When to see your doctor?
Normally, gassiness and painful gas only lasts for about 24 to 48 hours. However, in some cases, the discomfort might last for about a week or maybe even longer.
See your doctor if constipation with painful gas persists or if it’s accompanied by these symptoms:
- Easily becoming full without eating a lot or even while eating a typical meal
- Persistent and severe gas pain or abdominal pain
- Recurrent nausea or vomiting
- Fever
- Bloody stool
- Weight loss
- Chest pain
It is best to get immediate medical attention if you notice if these symptoms are making your gas pains unbearable.
If left untreated, gas pain might lead to more serious digestive disorders like Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, diverticulitis, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
How to treat gas and gas pains?
Most often, gas pain goes away by belching or flatulence. However, if constipation and other health conditions have been causing your gas problems, then it is advisable to treat and address that specific health problem.
To treat gas and gas pain you can also:
Change your diet and eating habits
- Talk to your doctor about high-fiber foods so you can still get your daily dietary fiber intake without worsening your gas pains.
- Drink enough water (about 2 liters a day for adults) to avoid bloating or abdominal pain while eating high-fiber food.
- If you are lactose intolerant, avoid consuming dairy products and try lactose-free substitutes. You can also take lactase to aid digestion.
- Avoid or limit the use of sugar substitutes or find other alternatives.
- Refrain from consuming too much fat since it can worsen gas problems.
- Limit indulging in carbonated drinks like soda, beer, and other fizzy drinks.
- Consult your doctor before trying any kind of fiber supplement.
- Stay hydrated to help with constipation and gas pain.
Lifestyle changes
- Eat slowly. Don’t talk while eating and chew your food properly.
- Have smaller portions of your regular meals to see what food makes you gassy.
- Refrain from chewing a piece of gum, drinking from a straw, and sucking on hard candy, as these can make you swallow more air.
- For people with dentures, check with your dentist to see if your dentures are tight-fitting. Loose dentures cause you to swallow air when eating or drinking.
- Avoid smoking, since inhaling the smoke can increase the gas in your stomach. Also, the tobacco in cigarettes can irritate your digestive tract, causing bloating, gas, and stomach cramps.
- Exercise regularly or be consistent in doing physical activities as it can help prevent constipation. Staying active can help reduce the chances of gas build-up and pain.
Key Takeaways
Having constipation with painful gas will continue to cause recurrent discomfort when left untreated. Therefore, treating constipation right away will greatly help make the gas pains go away or prevent them altogether.
Most importantly, gas pain can be further prevented by sticking to a well-balanced, nutritious diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Learn more about Constipation, here.
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