Why Am I Constantly Gassy?
Article Sources
- 1. 'Gas in the Digestive Tract.' National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gas-digestive-tract
- 2. Publishing, Harvard Health. 'Gas (Flatulence).' Harvard Health, www.health.harvard.edu/a/to/z/gas-flatulence-a-to-z
- 3. 'Gas in the Digestive Tract.' Johns Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/gas-in-the-digestive-tract
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- 5. 'Gas and Gas Pains.' Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 3 Mar. 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gas-and-gas-pains/symptoms-causes/syc-20372709
- 6. 'Intestinal Gas Causes.' Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 16 Apr. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/intestinal-gas/basics/causes/sym-20050922
- 7. 'Irritable Bowel Syndrome.' Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 15 Oct. 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20360016
- 8. 'Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).' Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 22 May 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20361959
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Intestinal gas is air in the digestive tract. It may exit the body through the mouth as burping or belching or through the anus in the form of flatulence. While people may make jokes about it, everyone passes gas. In fact, it's not uncommon for people to pass gas 20 times a day.
Gas in the digestive tract may cause uncomfortable symptoms before it leaves the body. Abdominal pain may be present. Bloating, a feeling of fullness that may cause the abdomen to become distended, is another symptom of gas, which commonly occurs after a meal.1‘Gas in the Digestive Tract.’ National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gas-digestive-tract
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Swallowed Air
Swallowing air is a common cause of gas in the upper intestinal tract. Everyone swallows a small amount of air when they eat, but some activities, such as eating or drinking too fast, may cause a person to swallow too much air.
Other activities that may contribute to excessive swallowing of air include chewing gum, smoking, drinking through a straw and sucking on hard candies. Wearing dentures that don't fit correctly may also cause a person to swallow too much air. Sometimes people gulp air as they talk, especially if they're nervous, excited or upset.1‘Gas in the Digestive Tract.’ National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gas-digestive-tract,2Publishing, Harvard Health. ‘Gas (Flatulence).’ Harvard Health, www.health.harvard.edu/a/to/z/gas-flatulence-a-to-z,5‘Gas and Gas Pains.’ Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 3 Mar. 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gas-and-gas-pains/symptoms-causes/syc-20372709,6‘Intestinal Gas Causes.’ Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 16 Apr. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/intestinal-gas/basics/causes/sym-20050922
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