What is the cause of excessive gastrointestinal gas?

The stomach and intestines are the most important part of our body, and problems with the stomach and intestines can easily lead to some digestive diseases, which is also very harmful to the health of the body. Gastrointestinal gas refers to the manifestation of bloating in the stomach and intestines. Too much gastrointestinal gas can easily lead to a feeling of fullness or discomfort. There are many reasons for excessive gastrointestinal gas, which may be due to eating too fast, taking in too much air in the mouth, or suffering from intestinal obstruction that causes gas flow.

What causes excessive intestinal gas?

Gastrointestinal flatulence is caused by gastrointestinal obstruction or obstruction due to various reasons. The gas in the gastrointestinal tract cannot be discharged from the body with gastrointestinal peristalsis and accumulates in the gastrointestinal tract, which is called gastrointestinal flatulence. Gastrointestinal flatulence can be functional or organic, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroparesis caused by diabetes causes functional flatulence in the gastrointestinal tract, while pyloric obstruction and intestinal obstruction cause organic flatulence, which often coexists with constipation.

Etiology and pathology

There are many reasons for intestinal flatulence, such as gastrointestinal diseases: acute gastritis, chronic gastritis, gastroptosis, acute gastric dilatation, pyloric obstruction, gastric ulcer, gastric cancer and other intestinal diseases: bacterial dysentery, amoebic dysentery, intestinal tuberculosis, acute hemorrhagic necrotizing enteritis, etc.; complete or incomplete intestinal obstruction; superior mesenteric artery syndrome. Liver, gallbladder and pancreatic diseases: acute or chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, etc.; biliary tract diseases include: chronic cholecystitis, gallstones, etc.; pancreatic diseases, including acute or chronic pancreatitis.

Talking while eating or eating too fast, inadvertently swallowing a lot of air is the main cause of bloating. The second main cause is indigestion (due to excessive stress in life, emotional tension, irregular life, etc., which can lead to insufficient secretion of digestive enzymes). Various gastrointestinal diseases that cause gastrointestinal dysfunction, obstructed pathways, and reduced intestinal wall gas absorption also often cause bloating. Eating large amounts of foods that are easily fermented and produce gas, such as beans, peanuts, and sweet potatoes, or producing too much gas in the intestines due to allergies to certain foods can also make you feel bloated. Some people also experience bloating due to excessive use of antibiotics, which suppresses normal bacteria and causes dysbacteriosis. As long as you try to avoid these factors that easily cause bloating, such as developing good habits such as not talking while eating and chewing slowly, you can greatly reduce the occurrence of bloating. For those with weak digestive ability, eating soft and less residue food is the best choice to avoid bloating. The general reasons are briefly described as follows:

1. Swallowing of large amounts of air: Aerophagia can cause swallowing of large amounts of gas. When mental factors or certain gastrointestinal diseases increase saliva, more gas can be swallowed along with the saliva. Drinking large amounts of water or beverages can also cause swallowing of air.

2. Intestinal emptying disorder: When intestinal obstruction or weakened intestinal wall tension occurs, excess gas and fluid may accumulate in the intestine.

3. Indigestion: Rough food containing more fiber can increase the capacity of the intestinal cavity and affect normal peristalsis, causing abdominal distension; long-term use of broad-spectrum antibiotics can inhibit normal intestinal flora and cause food fermentation to produce gas.

Many gastrointestinal diseases, as well as diseases of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, peritoneum, etc. can cause gastrointestinal bloating.

4. Gastrointestinal lesions: various gastrointestinal inflammations, ulcers, tumors, etc.

TCM classification

Cold-heat mixed type

This type of patient is the most common type of gastrointestinal bloating encountered in clinical practice. Symptoms: fullness in the stomach or abdomen, which is heavier in the afternoon and evening, and the feeling of fullness after eating a little; accompanied by bitter taste in the mouth or bad breath, or nausea, belching, fear of cold in the stomach and abdomen, wanting to eat cold food but not daring to, difficult bowel movements, constipation or loose stools, or more flatulence; greasy white or yellow tongue coating.

Food stagnation type

Symptoms: Abdominal distension and pain, belching and acid regurgitation (burping with a sour and rancid odor, vomiting acid water), or aversion to the smell of food, or flatulence and stool smelling like rotten eggs; thick and greasy tongue coating, and a deep and slippery pulse.

Spleen and stomach deficiency and cold type

Symptoms: Fullness and distension of the stomach and abdomen, which comes and goes, and is sometimes light and sometimes heavy. The patient likes warmth and pressure, and feels better after hot drinks and hot food. The patient feels tired and weak, and has a poor appetite. The tongue is fat and pale or has teeth marks, the tongue coating is thin white, and the pulse is slow.

Damp-heat accumulation type

Symptoms: Abdominal distension, nausea, irritability, thirst without desire to drink, frequent sweating, loose stools, short and dark urine; red tongue with yellow and greasy coating, and weak and rapid pulse.