Here’s What May Be Causing Your Digestive Gas Pain
Worried about intestinal gas? It’s a normal part of digestion, but sometimes digestive problems like gas can signal more worrisome conditions.
Diana Rodriguez
By Diana Rodriguez
Medically Reviewed by Kareem Sassi, MD
Last Updated: March 17, 2021
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Painful gas can signal an underlying health condition.
Like it or not, everyone passes gas. “On average, an adult produces two pints of gas every day,” says Sari Acra, MD, MPH, a professor and director of the division of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. According to the National Institutes of Health, farting 13 to 21 times per day is normal.
Typically, gas in the digestive tract occurs as a result of swallowing air (aerophagia) and when bacteria in your large intestine break down certain foods.
A person can swallow large amounts of air by:
Chewing gum
Smoking
Drinking carbonated beverages
Eating or drinking too quickly
Wearing loose-fitting dentures
Sucking on hard candy
If the air isn’t burped back up, it will move down into your gastrointestinal tract and get released through the anus.
Food can also cause gas, although the type of food can vary from person to person. Known gas culprits include:
Certain vegetables, such as asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and broccoli
Beans and lentils
Milk products, like cheese, ice cream, and yogurt
Drinks like apple juice, pear juice, and carbonated beverages with high-fructose corn syrup
Regular gas is a sign that you’re consuming adequate amounts of fiber and that you have healthy gut microbes.
But gas accompanied by other red flags — such as weight loss, anorexia, excessive diarrhea, vomiting, fever, prolonged bloating, and severe stomach pain — can be a sign of a digestive disorder or other gastrointestinal condition that needs attention. Problems include:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Lactose intolerance
Pancreatitis
Ulcers
Celiac disease
Gallstones
Diverticulitis
Trouble Passing Gas
The flipside of excessive gas is the inability to pass gas, which can also be a symptom of an underlying problem, like an abdominal obstruction. An intestinal blockage is a serious condition and occurs as a result of a partial or total blockage of the small or large intestine.
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. They may be able to offer at-home solutions to your digestive woes. Or your doctor may schedule tests to determine if your gas pain is caused by another, more serious problem.
Is Your Gas Pain a Symptom of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
- Is Your Gas Pain a Symptom of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
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If your gas comes with severe stomach pain, persistent bouts of diarrhea or constipation and bloating that occurs at least three days a month, you might have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). If you have IBS, then the nerves in your gastrointestinal tract will be more sensitive to the gas produced there. Dr. Acra says that the increased awareness of gas could make people feel like they’re passing gas more than usual.
IBS is a chronic, uncomfortable condition, but it won’t cause any damage to your GI tract. Symptoms can be managed with medication and diet.
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Gas Pain Could Be Caused by Lactose Intolerance or a Food Allergy
- Gas Pain Could Be Caused by Lactose Intolerance or a Food Allergy
If you notice that your gas seems worse after eating certain foods, such as dairy products (which contain lactose), the problem may be a particular food, or lactose intolerance. The body’s inability to tolerate a food or substance can trigger stomach or gas pain as your body struggles to digest it. When bacteria in your colon can’t properly digest these foods, they break down and are fermented into gas.
“Some people can’t digest the sugar contained in milk [lactose] because their intestines lack the enzyme necessary to break it down, or they can’t absorb fructose, the sugar that is found in many foods, including corn syrup,” says Acra.
Gas Is a Very Common Symptom of Pancreatitis
- Gas is a Very Common Symptom of Pancreatitis
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Gas is normal. But flatulence that’s accompanied by swelling in the abdomen, fever, nausea, and vomiting is not. These symptoms can be warning signs of pancreatitis — inflammation of the pancreas, which assists in the digestive process. Gas is a very common symptom of pancreatitis. A Chinese case study published in April 2019 in the journal Medicine noted that intestinal gas frequently caused pain and bloating in patients with pancreatitis.
Source: Everyday Health
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