 | | | | Medical Health Encyclopedia | |
Gas - flatulence
Definition:
Gas, also called flatus or flatulence, is air in the intestine that is passed through the rectum. Air that is passed from the digestive tract through the mouth is called belching. Alternative Names:
Flatulence (flatus) Text Continues Below
Considerations:
Gas is formed in the intestines as food is being digested. Gas can make you feel bloated, which may cause crampy or colicky abdominal pain. Common Causes:
Gas can be caused by any of the following: - Swallowing air while eating.
- Eating foods that are difficult to digest, such as fiber. If you recently introduced fiber into your diet, having gas may be temporary. Give it a little time. Your body may adjust and stop producing gas.
- Eating foods that you cannot tolerate -- for example, if you have lactose intolerance and eat dairy products.
- Irritable bowel syndrome -- a chronic form of stomach upset that gets worse from stress.
- Malabsorption (when your body cannot absorb or digest a particular nutrient properly, often accompanied by diarrhea).
- Antibiotics.
References:
Birrer RB. Irritable bowel syndrome. Dis Mon. 2002; 48(2): 105-143. Lovelace HY. Diagnosis, symptoms, and calcium intakes of individuals with self-reported lactose intolerance. J Am Coll Nutr. 2005; 24(1): 51-57. Andrès E. Food-cobalamin malabsorption in the elderly. Am J Med. 2002; 113(4): 351-352.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
| |
| 
.gif)
