Flatulence can make you feel very uncomfortable. However, unfortunately for some people, this problem often occurs repeatedly. The best treatment for quick relief of flatulence is taking light to moderate walks and using over-the-counter medications. However, if you have chronic flatulence, you may need to consider other treatments and make changes to your diet. Things that can potentially cause flatulence include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and lactose intolerance.
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Method 1 of 4: Taking Care of the Body
Step 1. Try going for a walk when your stomach is bloated
Walking briskly for 20-30 minutes can help smooth the digestive process. Walking briskly will help relieve flatulence more than walking slowly. Movement when walking slightly helps prevent stomach pain from getting worse, as well as facilitate the movement of food and air trapped in the digestive tract. Increased heart rate and breathing will make the digestive muscles push air and food into the intestines.
Step 2. Use heat
Flatulence can be accompanied by a variety of other symptoms that are also uncomfortable. Heat can reduce pain due to flatulence as well as relax the body and relieve gas or constipation that causes it. There are several ways to use heat:
- Place a heating pad on your stomach to provide direct heat.
- Take a hot shower or bath.
- Relax in the sauna.
Step 3. Apply pressure to the stomach
Gently press the area about four finger-widths above the belly button in a circular motion for 5 minutes. This technique is known as acupressure. Gently pressing the abdomen can relieve physical stress on the stomach, thereby reducing tension and bloating. If flatulence is caused by constipation, this pressure can also help stimulate bowel movements.
Step 4. Relax the body
Lie on your back in a dark room. Read a book. Meditate. Relaxation can help relieve symptoms of chronic flatulence. If you often feel stressed and experience bloating, try taking some time each day to rest in peace. Your body will relax so that it can pass gas or relieve constipation that causes flatulence.
Method 2 of 4: Looking for Medicine to Relieve Bloated Stomach Quickly
Step 1. Use simethicone for general flatulence
Simethicone tablets and chewable tablets are available at your local pharmacy. This medicine can help relieve flatulence as well as pain caused by gas in the stomach. However, consult your doctor first before using simethicone if you are pregnant. Some brands of over-the-counter simethicone include:
- Gas-X
- Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief
- Maalox Anti-Gas
- Alka-Seltzer Anti Gas
- Mylanta Gas
Step 2. Get a prescription if you have IBS
If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, you should ask your doctor for a prescription medication that can address the specific cause of flatulence. Your doctor may recommend taking medications that contain lubiprostone (eg Amitiza) or linaclotide.
In terms of food intake, IBS sufferers are advised to avoid foods that can cause gas in the stomach such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and not to eat gluten. Other treatments include fiber intake, use of antidiarrheal drugs, antispasmodics, antidepressants, and antibiotics
Step 3. Treat premenstrual symptoms with spironolactone
If you experience severe abdominal bloating due to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), you can ask your doctor for medicines containing spironolactone (such as Aldactone). Your doctor may also recommend that you use birth control.
Other recommendations include avoiding salt and following a healthy diet. In addition, avoiding caffeine and alcohol intake can also help prevent symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
Step 4. Use a probiotic supplement
If you want to use a more natural way of dealing with flatulence, try probiotics. Probiotics will help balance the gut's natural bacteria. Look for tablets containing Bifidobacterium infantis (sometimes written as B. infantis) which is the best probiotic for flatulence and gastrointestinal problems.
- You can also eat plain yogurt. Yogurt is a natural source of probiotics. Other foods that also contain natural probiotics include pickles, kefir, tempeh, kimchi, sauerkraut, buttermilk, and miso.
- Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium are the best probiotics to relieve symptoms of flatulence.
Step 5. Drink carmint tea
Carmint tea can relieve flatulence and pain associated with gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. Bring the water to a boil and remove from the heat for 1 minute before brewing the carmint tea.
Carmint is also called catmint or catnip
Step 6. Avoid using activated charcoal
Although it is quite popular as a home remedy, there is not enough evidence to support the benefits of activated charcoal for relieving bloating, gas, or flatulence. In addition, if you have intestinal obstruction, the use of activated charcoal will only make this problem worse.
Method 3 of 4: Follow a Healthy Diet to Overcome Bloated Stomach in the Long-Term
Step 1. Chew food more slowly
Eating quickly will make you swallow a lot of air. This is what may cause flatulence. Therefore, chew your food for a few seconds slowly before swallowing it. That way, you can prevent air from entering the stomach.
