“My upper abdomen is bloated because of gas. What should I do?”
I have a body prone to gas accumulation and most often it happens around my upper abdomen. What should I do to release it?
6 Answers
It may not actually be gas. Most people with bloating think that gas is causing the problem but it's usually not gas accumulation. Rather it is often fluid accumulation in the small intestine due to ingested carbohydrates that are not well digested. My first recommendation is to lower the carbohydrates in the diet. That will help in many cases. Otherwise, consider seeing a GI doctor to get a proper evaluation, especially if other symptoms are present, such as vomiting, pain, weight loss or anemia.
This is a very common question. Most of the time, bloating is related to your diet. I would look at the FODMAP diet. This divides foods into items that are easily digestible, which should not cause bloating, and difficult to digest, which would contribute to bloating. Some foods include onions and garlic, which are difficult to digest. Fructose is another product that is found in many products that are over-the-counter and again only can get absorbed and digested in a limited amount.
Gas is most commonly caused by swallowing air. I recommend no straws, gum, carbonated beverages and all dairy products. Since gas and swollowed air cannot be absorbed, either belching or flatus is the only way to release it.
Use of simethacon will help upper abdominal bloating and avoid carbonated drinks. If flatus is a problem, it can be helped with probiotics and a low gas diet. Look at a FODMAP diet from Stanford U.
There’s quite a few possible conditions that should be ruled out so please consult a Gastroenterologist.
Did you have any investigations done? Like checking for h.pylori or EGD? Do you have any abdominal pain or GERD like heartburn? In general, bloating is benign and avoiding things that increase intestinal gas can help such as legumes, raw vegetables, smoking, chewing gum, drinking from a straw, or carbonated beverages. OTC medications such as gasX or Beano or probiotics can give some relief.
