Do you think about what you put into your mouth and what happens after you chew and shallow … well you should!
Digestive woes are one of the most common problems people face today.
It may not be a comfortable topic to bring up, but it can be even more uncomfortable to live with for the millions of Americans who suffer from abdominal pain and bloating.
Listen as Dr. Angeli Chopra, joins us to discuss the importance of caring for your colon and belly, and how you get rid of the gas and bloating once and for all!
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Got Gas? Help is Here for That Gas and Bloating!
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Learn more about Angeli Chopra MD
Angeli Chopra, MD
Angeli Chopra, MD served her residency at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She completed a Gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Alberta, and a fellowship in Hepatology (study of the liver and related organs) at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.Learn more about Angeli Chopra MD
Transcription:
Got Gas? Help is Here for That Gas and Bloating!
Bill Klaproth (Host): So, do you get gassy now and then? Feel bloated? Do you know what causes that? Well, if you want to know what causes that, we have the person here for you. Dr. Angelique Chopra is a gastroenterologist at St. Joseph Hospital and she is going to clue us in on all the answers. Dr. Chopra, thanks so much for being on with us today. So, can we just jump right on in to it? What causes that gas and that bloated feeling?
Dr. Angeli Chopra (Guest): Well, you know, there are two primary sources of gas. There's gas that ingested—so, that's mainly air that's swallowed; and gas that's produced by bacteria in the colon. So, swallowed air actually is a major source of gas in the stomach. Now, it's important to know that it is normal to swallow a small amount of air when you're swallowing your saliva but, if you chew foods or gulp liquids very rapidly, chew gum or smoke quite often, you may swallow a little more air than normal. It's also important to know that gas production can occur because of bacteria in the colon. Now, the colon is actually a home for billions of harmless bacteria and some of these actually support normal health of the bowel. But, certain foods have carbohydrates which are not completely digested and these bacteria might try to digest them causing more gas. For example, foods like cabbage, Brussels sprouts and broccoli have carbohydrates which are poorly digested and they may actually cause more gas and flatulence.
Bill: So chewing – normal chewing and swallowing -- you're going to get air down into your stomach. Right? So, is a way to combat that to chew your food better if we take this piece by piece?
Dr. Chopra: Exactly. You want to make sure that you chew food carefully and just a lot slower than normal. Try not to gulp down liquids. It's also important to watch your diet and see which foods are causing trouble as well. So, I tell people to keep a little bit of a food diary. There are foods, like we were saying, which have carbohydrates, specifically like lactose and sometimes fructans which are not completely digested. Also, make sure that you minimize chewing gum and smoking, especially if bloating and belching are big problems.
Bill: So, if you keep a food diary and if you're getting gassy or bloated and you subtract certain foods, that's a way to find out what could be causing it. Correct?
Dr. Chopra: That’s correct. I tell patients especially that are more aware of their gas--and that's an important thing to realize as well. A normal, healthy individual does produce 1 to 3 pints of gas a day and this can be passed 14 to 20 times a day. People that do feel more gassy or bloated or belchy don't necessarily produce more gas but they might be more aware of it. So, writing down what to eat and avoiding artificial sweeteners and soda--all of these things will help individuals feel better.
Bill: Are there other management options for someone with gas?
Dr. Chopra: Yes, I always tell patients to try some over the counter things which are available, for example, Beano. Beano is an over the counter preparation that helps to break down certain complex carbohydrates. For example, beans and vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cabbage. I also tell people to try Simethicone. Simethicone is marketed as Maalox or Gas-Ex. What this does is, it causes gas bubbles to break up and it's widely used to relieve gas. I've also tried Pepto-Bismol for my patients. Again, it's available over the counter. This is going to help with that bloated feeling and it will actually reduce the odor of unpleasant smelling gas which can be, unfortunately, embarrassing.
Bill: So, the steps that you just talked about--which is great information--if that doesn't work is it time to see a doctor, then?
