Updated: 01/31/2021 20:14:18
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Author of the article: Pogrebnoy Stanislav Leonidovich
*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.
The digestion process is inevitably accompanied by the release of gases, and a healthy adult releases about a liter of them every day, in small, periodic portions. Typically, the volume of an average serving is about 100 milliliters. But in some cases, this volume increases significantly and begins to bother the person, even to the point of developing pain.
There is a misconception that intestinal gas consists entirely of hydrogen sulfide, but this is not entirely true. Indeed, the smell of rotten eggs is sometimes inherent in intestinal gas, but the human sense of smell is able to detect hydrogen sulfide even in very small concentrations. The main components are nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane and oxygen. Mercaptans and hydrogen sulfide are also present in small quantities.
Gases in the intestines are not at all in a free state, and do not bubble over its different parts. Typically, gas bubbles are in the form of foam, which is located along the intestinal walls, and they rarely penetrate into the intestinal contents. This is important because the work of some drugs to combat excess gas formation, which are called defoamers, is based on physical effects.
The reasons why flatulence occurs are varied. In adults, this is most often the result of poor diet and swallowing air. This happens when smoking, chewing gum, and also if a person has a bad habit of eating on the go. Excessive consumption of beer, kvass and carbonated water leads to increased gas formation. Among foodstuffs, bloating is caused by legumes, and especially peas.
In some cases, the cause of flatulence is hereditary factors, such as congenital lactase deficiency. If a person consumes a lot of sweet foods, then they begin to ferment in the intestines, and during fermentation, as is known, a large amount of carbon dioxide is released.
Excessive gas formation in itself is unpleasant, but does not cause much discomfort. But quite often, bloating leads to discomfort and pain in the abdomen, and therefore significantly impairs the quality of life. This rating includes modern and safe drugs that can successfully combat excess gas formation. These are enterosorbents that work as gas absorbers, defoamers that change the physical properties of bubbles, enzyme preparations that help process the substrate as best as possible, depriving microorganisms of a nutrient medium for gas formation. Also included in the rating are eubiotics, or bacterial agents. Let's take a closer look at them.
Causes of bloating
The main causes of increased gas formation are the consumption of carbonated drinks and the swallowing of air during meals. This problem is also caused by:
- binge eating;
- some products;
- food consumption at night;
- some diseases;
- long-term treatment with antibiotics, as they can cause dysbiosis;
- surgeries and other mechanical interventions that disrupt intestinal motility;
- stress;
- some worms (for example, pinworms);
- intestinal obstruction.
No. 4 – Kuplaton
Price: from 273 rubles
Kuplaton is produced in two versions: in the form of oral drops and capsules in a plastic bottle. The product belongs to a special group of polysiloxanes. Such substances have an enhanced surface-active effect. The principle of operation of cuplaton is as follows: it reduces surface tension. As a result, gas bubbles merge into large formations. This, as a result, allows intestinal gases to be eliminated. Accordingly, the drug reduces flatulence, regardless of the reasons that caused it. We are talking about swallowing air and the fermentation process. In addition, the product reduces the feeling of constant bloating and unpleasant rumbling, severe pain, and increases the efficiency of gas removal.
Espumisan caps. 40mg №50
Causes of bloating in women and men
In representatives of the stronger and weaker sex, flatulence can occur for specific reasons. So, in women this problem can be caused by:
- pregnancy;
- gynecological diseases (fibroids, ovarian cyst);
- premenstrual syndrome;
- taking hormonal contraceptives.
In men, the main reasons are:
- improper eating (eating on the go, on the run);
- lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet (many men prefer meat products);
- frequent stress.
In addition, in both sexes, the cause of flatulence may be individual intolerance to wheat protein or lactose. There is age-related and congenital intolerance. This is especially common in older people, since their body is not able to produce enzymes that help absorb milk sugar.
Causes of bloating in children
If bloating is observed in a child under one year old, then the reason for this may be the immaturity of the child’s digestive and nervous system. Often this situation does not require medical intervention.
In breastfed babies, bloating can be caused by the mother's diet if she includes foods in her diet that cause increased gas formation.
At an older age, the cause of this may be poor nutrition, worms, or certain foods in the diet.
