What is Meteorism?
Meteorism, also known as tympanites, is a condition where gas builds up in your digestive system, causing your belly to feel bloated or stretched. The main reason people experience this is because of poor eating habits. If you modify your eating habits or avoid certain foods which trigger this bloating, you can reduce these symptoms.
What Causes Meteorism?
Meteorism, also known as bloating, can happen due to various reasons. It can be something simple like eating too fast and swallowing too much air or too much fermentation by the bacteria in your intestines. Sometimes, it can be due to serious conditions like bowel blockage, kidney stones, functional disorder, overeating, too much bacteria in the gut, inflamed bowels, a strong blow to the kidney leading to kidney injury, peritonitis (inflammation in the lining of your abdomen), or causes that doctors can’t identify.
One of the most respected ancient medical texts, the Canon of Medicine by Avicenna, also mentions bloating. According to Avicenna, bloating can be a result of faulty digestion due to four specific eating habits. These include eating beans or peas, fruits, smoked salted food, and plain overeating. Some fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of sugars like fructose and oligosaccharides, which can produce excess gas and lead to bloating.
Risk Factors and Frequency for Meteorism
Meteorism, also known as excessive gas or bloating, is a common symptom that can happen to anyone, regardless of age, race, or whether they’re an infant or an older person. It becomes most common when people are in their thirties. Up to 23% of Asians and 30% of Americans may experience this issue.
Signs and Symptoms of Meteorism
Meteorism, otherwise known as bloating, can make you feel like your abdomen is swollen or full. Along with this bloated sensation, you might also experience some discomfort in the stomach region. Other signs of this condition include burping a lot, passing gas more than usual, and feeling like your stomach is stretched out. The bloating might be short-lived or last for a long time. It could also come with a dull or sharp pain, which might lead to cramping. Sometimes, it can be difficult to distinguish between the pain caused by bloating and that caused by conditions such as a blocked intestine, appendicitis, gallbladder inflammation, or stomach ulcers. When a medical professional checks someone for bloating, they might notice a swollen abdomen that creates a hollow sound when tapped. They might also hear rumbling or tinkling sounds when they listen to the abdomen. However, they usually do not find anything unusual when they perform a rectal exam.
Testing for Meteorism
If someone comes to the doctor with meteorism, which is an excessive buildup of gas in the digestive system, the healthcare worker will first make sure that this is not a symptom of a serious medical condition. These conditions could include things like inflammatory bowel disease, bowel obstruction, colon cancer, a hernia that’s trapped blood supply, or volvulus which is a twist in the intestine.
Generally, the doctor will do a blood test to rule out these other diseases. In most cases, no scans or X-rays are required to say for sure if someone has meteorism. However, if the doctor’s examination reveals a lot of tenderness or pain in the abdomen, they may decide to get an X-ray. This X-ray can show if the intestines are bigger than normal, if there’s fluid and air where there shouldn’t be, or if there’s air that’s escaped from the intestines. Other tests may be done, but it really depends on each person’s unique situation and the results of their physical exam.
Treatment Options for Meteorism
Bloating can be uncomfortable and sometimes, hard to manage. When you get diagnosed with bloating, the treatment usually depends on why it’s happening. If the bloating is functional, which means there isn’t a serious underlying condition causing it, treatment mainly involves keeping track of what you eat and how it makes you feel. If a certain food causes you to bloat, you’ll be advised to avoid it in the future.
Commonly, bad eating habits are the cause of bloating and gas. Here are some suggestions to help fight bloating:
– Try not to eat too much at once. Instead, have 4 to 7 small meals throughout the day.
– Avoid foods high in fat and simple carbohydrates. These take longer to digest and can prolong bloating.
– A diet low in FODMAP which stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols (types of carbohydrates) has been known to reduce bloating in some individuals.
– Eat slowly to avoid swallowing a lot of air, which can cause gas. Plus, eating slowly can help you feel full faster.
Drinking beverages while eating or just after a meal could also lead to gas for some people. Try to have your drinks, fruits, and veggies at least an hour after you’ve finished a meal. Foods like ginger, cumin, and herbs like dill, parsley, and basil could help reduce gas as well.
To decrease the frequency of gas, you can:
– Stop chewing gum
– Avoid drinking liquids with a straw
– Stay away from carbonated sodas
– Don’t suck on candies
Sometimes, people tend to swallow air when they’re feeling anxious or stressed. Trying to relax and reduce stress can help reduce this. Activities that can help with this include breathing exercises, yoga, or Tai Chi. According to one study, taking vitamin D improved bloating symptoms. Moxibustion (which is a type of Chinese medicine therapy using moxa made from dried mugwort) used with acupuncture has shown to reduce the feeling of bloating. Also, psychotherapy, has been found to improve bloating symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia, a condition that causes upper abdominal discomfort.
Some foods can worsen bloating and increase gas. Avoid foods such as
– Lentils and beans
– Certain fruits and vegetables like carrots, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, prunes, and apricots
– Artificial sweeteners like sorbitol
– Dairy products
– Wheat products which contain gluten
Engaging in physical activities can also help reduce bloating as it can help speed up digestion and remove gas from the intestines.
What else can Meteorism be?
If you’re experiencing meteorism (excessive gas), there could be several possible causes, such as:
- Swallowing air, which is known as aerophagia
- Overgrowth of bacteria in your small intestine
- Problems with the normal movement of your gastrointestinal tract
- Overproduction of stomach acid, or gastric hypersecretion
- Eating foods that produce a lot of gas
- Problems with absorbing or digesting carbohydrates properly
What to expect with Meteorism
Temporary bloating is a minor inconvenience that can often be improved by making changes to your diet. However, if you keep experiencing bloating and excess gas, your doctor needs to check for any underlying physical reasons for this issue.
