Intestinal Gas: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Relief Strategies
Intestinal gas is natural and it’s not fatal. However, sometimes excessive intestinal gas can be dangerous. So, know what causes intestinal gas and how to get rid of it.
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Last updated on 3rd Jul, 2025
It is common to have gas in the digestive system. Excessive gas can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, affecting everyday life. Some of these problems can be avoided by effectively understanding their causes, symptoms, and management strategies. Intestinal gas is the air and other gases present in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It comprises oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen. These gases are produced through digestion, fermentation, or swallowing too much air. They are ultimately discharged during belching or flatulence. So, here, brief guidance is given about gas formation and possible treatment.
How Does Intestinal Gas Develop?
The formation of gas is a normal by-product of digestive activity. It grows in the stomach and intestines and is affected by food and eating habits. Here is how human beings develop it –
Intestinal Fermentation: In the large intestine, gut bacteria ferment undigested carbohydrates and fibres. During this process, gases like hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide are produced. Foods with complex carbohydrates, like beans and broccoli, are particularly susceptible to this fermentation.
Swallowing Air: A common source of gas in the stomach is swallowed air or aerophagia. Some air enters the stomach through the mouth during eating, drinking, talking, or even chewing gum; however, when someone consumes an excessive amount of air, that will cause aerophagia.
Common Symptoms Associated With Intestinal Gas
Excess gas in the digestive system causes unpleasant and sometimes serious symptoms. The severity of these symptoms can vary depending on the underlying cause and individual tolerance.
One of the common issues related to intestinal gas is bloating. It happens when gas gets trapped in the stomach or intestines, making the abdomen feel swollen and tight. This can cause a mild or severe discomfort. Some people think of abdominal pain during bloating.
Belching and flatulence are other symptoms of intestinal gas. While bleaching is the release of excess air from the stomach through the mouth, flatulence is when the gas passes through the rectum and anus. Both are natural bodily functions, but they can become excessive when people have overdone them with foods or drinks.
Consult Top Doctors for Your Symptoms
Foods and Beverages Contributing to Gas Production
Some foods and drinks are more likely than others to produce gas than others. Here are the examples –
High-fibre foods (beans, lentils, broccoli, cabbage, and whole grains)
Carbonated drinks (soda, sparkling water, and beer)
Dairy products (milk, ice creams and yoghurt)
Onions
Fruits (apples, peaches, pears, apricots, bananas, melons and prunes)
Sugar substitutes like sorbitol
High fructose corn syrup
Diagnosing Excessive Intestinal Gas
Persistent or excessive gas may need to be evaluated to determine the underlying issues and decide on a plan of care. The healthcare provider first compares a patient’s eating habits, lifestyle choices, and medical history. This can help reveal possible triggers, such as certain foods, habits, or health conditions.
Diagnostic tests, including abdominal X-rays, ultrasound, colonoscopy, or sigmoidoscopy, can be done to check for gas-related symptoms. Patients with lactose intolerance or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can also be diagnosed with breath tests, while infections or inflammatory conditions are identified by stool tests or blood work.
If the patient has chronic belching, the doctor may suggest an upper GI series or barium swallow to check the organs present in the upper portion of the digestive system.
Management and Treatment
Intestinal gas is usually managed with dietary changes, medications, and lifestyle adjustments that relieve the immediate symptoms and reduce recurrence. Here is how
Dietary Changes: Introducing dietary changes is one of the most effective means of managing intestinal gas. Avoiding high-fibre or gas-producing foods, consuming smaller meals, and chewing food thoroughly can lessen gas accumulation. Also, maintaining a food diary can assist in identifying the particular trigger food items and plan accordingly. Also, lactose-free dairy products and a low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) diet have become helpful.
Medications & Supplements: Over-the-counter treatments like simethicone can break up stomach gas bubbles, easing discomfort. For those who want to reduce the symptoms associated with gas, there are alternatives like activated charcoal and bismuth subsalicylate. In some cases (e.g. lactose intolerance), digestive enzymes like lactase or probiotics (which help regulate gut bacteria) can be prescribed.
Home Remedies for Relieving Intestinal Gas
However, simple and natural remedies can help relieve gas-related symptoms and enhance digestive efficacy. Here are the tips –
Teas made from herbs like peppermint, chamomile, and ginger are said to be good for digestion. These teas relax the digestive muscles so trapped gas can pass more easily. Other helpful remedies for reducing bloating and aiding digestion are fennel seeds and warm water with lemon.
