Trapped Wind

What is trapped wind?

Producing gas is standard for our body as it is a natural by-product of food digestion, but sometimes some people produce more gas than others. Trapped wind is caused when this gas is stuck between the bowels and finds it difficult to escape, leading to abdominal pain and bloating. It is a very common condition that causes pain and discomfort around the digestive system, usually because of stomach or abdomen pressure. Trapped wind can occur in any part of your digestive system that is why different people experience different symptoms such as the bloated stomach, bloated abdomen, burping and flatulence throughout the system.

Flatulence is an entirely natural process. On average, a person passes wind about 5-15 times a day. However, some people are sensitive to the standard amounts. They tend to experience pain, burp excessively or pass large amounts of wind as the gas passes through the gut. This is the air swallowed by you when you are eating or drinking. It might also happen while smoking. Large amounts of air can be swallowed, and the air goes down into your gullet, producing more than standard amounts of gas in your digestive system.

What causes trapped wind?

The swallowed air from when you are eating, drinking, smoking, or even just swallowing saliva goes into your oesophagus. Sometimes, this air is in excessive amounts that can cause your body to produce more than usual amounts of gas. If you are sitting up, the air might tend to return back to the oesophagus and escapes through the mouth in the process of burping or belching, but if you are lying down, the air goes down to your stomach and cause gas. This results in bloating after eating. Sometimes the gas is produced in more than usual amounts and gets stuck inside your intestines which causes abdominal pain, and it is tough to produce that stuck gas from the back passage.

Gas is also produced by the bacteria in our gut. A process called fermentation occurs, which releases gas and heat. Colonic bacteria tends to break down indigestible fibre and starch, which the small intestine hasn't fully absorbed. This gas is typically made up of carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and methane with some sulphur traces, which causes an unpleasant smell during flatulence. This gas is absorbed into your bloodstream too. Excessive amounts of gas stuck between your digestive system cause trapped wind, resulting in bloating and severe abdominal pain.

Foods that trigger trapped wind include:

• Carbohydrates
• Fizzy drinks
• Dairy products
• High fibre foods
• Fructose
• High-fat foods

Diseases that may cause gas are:

• Coeliac disease is caused by an intolerance to a protein called gluten found in certain foods containing wheat, barley and rye. It affects the part of the gut called the small intestine.
• Inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative and Crohn's disease can affect the gut causing sensitivity towards gas.
• Diverticulitis affects the large bowel to be infected, affecting gas production, causing abdominal pain and bloating.
• Giardiasis is a disease caused by a germ called giardia, causing belching up foul-smelling gas.
• A poorly understood condition is the overgrowth of germs in the small intestine. It can be due to the aftermath of bowel surgery. It occurs more frequently in diabetic patients, people with inflammatory bowel diseases and diverticulosis. It can also be due to able bowel syndrome, which can cause the same sort of symptoms, especially bloating. It is considered that some cases of irritable bowel syndrome may be due to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Antibiotics such as metronidazole are sometimes used to treat small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Most people with gas-related symptoms tend to have increased sensitivity to gas or have one of the causes of increased gas production. Occasionally these symptoms can be features of long term diseases.

What are the common symptoms of the trapped wind?

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of trapped wind are:

1. A bloated stomach or abdomen
2. Nausea
3. Stomach cramps
4. Flatulence
5. Burping
6. Feeling uncomfortably full after eating
7. Rumbling or gurgling noises in your stomach
8. Pain when you bend over, lie down or even during exercise
9. Pain that moves around your body from your ribs to the back or even your back passage.

If you or anyone you know suffers from these symptoms, it is advised to change your lifestyle habits and if the symptoms are severe and worrisome, consult a doctor to help you guide through this.

How to treat trapped wind?

If you suffer from symptoms like persistent diarrhoea, blood in the stools, weight loss, lack of appetite, vomiting, anaemia, fever and difficulty in swallowing, your doctor may order you to have the following tests done:

• A stool sample to check for blood or high levels of fat and infection.
• A lactose intolerant test.
• An x-ray of your gut.
• Endoscopy to examine your stomach and bowels.
• A blood test.

Symptoms can be reduced and prevented by the following methods:

Changes in your diet

It is evident that some foods and beverages make you bloated. Cutting down on these triggers will relieve bloating. If you suffer from these symptoms, keep a record of what you eat, check what food triggers your symptoms, and then try to cut down on these foods and beverages. Certain fruits and vegetables, fizzy drinks, dairy products, and carbohydrates might be triggering your symptoms. If you are lactose or fructose intolerant, cut down on fructose and lactose-containing foods and beverages because they are most definitely causing your symptoms and trapped wind. Diets that combat constipation may be helpful.

Probiotics

Live microorganisms may be helpful. Probiotics are gut-friendly germs ( bacteria ) such as lactobacillus and bifidobacteria. A lot of studies have been and are being carried out in this area for treatment.

Exercise

Exercise has been proven to improve and reduce these symptoms. This is mainly because when you are exercising, your body tends to be upright, leaving your body to pass gas.

Over-the-counter medicines

Charcoal preparations, mainly used to absorb gas, can be helpful. There is some evidence that has proved to be efficient in helping reduce bloating. Simeticone is a medicine worth mentioning as it is used to break up gas bubbles and help treat these symptoms. Medicines which relieve spasms may also be helpful for bloating and distension. In this area, mebeverine and alverine are worthy of a try. Bismuth subsalicylate has side effects and should only be used occasionally, but it has proven to reduce the smell of flatulence. Prokinetic medications can assist with bloating relief. Peppermint is a key ingredient for reducing these symptoms and is one of the most common treatments.

Can I buy trapped wind treatment online?

You can easily and discreetly purchase the trapped wind treatment online at Click Pharmacy once you have been tested positive for the infection. You can book an appointment with one of Click Pharmacy's online health experts, who can also offer advice and supply you with a prescription.

How long does it take to treat trapped wind?

With the proper exercise and treatment, the trapped wind tends to end in a couple of weeks (2 weeks maximum), and your body can go back to the normal gas production and pass the wind easily without any complications and pain.

Patient information leaflet

Always read your patent information leaflet before starting your treatment.