Gas And Bloating
Gas and bloating are issues that affect everyone. There are many factors that can be involved. Habits such as eating too quickly can cause you to swallow air, leading to bloating and belching. Intestinal fermentation of undigested carbohydrates (including as those found in beans) is a common cause of flatulence. However, frequentor particularly uncomfortable episodes can indicate an underlying digestive problem. Food sensitivities such as fructose or lactose intolerance and dysfunction of the small bowel such as small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) are common causes of frequent digestive discomfort.
Signs and Symptoms
If you have food intolerances, gas and bloating will commonly occur within a few hours of a meal that contains the sensitizing ingredient. They will usually subside after a while. With SIBO, the symptoms may worsen throughout the day as the small intestine is irritated by the activity of bacteria interacting with food.
Testing and Diagnosis
Lactose and fructose intolerance as well as SIBO can be easily identified using a breath test. You will drink a beverage such as milk or soda (depending on the suspected cause of your symptoms) 3 hours prior to your office visit. We will have you exhale into a bag that measures the presence of gases such as hydrogen that are produced by bacterial activity during the digestive process. Testing for SIBO is more extensive requiring multiple breaths over a two hour period.
Typical Treatment
The treatment for your condition depends on the results of your test. Limiting or eliminating foods that cause gas and bloating is effective for managing food intolerances. For SIBO, antibiotics can be prescribed to kill the bacterial overgrowth.
Additional Information
While bloating and gas are usually not signs of a serious illness, you should seek medical attention if you experience frequent nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, stomach cramps, acid reflux and other digestive problems. A properly functioning digestive system is critical for good health.