Body movement and exercise also encourage intestinal activity, which can move the gas stuck in the intestines. Gentle exercises like walking or yoga are also beneficial. Reducing swallowed air can also be achieved by practising mindful eating and avoiding chewing gum.
People with lactose intolerance cannot digest milk or other dairy products. So, such individuals, when consuming dairy products, suffer from intestinal gas.
Apple cider vinegar fights the bacteria that cause abdominal gas. Thus, adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to water or tea will help reduce the symptoms of intestinal gas. But, it should be consumed before meals.
When to Seek Medical Advice?
Although intestinal gas is typically harmless, some symptoms could indicate a more serious underlying problem that calls for medical attention.
Severe Or Persistent Symptoms: Chronic or severely swollen abdomen, pain in the abdomen, or excessive flatulence that is unresponsive to home treatments or eliminations from the diet should be assessed by a healthcare provider.
Underlying Gastrointestinal Condition: Disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, small intestinal bacterial growth (SIBO) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can lead to recurring gas symptoms. The prevention of long-term complications entirely depends on the early detection and treatment of these conditions.
Preventive Measures
The right preventive practice can help reduce the formation of gas and keep the digestive system in check. Here are some tips –
Diet and Dietary Habits: Chewing the food thoroughly and eating slowly can help decrease swallowed air. Also, limiting high-fibre and gas-producing foods or cooking them in ways that make them easier to digest, like steaming or boiling, can also make a difference.
Lifestyle Modifications: Digestive health relies on drinking plenty of fluid, eating well, and through body movement. One can also reduce stress levels via relaxation techniques, like meditation or yoga, to enhance gut function.
Changing Other Lifestyle Habits: Avoiding habits such as smoking and drinking through straws can also be helpful for some people.
Conclusion
Intestinal gas is a normal by-product of digestion, created through processes like swallowing air, fermentation of undigested food and breakdown of gas-producing compounds found in some foods. Although gas is natural in humans, it may cause trouble when it is produced in excessive quantities. So, taking a preventative approach to diet and lifestyle is the first step to managing these symptoms. However, ongoing or serious symptoms could indicate a gastrointestinal problem that requires a doctor’s evaluation. Timely medical intervention and preventive measures can improve digestive health and enhance quality of life.
Consult Top Gastroenterologists
Consult Top Doctors for Your Symptoms
Dr Harish K C
Gastroenterology/gi Medicine Specialist
15 Years • MBBS MD DM MRCP(UK) (SCE-Gastroenterology and Hepatology)
Bangalore
Manipal Hospital, Bangalore
Dr Rohit Sureka
Gastroenterology/gi Medicine Specialist
19 Years • MBBS, DNB General Medicine, DNB Gastroenterology
Jaipur
Triveni Gastro Care, Jaipur
Dr. Paramesh K N
Gastroenterology/gi Medicine Specialist
16 Years • MBBS, MS ( General Surgery), DNB ( Surgical Gastroenterology)
Hyderabad
Sprint Diagnostics Centre, Hyderabad
Dr. Vijay Rai
Gastroenterology/gi Medicine Specialist
19 Years • MBBS,MD General Medicine,MD GASTROENTOLOGY
Kolkata
Livgastro, Kolkata
Dr. Gorantla Sarath Chandra
Gastroenterology/gi Medicine Specialist
15 Years • MD, DM (Gastro)
Hyderabad
Star Hospital, Financial District, Hyderabad
(225+ Patients)
Consult Top Gastroenterologists
Dr Harish K C
Gastroenterology/gi Medicine Specialist
15 Years • MBBS MD DM MRCP(UK) (SCE-Gastroenterology and Hepatology)
Bangalore
Manipal Hospital, Bangalore
Dr Rohit Sureka
Gastroenterology/gi Medicine Specialist
19 Years • MBBS, DNB General Medicine, DNB Gastroenterology
Jaipur
Triveni Gastro Care, Jaipur
Dr. Paramesh K N
Gastroenterology/gi Medicine Specialist
16 Years • MBBS, MS ( General Surgery), DNB ( Surgical Gastroenterology)
Hyderabad
Sprint Diagnostics Centre, Hyderabad
Dr. Vijay Rai
Gastroenterology/gi Medicine Specialist
19 Years • MBBS,MD General Medicine,MD GASTROENTOLOGY
Kolkata
Livgastro, Kolkata
Dr. Gorantla Sarath Chandra
Gastroenterology/gi Medicine Specialist
15 Years • MD, DM (Gastro)
Hyderabad
Star Hospital, Financial District, Hyderabad
(225+ Patients)