Dr. Chopra: You know, you definitely want to keep on eye on these symptoms because it is important to realize that certain medical conditions can cause you to make excessive amounts of gas. I tell people to watch out for symptoms such as: diarrhea that's lasting more than 5 days; unexplained weight loss; blood in your bowel movements; a loss of appetite; unexplained fever; throwing up for greater than 48 hours and also, iron deficiency anemia that doesn't have a good explanation. So, these are things that should alert patients as well as primary care providers to get in touch with their gastroenterologist.
Bill: So, having a little bit of gas that's normal?
Dr. Chopra: Exactly. Like I was saying, we all produce 200 ml or up to 3 pints a day. You want to keep an eye on it. Burping occasionally, or before or after meals is also normal. To a large extent, the amount of gas produced by the body depends on diet and these individual factors that we've talked about.
Bill: Are there some common myths about gas or bloating that you can talk about?
Dr. Chopra: So, I think one of the myths is that it's always worrisome. Again, you want to watch out for the alarm symptoms. In fact, bloating is probably one of the most common complaints that we hear of at a doctor's office. So, like I said, it may just be that you're more aware of it. But, it's also important to realize that certain medical conditions can lead to this. For example, if you do notice trouble with foods like wheat or pasta, you may, in fact, have a gluten intolerance, but, rather than cutting it out of your diet completely, get the testing done for it. The blood tests are fairly accurate and, therefore, you're not losing out on nutrients that you might commonly miss in your diet. Another one is dairy. So, people altogether start avoiding dairy, but I say, again, keep track of what you're eating and how it makes you feel. Whole foods like oatmeal, do have more sugar, so they may cause problems but your doctor may be able to do some breath, blood tests and even stool tests for you to confirm that.
Bill: I see these IBS commercials on TV. You see the women and their midriffs and they're talking about the gassing and the bloating and rumbling tummies. Can you talk about IBS and how that is connected with gas and bloating?
Dr. Chopra: Sure. So Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS, this is a condition, a chronic GI disorder, which can cause belly pain and problems with bowel movements. Some people have frequent, watery bowel movements. Other people don't have enough bowel movements and some people can switch back and forth. Other than diarrhea and constipation, people can, in fact, complain of gas and bloating, or filling too quickly when eating or even nausea. It's important to recognize that a lot of the times, when these individuals are thoroughly worked up through scopes, upper and lower, there's no organic disease found but the symptoms can be very real. There's not a specific test for it but if you tell your doctor or nurse your symptoms, they can usually figure it out. At times, they do need to run a few tests to make sure that there's nothing else going on than IBS. I tell people, again, “What can you do to feel better?” Start a diary, keep track of what you ate each day and how you feel. Stop eating foods that are making your symptoms worse or cause you to be gassier. I tell people, “If you have constipation, eat more fiber.” You can do this by eating fruits, or vegetables, take fiber pills or even powders. It's very important to exercise. So, try to do something active for 20 to 60 minutes 3 to 5 times a day.
Bill: So, it sounds like a normal course of staying well, eating well and exercising, helps with gas and bloating as well?
Dr. Chopra: That's right.
Bill: On that commercial--it's a commercial for yogurt. Does yogurt help?
Dr. Chopra: Probiotics, just like your intestine, are billions of harmless bacteria. Some of these are definitely required to support the normal health of the bowel. Some trials have shown that they do help with non-specific stomach pain as well as bloating and gas. You can get the naturally cultured yogurts. You can get them in pills as well. I often try to tell patients to give them a try and they may help, especially with things like fiber, to reduce some of your symptoms.
Bill: So, somebody that does have chronic gas and bloating, it sounds like there are steps, there are ways, there are treatments, to relieve the symptoms. Somebody doesn't have to live a life of being gassy. Is that correct?
Dr. Chopra: That's right. It's always important to remember to watch how much air you're swallowing, watch what foods are making you feel worse and also watch out for those alarm symptoms. The other thing I just want to quickly mention for gas, bloating as well as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is the Fodmaps Diet. So, this is available and you can have a look at it on the internet. It's comprised of foods which are rich in fructose, lactose, and fructans. And all of these foods have three common properties: they're not always absorbed; they do increase the amount of fluid in the intestine and they're rapidly fermented by bacteria. So, the ingestion of some of these foods may cause more pain and bloating. Reducing their intake may help reduce symptoms such as IBS symptoms. It's surprising how much food can make a difference.
