1. Occasional Gas
2. Occasional Gasp
3. Occasional Gasping For Air
4. Occasional Gasping For Breath
5. Occasional Gasping For Air
6. Occasional Gas Smell From Stove
7. Occasional Gasp For Breath

The information provided herein is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as medical advice or to replace professional medical care. You should always seek the advice of a medical professional before starting any new medication or dietary supplement. The opinions stated herein are those solely of the writer and do not portray the opinions of the Culturelle^® brand, i-Health, Inc., or DSM.

Michael F. Roizenº, MD, is a four-time #1 New York Times best-selling author and co-founder and originator of the popular RealAge.com. He is board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine, and resides as chief wellness officer of the Cleveland Clinic. Additionally, he is the chief medical consultant to The Dr. Oz Show. Dr. Roizen is providing this information for educational purposes, and encourages you to still seek advice from your physician regarding these issues.

From common things like lactose intolerance, dehydration, big meals, antibiotic exposure (in food and medicines) and air swallowing (not just with popcorn and bubble gum), to rare things like too much fiber at once, celiac disease and gallbladder dysfunction, we have all been exposed to conditions or situations that cause occasional bloating and gas. In fact, there are more than 100 causes that exist, but I’d like to explain the facts behind some of these more common reasons and how they can be addressed.

Main Contributors to Occasional Gas and Bloating

You have two main sources that power nature’s rear-propulsion system. Gas is a result of the air you swallow and the digestion of foods by bacteria in your intestine. These bacteria love digesting sugars, fiber, or milk (if you’re lactose deficient). The result is gas made up of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and methane. Your foods dictate whether your small intestine feels mild annoyance (occasional bloating), anger (occasional gas), stubbornness (occasional constipation), or all-out temper tantrums (occasional diarrhea). Swallowing air can be reduced by avoiding cigarettes, gum, and carbonated beverages, and by eating and drinking more slowly.

• Laid back, devoted and brave, with occasional moments of strong-willed stubbornness, the English bulldog is good all-around companion for families and apartment-dwellers alike. History According to an Encyclopedia Britannica article, the bulldog breed was developed in the early 13th century to fight bulls.
• Gas is a normal component of the digestive system. It accumulates as you swallow air when you eat and drink, and it can form in the large intestine as bacteria work to break down carbohydrates like fiber, some starches, and some sugars that aren't digested in your small intestine.
• According to Dr. Ravella, super-smelly gas is often the result of eating foods rich in sulfur, which the digestive system breaks down into stinky compounds called sulfides. Two high-sulfur foods.

As to the main cause of occasional gas and bloating, it can be that your intestines lack enzymes to metabolize specific foods like milk or grains or beans. When that happens, the food remains undigested, so you start feeding your intestines’ ravenous bacteria. The result—lots of intestinal dilation and occasionally more gas than a Hummer fuel tank. The most common of these is lactose intolerance and a close second is an allergy to gluten from wheat. As an example, when you lack the enzyme lactase (which may happen more as you get older), the lactose sugar in the milk reaching your intestine is not metabolized, so it produces a lot of gas when presented to your intestinal bacteria, which metabolize the lactose in your intestines. You don’t feel so good either. A solution? Speak to your doctor about these possibilities and if you should adjust your diet to avoid lactose and/or gluten.

We all have stomachaches and trouble going to the bathroom once in a while, but for people with IBS, the chronic pain and discomfort can be disabling. Along with abdominal cramping and discomfort.

What’s That Smell?

For those of you who stay up wondering, here’s the reason why your occasional gas may smell and other people’s may not: Think of your body as a refrigerator. If you let food sit in there, it’s going to smell after a while. In your body, sulfur-rich foods like eggs, meat, beer, beans and cauliflower are decomposed by bacteria and release hydrogen sulfide—a very potent smell. Avoiding these foods may seem like the ideal solution but not always the realistic one. When stinky gas persists occasionally because of these foods, the best solutions are leafy green vegetables and some strains of probiotics, which work like baking soda in your fridge to reduce odor.

You usually produce the same amount of gas a day as your friends, so passing gas occasionally is really nothing to be ashamed of, unless it happens during your wedding vows. But while the amount may be the same, some of us sense discomfort from that occasional gas more than others do.

Reducing Occasional Gas and Bloating

I know of a few approaches that can help you and your gut. The first is to try to avoid the foods that don’t react well with your digestive tract, the other—and I use it regularly every day—is to take a supplement to support your digestive health. I take a daily probiotic that seems to help me decrease occasional gas and bloating.

Probiotics with Lactobacillus GG restore your small intestine’s bacteria with beneficial bacteria.* The good bacteria can help you have less occurrences of occasional gas and bloating.*

Natalie Egan, MS, RD, LDN
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Previously published on Intelihealth.com

We all have gas. Yet, we're embarrassed to mention it to health-care providers and friends in social conversation. Ten percent to 20 percent of adults have the digestive complaints of belching or flatulence. Here's the good news: bloating or gas doesn't necessarily mean there is something wrong with digestion. But to minimize gas and its embarrassment, the first areas to focus on are diet and eating habits.