Diseases that cause flatulence
Before determining what helps with bloating, you need to know what diseases can cause a similar problem. In some cases, it is impossible to do without consulting a specialist. Here is a list of ailments that can cause flatulence:
- infection with worms;
- lack of enzymes in the digestive organs;
- disturbance of intestinal microflora;
- regular stress that provokes intestinal spasms;
- adhesions and neoplasms in the intestines;
- cholecystitis, pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis, colitis and other problems with the digestive system.
If increased gas formation is caused by serious illnesses, then treating flatulence with home remedies will not bring any results. You need to visit a doctor who will prescribe a course of therapy.
Correction of daily routine
This is also an important issue in the treatment of flatulence! Here, all recommendations and advice from experts can be combined into three large groups.
Firstly, physical inactivity should not be allowed - this means that a person suffering from flatulence should engage in at least banal physical exercise. This will help you lose weight - obesity, by the way, can also cause the disease in question. What is meant:
- walking in the fresh air;
- refusal of elevators (well, unless the patient lives on very high floors);
- visiting the swimming pool;
- morning work-out;
- exercise on a treadmill.
Secondly, you need to ensure yourself a competent alternation of wakefulness and rest. Sleep should be at least 8 hours; if fatigue occurs, you need to stop working and set aside at least 15-20 minutes to rest and recuperate. The only thing doctors warn about is that in order to quickly recover and start working again, you should absolutely not drink “energy drinks,” strong coffee, and especially alcoholic drinks.
Thirdly, you need to work on your own psycho-emotional background. If there is a predisposition to stress and irritation, unmotivated bad mood and apathy, then you may need the help of specialists - a psychotherapist to quickly and fully restore the disorders.
Foods that cause flatulence
There are foods that cause gas and bloating in adults and children. These include:
- some vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, onions);
- beans, beans, peas;
- dried fruits;
- corn;
- pasta;
- some fruits (pears, peaches, melon, apples);
- oat bran;
- baking with yeast;
- alcohol;
- soda;
- grilled meat;
- dairy products;
- White bread.
Digesting them can take quite a long time. This leads to increased gas formation and the release of gases with an unpleasant odor.
How to get rid of bloating
Every person should know what helps solve this problem. There are several ways to treat flatulence. The choice of method largely depends on the main reason causing the accumulation of gases in the intestines.
Periodic increases in gas production, which occur only after consuming certain foods, can be eliminated by changing your diet. A healthy person can completely do without taking special medications.
Sometimes people experience flatulence for unexplained reasons. Along with bloating, abdominal pain, colic, and constipation appear. In this case, you need to visit a doctor.
In case of excessive gas formation, treatment can be carried out with medications and folk remedies. You can get rid of gases and flatulence only with complex therapy.
General principles of treatment
To normalize the functioning of the intestines and stop bothering you with gases, you need to resort to the following methods:
- herbal medicine (herbal treatment);
- exercises for flatulence (biking, squatting, walking, running);
- drug treatment.
Antibiotics kill healthy intestinal microflora, so they are used as prescribed by a doctor when other drugs and treatment methods do not give the expected effect. They are prescribed if excessive gas formation occurs as a result of infectious or inflammatory bowel diseases.
Medications
Medications can help relieve gas quickly. What to take for bloating? The answer to this question largely depends on the cause of the problem. For example, if the functioning of the hepatobiliary system is impaired, then choleretic drugs and antispasmodics are prescribed.
If flatulence is observed due to insufficient synthesis of enzymes by the pancreas, then you need to take enzyme preparations. In case of poisoning with low-quality food, sorbents will help remove accumulated gases from the intestines.
Thus, you need to take anti-bloating medicine that helps normalize the digestive process so that the gas passes out naturally.
Symptomatic therapy, which helps eliminate unpleasant symptoms, includes taking the following medications:
- "Motilium";
- "Mezim";
- "Espumizan".
The drug "Motilium" is available in the form of a suspension and tablets. It should not be taken by people with diseases of the bile ducts or liver. The medication allows you to eliminate flatulence, as well as get rid of stomach pain caused by increased gas formation. You need to take the medicine before meals.
