BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuGas – flatulenceFlatulence; FlatusGas is air in the intestine that is passed through the rectum. Air that moves from the digestive tract through the mouth is called belching.BelchingBelching is the act of bringing up air from the stomach.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Gas is also called flatus or flatulence. Considerations Gas is normally formed in the intestines as your body digests food. Gas can make you feel bloated. It can cause crampy or colicky pains in your belly. Causes Gas can be caused by certain foods you eat. You may have gas if you:Eat foods that are hard to digest, such as fiber. Sometimes, adding more fiber into your diet can cause temporary gas. Your body may adjust and stop producing gas over time. Eat or drink something your body cannot tolerate. For example, some people have lactose intolerance and cannot eat or drink dairy products. Lactose intoleranceLactose is a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. An enzyme called lactase is needed by the body to digest lactose. Lactose intoler...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other common causes of gas are:Antibiotics Irritable bowel syndrome Irritable bowel syndromeIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that leads to pain in abdomen and changes in bowel movements. IBS is not the same as inflammatory bowel...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Inability to absorb nutrients properly (malabsorption) MalabsorptionMalabsorption involves problems with the body's ability to take in (absorb) nutrients from food.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Inability to digest nutrients properly (maldigestion) Swallowing air while eating Chewing gum Smoking cigarettes Drinking carbonated beverages Talking while eating and eating too rapidly Home Care The following tips may help you prevent gas:Chew your food more thoroughly. Do not eat beans or cabbage. Avoid foods high in poorly digestible carbohydrates. These are called FODMAPs and include fructose (fruit sugar). Avoid lactose. Do not drink carbonated drinks. Do not chew gum. Eat more slowly. Relax while you eat. Walk for 10 to 15 minutes after eating. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you have:Gas and other symptoms such as stomach pain, rectal pain, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, fever, or weight loss Oily, foul-smelling, or bloody stools What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, such as:What foods do you commonly eat? Has your diet changed recently? Have you increased the fiber in your diet? FiberFiber is a substance found in plants. Dietary fiber, which is the type of fiber you can eat, is found in fruits, vegetables, and grains. It is an i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How fast do you eat, chew, and swallow? Would you say that your gas is mild or severe? Does your gas seem to be related to eating milk products or other specific foods? What seems to make your gas better? What medicines do you take? Do you have other symptoms, like abdominal pain, diarrhea, early satiety (premature fullness after meals), bloating, or weight loss? Early satietySatiety is the satisfied feeling of being full after eating. Early satiety is feeling full sooner than normal or after eating less than usual....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BloatingAbdominal bloating is a condition in which the belly (abdomen) feels full and tight. Your belly may look swollen (distended).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Weight lossUnexplained weight loss is a decrease in body weight, when you did not try to lose the weight on your own. Many people gain and lose weight. Uninten...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Do you chew artificially sweetened gum or eat artificially sweetened candy? (These frequently contain indigestible sugars that can lead to production of gas.)Tests that may be done include:Abdominal CT scan Abdominal CT scanAn abdominal CT scan is an imaging method. This test uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomog...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abdominal ultrasound Abdominal ultrasoundAbdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Barium enema x-ray Barium enema x-rayBarium enema is a special x-ray of the large intestine, which includes the colon and rectum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Barium swallow x-ray Barium swallow x-rayAn upper GI and small bowel series is a set of x-rays taken to examine the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Barium enema is a related test th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood work such as CBC or blood differential CBCA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood differentialThe blood differential test measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell (WBC) that you have in your blood. It also reveals if there are...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sigmoidoscopy SigmoidoscopySigmoidoscopy is a procedure used to see inside the sigmoid colon and rectum. The sigmoid colon is the area of the large intestine nearest to the re...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Upper endoscopy (EGD) Upper endoscopy (EGD)Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a test to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine (the duodenum)....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Breath test Open ReferencesReferencesAzpiroz F. Intestinal gas. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 17.Hall JE, Hall ME. Physiology of gastrointestinal disorders. In: Hall JE, Hall ME, eds. