What are the symptoms of trapped gas (gas pain)?
Most people recognize the telltale signs of excess gas: feeling like you need to burp or break wind. It can be embarrassing when it happens unexpectedly, but it’s usually nothing to worry about.
But when excess gas gets trapped in your gut, the feeling can range from mild discomfort to outright pain. The experience isn’t always confined to one part of your abdomen, either. Trapped gas can feel like pain or pressure in various locations throughout the trunk of your body.
Gas pain can feel like:
- Tenderness, fullness or pressure (bloating) in your abdomen (sometimes, your belly looks visibly larger, or distended).
- A sharp, stabbing pain or a dull ache in your abdomen.
- Pain, pressure or discomfort on your right or left side (flank pain).
- Pain, pressure or discomfort in your upper or lower back.
- Pain, pressure or discomfort in your chest.
These symptoms can feel confusing because more serious conditions affecting your organs can cause similar pain and discomfort. Gas trapped on your left side can cause chest pain that’s easy to mistake for a heart attack. Gas trapped on your right side can mimic pain from gallstones or appendicitis.
If you have any questions at all about whether the pain you’re experiencing is gas or a serious condition, see a healthcare provider.
Although gas pain is usually harmless, it can signal a serious problem with your digestive system. If you’re experiencing excess gas or gas pain along with any of the following symptoms, don’t dismiss it. See a healthcare provider.
Symptoms to be on the lookout for, alongside gas pain, include:
What causes gas and gas pains?
Gas is a natural part of digestion. Everyone has gas inside their stomachs and intestines at all times. When you eat, you swallow small amounts of air that stay in your digestive system until you pass gas. Also, harmless bacteria in your large intestine break down food during digestion, releasing gas as a byproduct. This process is responsible for most gas you pass when you fart.
Gas isn’t a medical issue for most people. But it can feel especially worrisome if you have excess gas, foul-smelling gas or gas pain. Here’s why gas sometimes becomes gas pain:
- You’re swallowing too much air. You may be gulping in too much air while chewing or drinking. Talking during meals can cause you to swallow more air. So can chewing gum, sucking hard candy, smoking or wearing loose-fitting dentures.
- You’re consuming too many gas-producing foods. Many foods that make you gassy are good for you. The downside is that they can cause gas and (sometimes) gas pain. Culprits include beans, potatoes, corn, onions, apples and high-fiber foods in general. Foods high in sulfur, like proteins and cruciferous vegetables (like cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli), are usually the cause of foul-smelling gas.
- You have an infection. Infections in your intestines can cause an overgrowth of bacteria that make you gassy. An overgrowth of bacteria in your small intestine (SIBO) can also lead to excess gas. Bacterial overgrowths can cause other symptoms, like diarrhea and weight loss, that require treatment.
- You have a digestive system condition. Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease and lactose intolerance can overwork your digestive system or lead to slowdowns that cause excess gas. Constipation can cause poop and gas to get stuck in your intestine.
- You’re taking a medicine that slows your bowels. A digestive system that moves more slowly creates more of an opportunity for gas to build up in your gut. Certain digestive system conditions can slow your bowels, and so can some medications.
FAQs
Excess gas is often a symptom of chronic intestinal conditions, such as diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Small bowel bacterial overgrowth. An increase or change in the bacteria in the small intestine can cause excess gas, diarrhea and weight loss. Food intolerances.
How do I get rid of gas in my intestines? ›
Things that may be helpful include:
- Herbal teas like spearmint, ginger, or anise.
- Apple cider vinegar added to tea or water.
- Fennel seeds.
- A heating pad or warm bath.
- Gentle exercise.
- Deep breaths.
- OTC medication, such as simethicone.
Flatulence, commonly referred to as 'farting', is caused by gas in the bowel. The intestines produce between 500 and 2,000mls of gas daily, which is passed out of the anus at regular intervals. The gas, or 'flatus', consists of a number of gases including methane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
What does gas in your gut feel like? ›
Most people recognize the telltale signs of excess gas: feeling like you need to burp or break wind. It can be embarrassing when it happens unexpectedly, but it's usually nothing to worry about. But when excess gas gets trapped in your gut, the feeling can range from mild discomfort to outright pain.
