Trapped wind can feel excruciating pain in the chest or abdomen. The pain can be so severe that you have to go to the emergency room, considering it’s a heart attack or appendicitis.
The production and passage of gas is a normal part of digestion. But when a gas bubble gets stuck inside you, you want to relieve the pain as fast as possible.
Read on to learn how to relieve trapped gas, what its causes may be, and tips for prevention.
Fast facts on trapped wind
- About 5% of emergency room visits are due to abdominal pain.
- On average, the colon produces 1 to 4 pints of gas in one day.
- Gas passage 13 to 21 times Reliable source one day is normal.
Best home remedies for trapped gas
Some home remedies to relieve trapped wind work better for some people. You may need to experiment to see what works best and fastest for you. Most evidence behind home remedies is an anecdotal.
Here are some quick methods to get rid of trapped wind, by belching or passing gas.
Move
Go around. Movement can help you expel the gas.
Massage
Try massaging the painful spot gently.
Yoga positions
Specific yoga poses can help your body relax to aid in the passage of gas. Here’s a pose to get you started:
- Lie down on your back and stretch your legs straight up with your feet together.
- Bend your knees and wrap your arms around them.
- Pull your knees down towards your chest.
- At the same time, raise your head up to your knees. You can also keep your head flat if that’s more comfortable.
- Hold the pose for 20 seconds or more.
liquids
Drink non-carbonated liquids. Hot water or herbal tea helps some people. drink peppermint, ginger, or chamomile tea.
Use prepared tea bags or make your own herbal tea by infusing ginger root, peppermint leaves, or dried chamomile.
A Persian traditional remedy Trusted Source recommends mixing 10 grams each of ground cumin and fennel with 5 grams of ground anise and steeping them in a cup of boiling water for 20 minutes.
Herbs
The remedies natural in the kitchen for the gas include:
- anice
- cumin
- coriander
- Fennel
- Curcuma
Mix one of these ground herbs or seeds in a glass of warm water and drink.
Sodium bicarbonate
Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon Reliable source of baking soda (baking soda) in a glass of water and drink it.
Don’t use more than 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Too much baking soda taken on a full stomach could lead to stomach rupture.
Apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a water glass and drinking is a traditional remedy for releasing gas.
Anecdotal evidence may be effective, but there is no scientific proof to support this claim because it has no side effects.
Best OTC remedies for trapped wind
There are many over-the-counter (OTC) remedies to relieve gas. The proof of effectiveness can be anecdotal. You experience the results of what works for you.
Here are some products to try.
Enzymatic preparations
Lactose intolerance products can help if you have difficulty digesting lactose. But these are usually taken as a preventative measure. These enzyme products include:
- lattaid
- Digest Dairy Plus
- Dairy Relief
You can find these products in most drugstores or buy online: Lattaid, Digest Dairy Plus, Dairy Relief.
Alpha-galactosidase, a natural enzyme helping in preventing gas from legumes. There is some reliable proof which works to prevent bloating. But again, it is usually taken as a preventative measure.
Beano is a well known version of this enzyme, which is available in tablets.
Adsorbenti
Simethicone-based products have possible benefits in relieving gas, according to some studies. These products cause breaking bubbles to gas.
These products include:
- Gas-X
- Alka-Seltzer Anti-Gas
- Mylanta Gas
Activated charcoal tablets or powder can also work to reduce gas. Coal activates by heating it to make it porous, which traps gas molecules in the spaces created. These products can cause side effects, such as turning the tongue black.
These products include:
- Activated carbon
- CharcoCaps
You can find simethicone and activated carbon products at most pharmacies or order them online by clicking on the links below:
- Gas-X
- Alka-Seltzer Anti-Gas
- Mylanta Gas
- Activated carbon
- CharcoCaps
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Symptoms of trapped wind
Symptoms of trapped wind usually come on suddenly. The pain can be severe and excruciating. It can also lead to the feelings of acute discomfort. Stomach bloating and stomach cramps might happen.
Pain from gas accumulating on the left side of the colon can radiate up to the chest. You may think this is a heart attack.
Gas that builds up on the right side of the colon can look like appendicitis or gallstones.
Causes of trapped wind
There are various reasons for trapped gas bubbles. Some are related to the digestion process, while some can be due to physical conditions that require treatment.
Digestion
Digestion and gas production are affected by:
- what you eat
- how fast you eat
- how much air you ingest when you eat
- food combinations
Bacteria, yeasts, and fungi in the colon (large intestine) are responsible for breaking down any food that is not fully processed by the small intestine .
Some people may be slower in processing and eliminating gas in their intestines. This may be because they lack the necessary enzymes.
Your colon transforms carbohydrates such as beans, bran, cabbage and broccoli into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. For some people, this can cause excess gas that could get trapped.
Food intolerance
Some people don’t have enough lactase, which is the enzyme needed to digest some dairy products. This is called lactose intolerance .
Other symptoms after eating gluten-containing meals called non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Both of these conditions can cause excess gas.
Bacterial overgrowth
Bacteria overgrowth in the small intestine (SIBO) occurs when bacteria that normally grow in other parts of the intestine start growing in the small intestine. This can cause more than normal intestinal gas.
Constipation
It is one of the most common problems of the digestive system all over the United States. It is defined as reduction of bowel movements per week and having hard, dry stools.
A common symptom of constipation is the inability to pass gas.
Lifestyle behaviors
Many reasons can contribute to the increased wind production, especially behaviors that allow for more air when eating. Examples included:
- use a straw to drink
- drink from a bottle of water or a fountain
- talk while eating
- chewing gum
- eat hard candy
- eating too much
- sighing deeply
- smoking
Other factors that can cause excess gas
Other causes of excess gas include:
- persistent post nasal drip
- using long-term over-the-counter cold medicines
- fiber supplements that contain psyllium
- artificial sugar substitutes such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol
- fatigue
- previous surgery or pregnancy that has altered the pelvic muscles
Health conditions that can cause excess gas
If your gas discomfort is prolonged and if you have other symptoms, you may have a more serious digestive problem. Some possibilities include:
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- peptic ulcers
All of these conditions are treatable.
Get weekly insights on ways to manage digestive conditions and improve gut health.
Tips for preventing trapped gas
You can reduce the risk of getting a painful gas bubble trapped by observing what and how you eat.
It can be helpful to keep a food diary. This can help you to take foods and circumstances that lead to a gas bubble. So you can avoid those foods or behaviors that seem to give you a problem.
Try eliminating foods one by one so that you can pinpoint any problems.
Here are some basic tips to start with:
- Stay hydrated.
- Avoid carbonated drinks.
- Drink liquids at room temperature
- Avoid meals which cause excess gas.
- Keep away all artificial sweeteners.
- Chew food well.
- Don’t chew the gum.
- Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
If you wear dentures, ask your dentist to check if they let in too much air when you eat.
Increase your physical activity.
Use home or OTC treaties for gas and see what might work for you.
When to see a doctor
If you often have trapped wind bubbles, if they persist for a long duration, or if you undergo troubling symptoms, see your doctor or physician.
Other symptoms to watch out for include:
- unexplained weight loss
- changes in the frequency of bowel movement
- blood in the stool
- constipation
- diarrhea
- nausea o vomito
- stomach ache
- loss of appetite.
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