7 Tips to deal with painful gas
Here are some tips how you can avoid having to deal with this by making small changes to the way you eat and drink
Having to deal with painful gas is something we unfortunately encounter from time to time. Here are some tips how you can avoid having to deal with this by making small changes to the way you eat and drink and how to alleviate the pain.
Sip a glass of water slowly: It can help move any gas-causing foods in your system through the digestive process and it makes it harder for your intestines to contract in a way that gasses you up. Your intestines contract to move food and if they contract too strongly or for too long, that can lead to or exacerbate gas.
Try to stop swallowing so much air, seriously: Until the pain abates, avoid habits that can lead to swallowing a ton of air, like taking big gulps of water at a time, using straws, drinking fizzy beverages, sucking your food down too quickly, talking a lot while eating and chewing gum.
Try getting up and walking around: It can also help clear up painful gas and bloating. If you can manage a quick walk or gentle movement, it can make a big difference.
Consider if dairy is actually the culprit: As your digestive system’s bacteria tries to break down lactose without enough lactase to do the job, you may experience symptoms like more painful gas than usual. Try cutting it out for a few weeks, or a day.
Have some peppermint oil or peppermint tea: Peppermint can act as a spasmolytic, meaning it stops your intestines from spasming too much which is what increases gas.
Snuggle under a blanket with a heating pad on your abdomen: Like peppermint, warmth can have an antispasmodic effect on your body and help your intestines to relax instead of contract too hard or too much, lessening that achy sensation that all too often comes along with gas.
Commit to keeping your fibre intake in check: It bulks up your stool, which helps you stay regular instead of getting constipated. If you find that you’re always in pain after you eat a salad with both broccoli and Brussels sprouts, however, it’s best to avoid those foods or whatever the fibre-heavy food may be until you feel better. Space it out when you eat them in the future.
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