Doctors often prescribe Mezim for bloating. This drug contains pancreatin, which is required for the breakdown of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. It should be taken after consuming fatty, hard-to-digest foods. It is recommended to take the tablets with meals.
The drug "Espumizan" normalizes intestinal motility, which helps eliminate gases. The medicine contains simethicone, which destroys gas bubbles in the stomach and small intestine, after which they are eliminated naturally.
It is also worth taking enterosorbents, which remove harmful substances from the body. They help eliminate gases quickly and effectively. However, it is worth remembering that these drugs are not suitable for long-term use, since along with harmful substances they can also remove useful substances, which leads to constipation. It is recommended to use the following sorbents:
- Activated carbon;
- "Smecta";
- "Polysorb";
- "Enterosgel".
Activated carbon is the most affordable remedy that saves you from household and food poisoning. It should be taken with caution with other medications. Contraindications include gastrointestinal pathologies and hemorrhages in the digestive organs.
Smecta is often prescribed for adults with bloating. This is an effective remedy in the fight against flatulence. It eliminates gases and normalizes intestinal motility. The composition contains only natural ingredients, so the drug rarely causes side effects.
"Polysorb" is available in powder form for preparing a suspension. This product has an antibacterial effect and removes harmful substances from the body. Among the main indications, increased gas formation caused by food poisoning should be highlighted.
You can take Enterosgel for bloating. This is a good intestinal sorbent, which is available in the form of a gel and paste. It helps remove harmful substances from the body and eliminate flatulence.
Before using medications, you should definitely consult your doctor.
No. 7 – Simethicone
Price: from 199 rubles
The complex action drug is presented in several dosage forms - drops for oral administration, suspension, capsules, tablets, and emulsion. It can be used as a carminative, for the accumulation of gases and increased gas formation, during preparation for the diagnosis of the pelvic and abdominal organs (primarily, we are talking about sonography and radiography), as well as for surfactant poisoning. But there are also contraindications. Among these are intestinal obstruction, increased personal sensitivity, and all kinds of obstructive diseases. When taking the product in adults, allergic reactions are quite likely.
Simethicone
Folk remedies
An important role in flatulence is played by the use of folk remedies. They help soothe the mucous membrane, prevent the formation of excess gases, and eliminate the heaviness and feeling of fullness in the abdomen. The following folk remedies are good for bloating:
- lemon;
- fennel;
- caraway;
- potato;
- ginger;
- mint.
If there is an accumulation of gas in the stomach, you need to add ginger to your diet. It stimulates bile secretion and salivation, and also normalizes the digestion process. If you drink a drink made from ginger, you can reduce flatulence and eliminate cramps. To prepare the decoction, you need to boil 1-2 cloves of ginger in 200 ml of water for a few minutes. Drink the product twice a day. You can also add ginger to tea.
When answering the question of what to take for bloating, you need to mention dill. A decoction of its seeds is an effective remedy for flatulence. To prepare the product you need to add 3 tbsp. l. dill seeds into a jar and pour 1 liter of boiling water. Cover with a lid and let it brew well. After a couple of hours, filter the broth and drink 0.5 cups every hour. After about 2-3 hours, the flatulence will completely subside.
Treatment of bloating and gas in adults is carried out using caraway decoction. You need to crush 2 tbsp a little. l. seeds and add 1 liter of water. A glass of decoction will help get rid of gastrointestinal gases in 5-10 minutes.
To prevent flatulence, you need to constantly add mint leaves to your tea. They also quickly eliminate unpleasant symptoms. Raw potato juice helps very well with various gastrointestinal pathologies. It relieves stomach pain due to gastritis, removes gases and eliminates bloating. To do this, you need to grate the potatoes and squeeze out the juice through cheesecloth. Drink 100 ml daily.
These are effective and easy-to-prepare remedies that will help cope with increased gas formation and eliminate unpleasant symptoms.