Bill: Great information, Dr. Chopra. You're a wealth of info. Thank you so much for your time today. We really appreciate it .For more information you can always visit StJoesHealing.org. That's StJoesHealing.org. This is St. Joe's Radio. I'm Bill Klaproth. Thanks for listening.
Got Gas? Help is Here for That Gas and Bloating!
Bill Klaproth (Host): So, do you get gassy now and then? Feel bloated? Do you know what causes that? Well, if you want to know what causes that, we have the person here for you. Dr. Angelique Chopra is a gastroenterologist at St. Joseph Hospital and she is going to clue us in on all the answers. Dr. Chopra, thanks so much for being on with us today. So, can we just jump right on in to it? What causes that gas and that bloated feeling?
Dr. Angeli Chopra (Guest): Well, you know, there are two primary sources of gas. There's gas that ingested—so, that's mainly air that's swallowed; and gas that's produced by bacteria in the colon. So, swallowed air actually is a major source of gas in the stomach. Now, it's important to know that it is normal to swallow a small amount of air when you're swallowing your saliva but, if you chew foods or gulp liquids very rapidly, chew gum or smoke quite often, you may swallow a little more air than normal. It's also important to know that gas production can occur because of bacteria in the colon. Now, the colon is actually a home for billions of harmless bacteria and some of these actually support normal health of the bowel. But, certain foods have carbohydrates which are not completely digested and these bacteria might try to digest them causing more gas. For example, foods like cabbage, Brussels sprouts and broccoli have carbohydrates which are poorly digested and they may actually cause more gas and flatulence.
Bill: So chewing – normal chewing and swallowing -- you're going to get air down into your stomach. Right? So, is a way to combat that to chew your food better if we take this piece by piece?
Dr. Chopra: Exactly. You want to make sure that you chew food carefully and just a lot slower than normal. Try not to gulp down liquids. It's also important to watch your diet and see which foods are causing trouble as well. So, I tell people to keep a little bit of a food diary. There are foods, like we were saying, which have carbohydrates, specifically like lactose and sometimes fructans which are not completely digested. Also, make sure that you minimize chewing gum and smoking, especially if bloating and belching are big problems.
Bill: So, if you keep a food diary and if you're getting gassy or bloated and you subtract certain foods, that's a way to find out what could be causing it. Correct?
Dr. Chopra: That’s correct. I tell patients especially that are more aware of their gas--and that's an important thing to realize as well. A normal, healthy individual does produce 1 to 3 pints of gas a day and this can be passed 14 to 20 times a day. People that do feel more gassy or bloated or belchy don't necessarily produce more gas but they might be more aware of it. So, writing down what to eat and avoiding artificial sweeteners and soda--all of these things will help individuals feel better.
Bill: Are there other management options for someone with gas?
Dr. Chopra: Yes, I always tell patients to try some over the counter things which are available, for example, Beano. Beano is an over the counter preparation that helps to break down certain complex carbohydrates. For example, beans and vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cabbage. I also tell people to try Simethicone. Simethicone is marketed as Maalox or Gas-Ex. What this does is, it causes gas bubbles to break up and it's widely used to relieve gas. I've also tried Pepto-Bismol for my patients. Again, it's available over the counter. This is going to help with that bloated feeling and it will actually reduce the odor of unpleasant smelling gas which can be, unfortunately, embarrassing.
Bill: So, the steps that you just talked about--which is great information--if that doesn't work is it time to see a doctor, then?
Dr. Chopra: You know, you definitely want to keep on eye on these symptoms because it is important to realize that certain medical conditions can cause you to make excessive amounts of gas. I tell people to watch out for symptoms such as: diarrhea that's lasting more than 5 days; unexplained weight loss; blood in your bowel movements; a loss of appetite; unexplained fever; throwing up for greater than 48 hours and also, iron deficiency anemia that doesn't have a good explanation. So, these are things that should alert patients as well as primary care providers to get in touch with their gastroenterologist.
Bill: So, having a little bit of gas that's normal?