Does gas mean poor gut health? ›
Frequent discomfort, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn could be signs that your gut is having a hard time processing food and eliminating waste. You feel tired more often than not. People with chronic fatigue may have imbalances in the gut.
Does intestinal gas go away? ›
The excess gas may not pass easily through the digestive system, resulting in trapped gas. While trapped gas may cause discomfort, it usually passes on its own after a few hours. Some people may be able to relieve pain due to trapped gas using natural remedies, certain body positions, or OTC medications.
What causes too much gas in the intestines? ›
Too much upper intestinal gas can come from swallowing more than a usual amount of air. It also can come from overeating, smoking, chewing gum or having loose-fitting dentures. Too much lower intestinal gas can be caused by eating too much of certain foods or not being able to fully digest certain foods.
What foods get rid of gas in your intestines? ›
Foods that can reduce or relieve gas include low carb vegetables such as carrots and tomatoes, low sugar fruits such as apricots and peaches, and herbal teas with peppermint. Exercising, gently massaging the abdomen, and taking over-the-counter (OTC) remedies can also help a person relieve gas.
What is the best medicine for gas? ›
Simethicone: This is known as Gas-X or Mylanta and helps break up the bubbles in gas and helps move it along the digestive tract. Activated charcoal: Also known as CharcoCaps or Actidose-Aqua. Activated charcoal helps reduce gas pain if taken before your meal.
What is the difference between stomach gas and intestinal gas? ›
Belching is the way most swallowed air leaves the stomach. The remaining gas is partially absorbed into the small intestine and a small amount goes into the large intestine and is released through the rectum.
Is excess gas ever cause for concern? While gas is normal, there are times when it could be a red flag for a serious health issue. If gas occurs more frequently than usual, or if it's accompanied by other symptoms, like abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, or bloody stools, you should speak with your doctor.
Why do you fart more as you get older? ›
You also produce more gas as you age because your metabolism slows down, along with the movement of food through your colon. Yes, even your intestinal tract naturally slows down over time.
How to get unbloated in 5 minutes? ›
The following quick tips may help people get rid of a bloated belly quickly:
- Go for a walk. ...
- Try yoga poses. ...
- Use peppermint capsules. ...
- Try gas relief capsules. ...
- Try abdominal massage. ...
- Use essential oils. ...
- Take a warm bath, soaking, and relaxing.
Why do people have so much gas but cannot poop? Factors such as not drinking enough fluids or not eating enough fiber can cause constipation and make the stool hard to pass. A person can speak with their doctor to assess why they have constipation and gas.
How to relax your colon? ›
How do you get rid of colon spasms?
- Bowel rest. Intermittent fasting — for example, skipping breakfast or eating dinner earlier in the afternoon — can give your digestive system a chance to calm down and repair after an episode.
- Elimination diet. ...
- Exercise. ...
- Stress management. ...
- Fiber and probiotics. ...
- Peppermint.
Too much upper intestinal gas can come from swallowing more than a usual amount of air. It also can come from overeating, smoking, chewing gum or having loose-fitting dentures. Too much lower intestinal gas can be caused by eating too much of certain foods or not being able to fully digest certain foods.
What causes trapped gas in the intestines? ›
What causes gas? Gas normally enters your digestive tract when you swallow air and when bacteria in your large intestine break down undigested carbohydrates. You may have more gas symptoms if you swallow more air or consume more of certain foods and drinks.
Why am I passing so much gas? ›
Gas becomes excessive when you fart more than 25 times per day. This is usually caused by something you ate—or the way you ate—but could also be caused by a medical condition or certain drugs. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have excessive gas or if frequent farting is making you uncomfortable.
Why am I so gassy all the time? ›
In cases where there's no stomach or bowel blockage, gassiness may be caused by diet, constipation, a dietary intolerance, certain medications such as narcotics or irritable bowel syndrome. Depending on the cause of gassiness, there may be some things you can try to improve your symptoms.