No. 5 – Sub Simplex
Price: from 321 rubles
Sab Simplex is a suspension intended for internal use. It is tear-viscous and has a fruity smell. This remedy reduces flatulence. The principle of action is concentrated in the following: the drug reduces the tension of gas bubbles that have formed in the intestinal mucus and directly in the contents of the stomach. The gases that are released are removed or absorbed by the intestinal walls. The drug is taken when all kinds of detergents enter the stomach (they cause acute poisoning), during the preparatory stage for diagnosis (ultrasound, radiography), and also as symptomatic therapy for manifestations of flatulence and increased formation of gases.
Sub Simplex
Proper nutrition
It is necessary to exclude from the diet foods that cause gas formation and bloating, since such a problem causes many unpleasant moments. However, it is worth noting that provoking foods do not affect everyone equally. Some people do not experience any unpleasant symptoms after eating them.
It is also worth paying attention to the serving size. Quite often, a feeling of heaviness and bloating occurs precisely because of overeating. You should try to eat no more than 300 g of food at one time. It is recommended to drink water 40 minutes after eating.
To get rid of flatulence, you need to eat slowly, sitting at the table, and not while walking. It is not recommended to talk during this time. If you eat in a hurry and on the go, this can lead to swallowing air, which provokes increased gas formation. You should not eat food that is too cold or hot, as it damages the walls of the esophagus and intestines.
It is advisable to drink mint or chamomile tea 40 minutes after eating. It helps soothe the intestinal mucosa and reduce gas formation.
Diet is important for bloating in adults. It is necessary to exclude fatty and fried foods from the diet. It is better to bake, boil or steam vegetables, meat, and fish. At least once a week you need to do a fasting day. At this time, you can only eat buckwheat or drink kefir.
It is very important to know what you can eat when you are bloated to help you feel better. Meat broths, green (by color, not by degree of ripeness) fruits and vegetables, herbs, and cereals help to cope with flatulence. If you do not adhere to a diet, then taking medications will only provide temporary relief.
Gymnastics and massage
It is important not only to take medicine for bloating, but also to carry out special exercises and massage. These methods help to quickly and effectively get rid of the problem. You can do them yourself or under the supervision of a doctor.
Massage for bloating can be performed independently, without the help of a specialist. Often, bloating is accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the abdominal area and discomfort. For flatulence, you need to perform several circular movements clockwise. They need to be performed on the lower abdomen. This will help eliminate discomfort and remove gases from the intestines.
Self-massage for flatulence should be done several times a day until signs of improvement appear.
When you have bloating, it is recommended to perform certain exercises that are aimed at eliminating accumulated gases. This ensures high-quality prevention of subsequent gas formation in the abdomen. To normalize intestinal motility, you need to tense your stomach and then relax it. You need to repeat these steps up to 15 times. This exercise is performed several times throughout the day.
You also need to pull your legs towards your stomach while lying on your back. In this case, the legs are clasped with the arms. You need to remain in this position for up to 2 minutes. It is recommended to perform the exercise 5 times during the day.
You can lie on your back and bend your knees. Place your palms on your stomach. When inhaling, apply light pressure to the abdomen. In this case, you need to hold your breath for a few seconds. Then perform stroking movements.
Physiology or pathology?
The process of digesting food begins in the oral cavity. Intensive breakdown into enzymes occurs precisely in the upper parts of the intestine.
The main role of the digestive tract is to grind food into enzymes that can easily pass through the venous and blood vessels and intestinal walls.
Next, the beneficial components are distributed throughout the body with the outflow of blood, and thereby contribute to the formation of new cells and tissues as building material.
Digestion of food is a complex chemical process. Waste and gas accumulation are inevitable. But the body does not need them at all.
Particles, in particular undigested ones, begin to come out together with feces of gaseous consistency due to the reproduction of chemical reactions in the stomach at the time of digestion of food.
The norm for a person to release gases is 16 times a day.
If the indicator is exceeded by up to 20-25 times, then this is a pathology indicating problems in the gastrointestinal tract, increased formation and accumulation of gases, which is what is observed in humans:
- swelling of the abdomen;
- feeling of fullness;
- pain;
- gurgling;
- weakness;
- migraine;
- fear, self-doubt.
Gases must be present in the intestinal cavity , although they must not stagnate for a long time, do not accumulate in large volumes, but are gradually excreted in the feces. But the permissible volume should not exceed 0 9 liters.