The Passing Of Gas

The three most common ways of expelling gas are burping, abdominal bloating, and flatus. Swallowed air, which may stay in the stomach for a period of time, is released by belching. Bloating typically occurs with air that is trapped in the colon or small bowel. Air passed through the bowel is typically passed as flatus. A normal individual emits flatus from 12 to 25 times per day, with more gas in the intestine later in the day than earlier.

Intestinal gas is made up of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane. The composition varies depending on the type of intestinal gas. Gas is caused by various factors, the most common of which are eating behaviors and the bacterial fermentation of certain foods.

Bacterial Fermentation

The colon is filled with bacteria, yeasts and fungi, which break down the foods not digested by the small intestine, mostly different forms of carbohydrates. These bacteria particularly enjoy undigested carbohydrates, and the fermentation leads to gas production, hydrogen and methane expelled as flatus. Lactose is one of the most common sources of gas-causing carbohydrate, affecting people who are 'lactose intolerant,' meaning they do not have the enzyme lactase needed to digest the carbohydrate. Typically, lactose is found in dairy products. Beans are the second most common carbohydrate implicated in gas production. The indigestible carbohydrate in beans that typically causes flatus is raffinose.

Behaviors, Food Choices And Activity

Eating behaviors and other habits such as gum chewing, gulping foods and drinking with eating can cause us to swallow air. Bulky foods such as lettuce, cabbage, and dense breads not chewed into small enough pieces increase swallowed air.

Typically, swallowed air contains oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. It tends to not have a foul smell, but it does contribute to the discomfort associated with gas.

People vary widely in how sensitive they are to gas production. Keeping a food record to document incidences of gas in relation to foods eaten can shed light on whether food or behavior may be aggravating the situation.

Behaviors And Food Choices That Can Lead To Gas

Behaviors

• Talking while eating
• Eating when upset
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Using a straw or sports bottle
• Overloading your stomach
• Deep sighing
• Drinking very hot or cold beverages
• Chewing gum or eating hard candy
• Drinking from a water fountain
• Tight-fitting garments
• Long-term use of medications for relief of cold symptoms

Foods

• Carbonated beverages
• Spicy, fried or fatty foods
• Broccoli, cabbage, onions
• Beans
• Apple or prune juice
• Dried fruits
• Anything containing sorbitol, mannitol or maltitol, found in many low-carb or sugar-free foods

Beat The Bloat

Bloating is a sensation that makes the abdomen feel larger than normal. The abdomen doesn't get physically bigger until its volume increases by one quart, so the bloated feeling may occur, but the abdomen is not distended. Intestinal gas may cause the feeling of bloating.

Occasional Gas

Here are additional suggestions to decrease bloating:

• Eat slowly, and consume smaller, more frequent meals
• Chew your foods well
• Drink beverages at room temperature
• Have your dentures checked for a good fit
• Increase physical activity during the day
• Sit up straight after eating
• Take a stroll after eating

It is important not to completely omit foods from the diet that may cause gas. As we know, a high-fiber diet is important for bowel regularity and colon health, so it is well worth the patience it may take to slowly build up tolerance to these types of carbohydrates. Start by adding the offending high-fiber food in smaller quantities, such as a half cup or less. Be sure that fluid intake and activity levels are adequate, as they help to move foods through the digestive tract.

Natural And Other Remedies For Gas

Many advertisements tout medications or remedies that reduce gas and bloating. Some have been shown to be of value in clinical studies, others have not yet been proven scientifically but are anecdotally helpful. Before trying anything, you may want to consult with your physician.

Occasional Gasp

Two products on the market can help with food-related gas and bloating. Both products are packaged forms of the enzymes needed to break down the problematic carbohydrates. Lactase, found in products such as Dairy Ease and Lactaid, can be taken with dairy foods to help break down lactose and lessen gas. Beano helps digest the indigestible carbohydrate in beans and other gas-producing vegetables.

Occasional Gasping For Air

Natural remedies for gas include:

• Peppermint tea
• Chamomile tea
• Anise
• Caraway
• Coriander
• Fennel
• Turmeric

Occasional Gasping For Breath

Over-the-counter gas remedies include:

Occasional Gasping For Air

• Pepto-Bismol
• Activated charcoal
• Simethicone
• Lactase enzyme (Lactaid or Dairy Ease)
• Beano

Occasional Gas Smell From Stove

When To Be Concerned

Occasional Gasp For Breath

In most situations, occasional gas and abdominal discomfort does not require medical attention. Over- the-counter products, or a self-assessment of habits and changes in eating behaviors can help remedy the situation. However, you should seek medical attention when there is an increase in frequency, location or severity of the symptoms, or if they are accompanied by weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting or heartburn.