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 67.McQuaid KR. Approach to the patient with gastrointestinal disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 123.AllVideoImagesTogIntestinal gas - illustration Gas is formed in the intestines by the action of bacteria as food is being digested. Gas is also called flatus or flatulence, and is passed through the intestine and out the body through the rectum.Intestinal gasillustrationIntestinal gas - illustration Gas is formed in the intestines by the action of bacteria as food is being digested. Gas is also called flatus or flatulence, and is passed through the intestine and out the body through the rectum.Intestinal gasillustrationRelated Information Belching(Symptoms)Abdominal pain(Symptoms) Review Date: 5/4/2022 Reviewed By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Gas – flatulenceFlatulence; FlatusGas is air in the intestine that is passed through the rectum. Air that moves from the digestive tract through the mouth is called belching.BelchingBelching is the act of bringing up air from the stomach.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Gas is also called flatus or flatulence. Considerations Gas is normally formed in the intestines as your body digests food. Gas can make you feel bloated. It can cause crampy or colicky pains in your belly. Causes Gas can be caused by certain foods you eat. You may have gas if you:Eat foods that are hard to digest, such as fiber. Sometimes, adding more fiber into your diet can cause temporary gas. Your body may adjust and stop producing gas over time. Eat or drink something your body cannot tolerate. For example, some people have lactose intolerance and cannot eat or drink dairy products. Lactose intoleranceLactose is a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. An enzyme called lactase is needed by the body to digest lactose. Lactose intoler...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other common causes of gas are:Antibiotics Irritable bowel syndrome Irritable bowel syndromeIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that leads to pain in abdomen and changes in bowel movements. IBS is not the same as inflammatory bowel...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Inability to absorb nutrients properly (malabsorption) MalabsorptionMalabsorption involves problems with the body's ability to take in (absorb) nutrients from food.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Inability to digest nutrients properly (maldigestion) Swallowing air while eating Chewing gum Smoking cigarettes Drinking carbonated beverages Talking while eating and eating too rapidly Home Care The following tips may help you prevent gas:Chew your food more thoroughly. Do not eat beans or cabbage. Avoid foods high in poorly digestible carbohydrates. These are called FODMAPs and include fructose (fruit sugar). Avoid lactose. Do not drink carbonated drinks. Do not chew gum. Eat more slowly. Relax while you eat. Walk for 10 to 15 minutes after eating. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you have:Gas and other symptoms such as stomach pain, rectal pain, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, fever, or weight loss Oily, foul-smelling, or bloody stools What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, such as:What foods do you commonly eat? Has your diet changed recently? Have you increased the fiber in your diet? FiberFiber is a substance found in plants. Dietary fiber, which is the type of fiber you can eat, is found in fruits, vegetables, and grains. It is an i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How fast do you eat, chew, and swallow? Would you say that your gas is mild or severe? Does your gas seem to be related to eating milk products or other specific foods? What seems to make your gas better? What medicines do you take? Do you have other symptoms, like abdominal pain, diarrhea, early satiety (premature fullness after meals), bloating, or weight loss? Early satietySatiety is the satisfied feeling of being full after eating. Early satiety is feeling full sooner than normal or after eating less than usual....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BloatingAbdominal bloating is a condition in which the belly (abdomen) feels full and tight. Your belly may look swollen (distended).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Weight lossUnexplained weight loss is a decrease in body weight, when you did not try to lose the weight on your own. Many people gain and lose weight. Uninten...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Do you chew artificially sweetened gum or eat artificially sweetened candy? (These frequently contain indigestible sugars that can lead to production of gas.)Tests that may be done include:Abdominal CT scan Abdominal CT scanAn abdominal CT scan is an imaging method. This test uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomog...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abdominal ultrasound Abdominal ultrasoundAbdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Barium enema x-ray Barium enema x-rayBarium enema is a special x-ray of the large intestine, which includes the colon and rectum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Barium swallow x-ray Barium swallow x-rayAn upper GI and small bowel series is a set of x-rays taken to examine the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Barium enema is a related test th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood work such as CBC or blood differential CBCA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood differentialThe blood differential test measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell (WBC) that you have in your blood. It also reveals if there are...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sigmoidoscopy SigmoidoscopySigmoidoscopy is a procedure used to see inside the sigmoid colon and rectum. The sigmoid colon is the area of the large intestine nearest to the re...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Upper endoscopy (EGD) Upper endoscopy (EGD)Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a test to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine (the duodenum)....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Breath test Open ReferencesReferencesAzpiroz F. Intestinal gas. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 17.Hall JE, Hall ME. Physiology of gastrointestinal disorders. In: Hall JE, Hall ME, eds. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 67.McQuaid KR. Approach to the patient with gastrointestinal disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 123.