Remedies for bloating in children
Many parents do not know what to give their child for bloating in order to eliminate the problem quickly and effectively. Any product used must be safe so as not to have a negative impact on the baby’s health.
To help the child, you need to give fennel-based preparations, for example, Plantex or regular dill water. These are the best medicines for increased gas formation in a child. If flatulence was caused by constipation, then to facilitate the process of defecation you need to give an enema or a glycerin suppository. A special rubber tube, which must be carefully inserted into the anus, helps to remove gases from the baby.
If the child’s condition has not improved after all these procedures, the use of medications with simethicone, such as “Bobotik”, “Espumizan”, “Bebinos” is allowed. All these medications help remove gases from the intestines. However, they do not eliminate the problem, so you need to consult a doctor and get a diagnosis.
Warm infusions of fennel and lemon balm, immortelle and chamomile, carrot seeds and ginger will help school-age children get rid of flatulence. They should be taken no more than a quarter glass of decoction per day. It is also worth taking relaxing baths with chamomile.
No. 2 – Imodium Plus
Price: from 280 rubles
Imodium Plus is an antidiarrheal agent with an additional antifoaming effect. It significantly eliminates the symptoms directly associated with diarrhea, in particular, such as severe pain with cramps, permanent flatulence, and abdominal discomfort. Imodium Plus is well absorbed and is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
The main indications for taking the drug are diarrhea and the symptoms that accompany it - various types of pain, a feeling of discomfort and flatulence. This medicine is prescribed to children over twelve years of age and adults. Imodium Plus should not be used by patients who have certain impaired renal function. When taken, a number of side effects are possible. Among these are allergic reactions such as constant itching, the appearance of hives, and skin rashes. Sometimes from the digestive system - increased pain, taste distortions, constipation, nausea, dyspepsia and vomiting. In addition, drowsiness, dizziness and urinary retention are possible.
Imodium Express tab. liof. 2 mg No. 20
How to relieve pain from colic in infants
Many young mothers are interested in how to get rid of flatulence and bloating in infants. Children who have this problem begin to scream loudly and kick their legs. Experts advise placing the newborn on a hard surface, tummy down, for 2-4 minutes before feeding. After feeding, you need to hold him in an upright position for 10-15 minutes.
You also need to stroke your tummy in a clockwise circular motion. Regular massage will help relieve pain and spasms. If the child cries a lot, then you need to put a warm diaper on his stomach.
Special gymnastics helps to get rid of colic. You need to press the baby's legs to the tummy. So the gas workers will leave on their own. You can bathe your child in a warm bath with the addition of a decoction of herbs. To prepare the product you will need 3 tbsp. l. chamomile and 0.5 liters of boiling water.
Prevention
In many cases, symptoms of bloating can be prevented through lifestyle changes. To prevent swallowing large amounts of air, you need to limit your consumption of carbonated drinks, eat very slowly, and drink through a straw.
If you are lactose intolerant, you should consume lactose-free foods. Every morning on an empty stomach, it is recommended to drink a glass of warm water with lemon juice. There is no need to drink coffee and milk for breakfast, as these products stimulate the production of gastric juice and increase its acidity.
You should not eat food that contains a lot of fiber, as its excess provokes increased gas formation and complicates the functioning of the stomach and intestines.
The right approach to eliminating flatulence will allow you to achieve good results and get rid of the problem.
Symptoms
Symptoms of flatulence are manifested by the following intestinal disorders:
- Bloating;
- The pain is both paroxysmal and cramping (sometimes it can radiate to the sternum, resemble aching heart pain, to the lower back, right hypochondrium);
- Belching;
- Nausea;
- Retention of stool, or, on the contrary, diarrhea;
- Decreased appetite;
- An increase in the volume of the abdomen, a feeling of discomfort appearing in it;
- Increased release of gases;
- Rumbling and overflow of intestinal contents;
- A feeling of increased intra-abdominal pressure;
- Feeling of discomfort in the epigastric region.
It has been established that symptoms of flatulence can manifest themselves in extraintestinal disorders:
- From the side of the heart: disturbances in its rhythm and a burning sensation in the chest area;
- Deterioration of mood and performance;
- Sleep problems;
- Headache;
- General weakness.