Dr. Chopra: Exactly. Like I was saying, we all produce 200 ml or up to 3 pints a day. You want to keep an eye on it. Burping occasionally, or before or after meals is also normal. To a large extent, the amount of gas produced by the body depends on diet and these individual factors that we've talked about.
Bill: Are there some common myths about gas or bloating that you can talk about?
Dr. Chopra: So, I think one of the myths is that it's always worrisome. Again, you want to watch out for the alarm symptoms. In fact, bloating is probably one of the most common complaints that we hear of at a doctor's office. So, like I said, it may just be that you're more aware of it. But, it's also important to realize that certain medical conditions can lead to this. For example, if you do notice trouble with foods like wheat or pasta, you may, in fact, have a gluten intolerance, but, rather than cutting it out of your diet completely, get the testing done for it. The blood tests are fairly accurate and, therefore, you're not losing out on nutrients that you might commonly miss in your diet. Another one is dairy. So, people altogether start avoiding dairy, but I say, again, keep track of what you're eating and how it makes you feel. Whole foods like oatmeal, do have more sugar, so they may cause problems but your doctor may be able to do some breath, blood tests and even stool tests for you to confirm that.
Bill: I see these IBS commercials on TV. You see the women and their midriffs and they're talking about the gassing and the bloating and rumbling tummies. Can you talk about IBS and how that is connected with gas and bloating?
Dr. Chopra: Sure. So Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS, this is a condition, a chronic GI disorder, which can cause belly pain and problems with bowel movements. Some people have frequent, watery bowel movements. Other people don't have enough bowel movements and some people can switch back and forth. Other than diarrhea and constipation, people can, in fact, complain of gas and bloating, or filling too quickly when eating or even nausea. It's important to recognize that a lot of the times, when these individuals are thoroughly worked up through scopes, upper and lower, there's no organic disease found but the symptoms can be very real. There's not a specific test for it but if you tell your doctor or nurse your symptoms, they can usually figure it out. At times, they do need to run a few tests to make sure that there's nothing else going on than IBS. I tell people, again, “What can you do to feel better?” Start a diary, keep track of what you ate each day and how you feel. Stop eating foods that are making your symptoms worse or cause you to be gassier. I tell people, “If you have constipation, eat more fiber.” You can do this by eating fruits, or vegetables, take fiber pills or even powders. It's very important to exercise. So, try to do something active for 20 to 60 minutes 3 to 5 times a day.
Bill: So, it sounds like a normal course of staying well, eating well and exercising, helps with gas and bloating as well?
Dr. Chopra: That's right.
Bill: On that commercial--it's a commercial for yogurt. Does yogurt help?
Dr. Chopra: Probiotics, just like your intestine, are billions of harmless bacteria. Some of these are definitely required to support the normal health of the bowel. Some trials have shown that they do help with non-specific stomach pain as well as bloating and gas. You can get the naturally cultured yogurts. You can get them in pills as well. I often try to tell patients to give them a try and they may help, especially with things like fiber, to reduce some of your symptoms.
Bill: So, somebody that does have chronic gas and bloating, it sounds like there are steps, there are ways, there are treatments, to relieve the symptoms. Somebody doesn't have to live a life of being gassy. Is that correct?
Dr. Chopra: That's right. It's always important to remember to watch how much air you're swallowing, watch what foods are making you feel worse and also watch out for those alarm symptoms. The other thing I just want to quickly mention for gas, bloating as well as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is the Fodmaps Diet. So, this is available and you can have a look at it on the internet. It's comprised of foods which are rich in fructose, lactose, and fructans. And all of these foods have three common properties: they're not always absorbed; they do increase the amount of fluid in the intestine and they're rapidly fermented by bacteria. So, the ingestion of some of these foods may cause more pain and bloating. Reducing their intake may help reduce symptoms such as IBS symptoms. It's surprising how much food can make a difference.
Bill: Great information, Dr. Chopra. You're a wealth of info. Thank you so much for your time today. We really appreciate it .For more information you can always visit StJoesHealing.org. That's StJoesHealing.org. This is St. Joe's Radio. I'm Bill Klaproth. Thanks for listening.