Page 110 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

108 COMMON CONDITIONS: CHEST AND ABDOMINAL PROBLEMS

Bloating and flatulence

A bloated abdomen and flatulence (gas) are common complaints, caused by a buildup of excess gas in your
digestive system. You may also experience sharp pains and rumbling noises in your abdomen. Most cases of
bloating and flatulence are due to food, particularly foods such as beans and cabbage, which produce gas
as they are digested. Eating too fast can also cause excessive gas. Certain people find that milk, food
additives, or wheat flour can produce symptoms. Sometimes, bloating and flatulence are due to a bowel
disorder such as irritable bowel syndrome.
See also Irritable bowel syndrome, p.111; Food intolerance, p.113.

See your doctor first
DRUG REMEDIES
Make an appointment to see your doctor if
you also have other bowel symptoms, such as Simethicone (see FLATULENCE RELIEF, p.183)
constipation, diarrhea, blood in your stools, helps to disperse excess gas. It is usually combined
nausea, vomiting, or continual or recurrent with an antacid, or sometimes with activated
abdominal pains. charcoal, as an indigestion remedy. If you are taking
other medication, avoid taking antacids at the same
time as antacids may reduce its absorption.
What you can do yourself
Try these measures to prevent a buildup of gas or
to treat bloating and flatulence. NATURAL REMEDIES
● Try to identify and cut down on any foods that
Herbal teas (see p.184) made with
cause problems. The worst offenders include chamomile, peppermint, or fennel may help to calm
cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, onions, a bloated stomach and relieve excess gas.
garlic, prunes, raisins, beans, and spicy foods.
Soothing tea
● You may develop gas or bloating if you add high-
Sip soothing herbal tea to help
fiber foods to your diet too quickly. Reduce your relieve digestive problems.
intake, then increase it gradually over 2–3 weeks.
● Eat and drink slowly, and chew food thoroughly.
You may find it helps to eat several small meals
a day instead of one or two large ones.
● Cut down on beer and carbonated drinks; chewing
gum; smoking; and the artificial sweeteners sorbitol
and mannitol (found in some sugar-free sweet foods).
All of these things may contribute to flatulence.
● Preparations containing simethicone can be used
to treat flatulence (see DRUG REMEDIES, right).
● Try drinking herbal tea to relieve symptoms
(see NATURAL REMEDIES, right). Seek further medical advice
Arrange to see your doctor if bloating and
flatulence persist after 2 weeks or new
symptoms develop.