Step 2. Stop the intake of wheat and dairy products for one week
The most common allergens that cause flatulence are gluten and lactose. Gluten is found in wheat products, while lactose is found in dairy products. Try to avoid all grain products for a week. If this helps with flatulence, you may have a gluten intolerance. However, if you're still experiencing bloating, try avoiding whole dairy the following week.
- Products that contain gluten include bread, pasta, cakes, cookies, and anything else that contains flour. Some soups and sauces also use gluten as a thickening agent.
- If you suspect you have gluten intolerance, try getting checked for celiac disease with the help of a doctor. Patients with this disease are not able to digest gluten so they experience abdominal pain and bloating. You may also need to have an allergy test. In this test, your doctor may need to take a sample of your digestive tract to observe its structure.
- Lactose is found in milk, ice cream, yogurt, and cream. If you suspect you are allergic to lactose, try getting an allergy test with the help of a doctor.
Step 3. Increase fiber intake slowly
Flatulence can be caused by too little fiber intake. However, if you increase your fiber intake suddenly, the problem can actually get worse. Wait for flatulence to subside before trying to increase your fiber intake. Add whole grains, raw vegetables, nuts, and fruit to your diet slowly over several weeks. If this makes your flatulence worse, reduce your fiber intake for a few days before trying to increase it again.
Adult men and women should consume 25-38 grams of fiber daily. Fiber is found in cereals such as oats, whole grains, and rice
Step 4. Avoid eating certain foods when you are bloated
As long as your stomach is bloated, you should avoid consuming certain foods that can make it worse. Foods like this are rich in short chain carbohydrates called FODMAPs so they can't be digested properly if you have gastrointestinal problems. FODMAPs include carbohydrates such as fructose (sugar from fruit), lactose (sugar from milk), and artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol and mannitol. While you don't have to completely stop taking it, you should try to reduce it until the flatulence subsides. These foods include:
- Apple
- Pear
- Dairy products
- Asparagus
- Brussels sprouts
- Garlic
- Legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, and chickpeas.
Step 5. Avoid carbonated drinks
Carbonated drinks like soda and beer can release carbon dioxide in the stomach, making you bloated. To avoid trouble, it's best to drink this kind of drink only on special occasions.
Step 6. Avoid chewing gum and hard candies
Sucking and chewing gum can make you swallow a lot of air, and as a result experience bloating. In addition, sweets may also contain artificial sweeteners which can also cause flatulence.
Method 4 of 4: Seeking Treatment for Chronic Bloating
Step 1. Make a note of the time you experienced flatulence
Make a note of any time you experience flatulence. Also be sure to record what foods you ate that day. This information will help your doctor diagnose your problem.
If you have persistent bloating and it doesn't improve, you should see a doctor. There are other underlying problems that can cause flatulence, and these symptoms will not go away until the problem is addressed. Flatulence can be a symptom of lactose intolerance, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gallstones, and diverculitis
Step 2. Take an allergy test
Your doctor may order you to have blood or skin tests to check for allergies that are causing your flatulence. The doctor may also inject an allergen to see how it reacts in your body.
Step 3. Try acupuncture
If you don't experience any other symptoms, you can try holistic medicine. Acupuncture is known to relieve symptoms of digestive tract problems, including bloating. For best results, find a professional acupuncture therapist and make an appointment for a 4-week treatment session.
Step 4. Seek emergency medical attention if any other symptoms occur
See a doctor if flatulence is accompanied by diarrhea, constipation, severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloody stools, drastic weight loss, fever, or chest pain. These symptoms indicate there is another problem.
- Nausea, vomiting, and severe thirst accompanied by abdominal pain may indicate peritonitis. So seek emergency medical help.
- If you are constipated and have swelling in your stomach, you may have an intestinal obstruction.
- If abdominal pain lasts more than 5 hours and your stools are a light, clay-colored color, you may have gallstones.
- If you vomit blood or vomit something like coffee grounds, seek medical attention immediately.
Tips
- Flatulence can be experienced by everyone. You may just need an over-the-counter medication and a hot bath to relieve it. However, if you experience frequent bloating, call your doctor.
- After successfully dealing with flatulence, you can try to prevent it from happening again in the future.
Warning
- Don't stop drinking water just because you feel bloated. Dehydration will only make it worse!
- You need to know that using laxatives or forcibly vomiting food will not relieve flatulence, on the contrary, it will exacerbate the problem due to increased stomach acid and gas in the intestines.
