food or dishes in question that contain the substance.
There are now tablets that neutralize the substance in question to counteract widespread intolerance. However, even with tablets, there may be gas in the stomach if large amounts are eaten, and consumption is still not healthy for the patient’s body. If the air in the stomach is acute, exercise after the meal helps. A walk after lunch can flatten your tummy by boosting digestion.
If, on the other hand, the air in the stomach is due to inflammation or a disease such as cancer, the patient is given dietary advice and must be fed according to his disease. This usually includes little fatty and artificial food, at best none at all – instead the patient receives fiber and nutritious food. This takes place in addition to the respective medication for the underlying disease. Regardless of the underlying disease, a cherry stone pillow or a lukewarm hot-water bottle will help if there is painful air in the stomach.
prevention
Often, air in the stomach is not due to a serious illness, but simply to poor diet or sensitive reactions to a certain food. Greasy, industrially produced food, which contains hardly any nutrients but all the more fat, often causes air in the stomach and should be eliminated from the menu if possible.
If you have observed in yourself which foods lead to air in the stomach more often, you should also avoid these if possible and eat them only in small quantities. Fizzy drinks are also wrong if air in the stomach is a problem because they can make the problem worse. Instead, herbal teas such as caraway or fennel tea come into question, which in turn have a positive effect on air in the stomach and ensure that it breaks down more quickly.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.