From embarrassing gas to uncomfortable heartburn, everyone has digestive problems from time to time. The good news is there are some simple solutions for many of your troubles. Learn about what causes your discomfort, how to prevent and manage digestive problems, what questions to ask your pharmacist, and when to see a doctor.
The Digestive System
It may seem like digestion only happens in your stomach, but it’s a long process that involves many organs. Together they form the digestive tract.
Digestion begins in your mouth, where saliva starts to break down food when you chew. When you swallow, your chewed food moves to your esophagus, a tube that connects your throat to your stomach. Muscles in the esophagus push the food down to a valve at the bottom of your esophagus, which opens to let food into the stomach.
Your stomach breaks food down using stomach acids. Then the food moves into the small intestine. There, digestive juices from several organs, like your pancreas and gallbladder, break down the food more, and nutrients are absorbed. What’s left goes through your large intestine. The large intestine absorbs water. The waste then moves out of your body through the rectum and anus.
Digestive problems can happen anywhere along the way.
Gas and Bloating
Bloating and passing gas can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. Here’s what you need to know.
What is gas?
Gas is a normal part of healthy digestion. Air that is in your digestive tract is either released through your mouth as a burp or through your anus as gas. You typically pass gas 13 to 21 times a day.
What causes gas?
Gas is created when you swallow air, such as when you eat and drink. But it’s also a byproduct of the breakdown of food. Some foods cause more gas than others. You may also be more sensitive to particular foods and may have more gas when you eat them.
Taking some medications can also cause gas.
Which foods cause gas?
You’ve probably noticed you feel gassy after eating certain foods. Cut back on the common culprits:
- Apples
- Asparagus
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Milk and dairy products
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Peaches
- Pears
- Prunes
- Wheat
What causes bloating?
When gas builds up in your stomach and intestines, you may have bloating – swelling in your belly and a feeling of fullness. It may happen to you more often if you have:
- A stomach infection
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This digestive condition causes stomach pain, cramping, and diarrhea or constipation.
- Celiac disease. When people with this condition eat gluten, their bodies produce antibodies that attack the intestinal lining.
- Hormonal changes that happen around women’s periods
- Constipation
While bloating is usually just uncomfortable, it can sometimes cause pain in your belly or sides.
How can I reduce gas and bloating?
Diet and lifestyle changes can make a big difference:
- Cut back on fatty foods.
- Avoid fizzy drinks.
- Eat and drink slowly.
- Quit smoking.
- Don’t chew gum.
- Exercise more.
- Avoid foods that cause gas.
- Avoid sweeteners that cause gas such as fructose and sorbitol. They are often found in candies, chewing gum, energy bars, and low-carb foods.
Heartburn
Heartburn, sometimes called acid indigestion, is a painful, burning feeling in the middle of your chest or the upper part of your stomach. The pain, which can also spread to your neck, jaw, or arms, can last just a few minutes or stick with you for hours.
What causes heartburn?
There’s a muscle at the entrance of your stomach, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), that acts like a gate: It opens to let food move from your esophagus to your stomach, and it shuts to stop food and acid from coming back out.
When the LES opens too often or isn’t tight enough, stomach acid can rise up into the esophagus and cause the burning feeling.
What triggers heartburn?
Triggers vary from person to person, but you may be more likely to get heartburn when you:
- Overeat
- Eat spicy, fatty, acidic, or greasy foods
- Consume caffeine or alcohol
- Smoke
- Lie down shortly after you eat
- Are under stress
Who gets heartburn?
Some people have a higher risk of heartburn, including those who are:
- Smokers
- Overweight
- Pregnant
- Have a hiatal hernia, where the stomach bulges up into the chest through an opening in the diaphragm
How should I change my diet to avoid heartburn?
You might have noticed that your heartburn gets worse when you eat or drink certain things. Here are a few that can trigger heartburn:
- Alcohol
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Fatty or fried foods
- Greasy foods
- Onions
- Oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits and juices
- Vinegar, hot sauces, and salad dressings
- Peppermint
- Sodas and other bubbly drinks
- Spicy foods
- Tomatoes and tomato sauce
Credit: webmd
