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The abdomen may bloat and fill with gas after consuming certain types of food, which most people recognize as a primary cause of swelling.

However, there are other causes, such as constipation or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which require specific treatments to overcome the issue.

So, what are the ways to treat bloating and gas, and what is the best medication for the colon and gas available at the pharmacy?

Causes of Bloating and Abdominal Gas

Abdominal bloating is an extremely common issue. It is normal to experience bloating at least once a week, but if you suffer from gas and bloating constantly, it may be due to a digestive system problem.

Gas is a byproduct of enzymes, bacteria, and other digestive fluids that break down the food you eat. Anything that affects this process can increase gas, such as enzyme deficiency or an imbalance in gut bacteria.

Here are the most prominent causes of gas and bloating:

1. Food Intolerances

Food intolerance is a common cause of gas and bloating. Examples include:

Lactose Intolerance

You may notice increased gas after consuming dairy products like cheese and ice cream. This happens when you have difficulty digesting lactose, the sugar found in milk.

Gluten Intolerance

If you feel bloated and nauseous after eating carbohydrates like bread and cakes, you may have gluten intolerance. This occurs when your intestines are sensitive to gluten, a protein found in grains like wheat, rye, and barley. Besides digestive symptoms, it can cause headaches, difficulty concentrating, and skin rashes.

Other Foods

Your intestines might tolerate lactose and gluten but react to other substances, such as preservatives, food colorings, caffeine, fructose, MSG (found in processed meats), and high-FODMAP foods (including legumes, certain vegetables, and sugar alcohols).

2. Constipation

Bloating and gas are common symptoms of constipation. The longer stool remains in the colon, the more time bacteria have to act on it, leading to increased gas production as a byproduct that accumulates in the abdomen.

Other symptoms of constipation include passing hard, lumpy stools, having fewer than three bowel movements per week, and straining or feeling pain during defecation.

3. Eating Habits

Swallowing a large amount of air while eating—often from chewing gum or sucking on hard candy—can increase gas.

Eating too quickly, drinking rapidly, or consuming large meals at once also leads to swallowing excess air.

Furthermore, failing to chew food thoroughly prevents it from being digested sufficiently before moving to the colon, giving gut bacteria more "room" to work and produce gas.

4. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS is one of the most famous digestive disorders. In addition to gas and bloating, its symptoms include constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cramping.

5. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

This occurs when there is an overgrowth of bacteria living in the small intestine, a common cause of malabsorption and indigestion.

Common symptoms include a feeling of bloating, abdominal distension (visible swelling), and gas.

6. Gut Motility Disorders

The movement of the intestines is organized in a specific way; disturbances in this movement can lead to spasms or "paralysis" in the digestive tract. 

Depending on the disorder, you may face difficulty swallowing, digesting, or passing stool, meaning food stays longer in the system, providing more opportunity for gas formation.

7. Medications

While medications treat diseases, they can have side effects. For example, antibiotics kill bacteria but also destroy "good" bacteria in the gut, causing an imbalance.

Other drugs affecting gut motility include anticholinergics (like Diphenhydramine), antidepressants, opioids, and calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure.

How to Treat Bloating and Gas?

There are several ways to treat these symptoms, most importantly:

1. Lifestyle Changes

This includes increasing water intake, reducing salt in the diet, avoiding trigger foods, chewing slowly, and exercising regularly.

2. Trying a Low-FODMAP Diet

FODMAPs are types of carbohydrates that are not always well-digested in the small intestine. For some, especially those with IBS, these foods stay in the gut longer, producing excess gas. High-FODMAP foods to limit include:

• Fruits: Apples, pears, peaches, and watermelon.

• Sweeteners: Honey and agave nectar.

• Vegetables: Asparagus, broccoli, onions, and cabbage.

• Grains: Wheat and rye.

• Legumes: Beans and lentils.

• Artificial Sweeteners. Try stopping these for two weeks, then reintroduce one at a time to identify your triggers.

3. Changing Eating Patterns

• Chew slowly and take your time.

• Eat smaller, more frequent meals.

• Sit down while eating instead of eating on the go.

• Reduce talking while chewing.

• Go for a walk after large meals to aid digestion.

4. Physical Activity

Research shows that walking can help treat digestive issues. One study found that walking for 10–15 minutes after each meal significantly reduced bloating and belching after 4 weeks, proving more effective than some indigestion medications.

5. Reducing Fatty Foods

Saturated fats found in full-fat dairy, red meat, and baked goods slow down the digestive system, leading to gas. Replace them with healthy fats found in nuts, avocado, fatty fish (salmon/tuna), and olive oil.

The Best Pharmacy Medications for Colon and Gas

Aljawaher Almotamyza Pharmacies provide a range of medications to help treat gas and bloating:

1. Neo Carbon Marnys

Neocarbon 30Caps gelatin capsules containing activated charcoal with mint and anise extracts to help expel excess gas.

2. Arkopharma Carbon

Arkopharma Charbon Capsule - 45 Pcs containing activated charcoal used to relieve symptoms like gas, bloating, and indigestion.

3. Hi-Fiber Soluble Fiber

Hyfiber Liquid Fiber 15 Sachet is a laxative to prevent constipation—a major cause of gas—without the harsh urgency of some other medications.

4. Linzess 145 mcg

Linzess 145 MCG 30 Caps is an effective medication for IBS and constipation that facilitates bowel movements and relieves associated abdominal pain.

5. Zymofort Supplement

Zymo Forte Dietary Supplement 30 Caps supplements utilizing Spanish technology, it relieves digestive disturbances, treats indigestion, and expels gas.

6. Dicoflor Probiotic Supplement

Dicoflor 60 probiotic supplement contains probiotics to boost beneficial gut bacteria and support digestive health.

7. Deflat Drops

Deflate Oral Drops - 30 Ml oral drops for infants that eliminate bloating and colic by easily expelling trapped gas without significant side effects.

When is Abdominal Gas a Serious Sign?

While gas is usually not serious, it can occasionally signal a more severe condition requiring medical attention, such as:

• Gastroparesis: Where the stomach empties food too slowly, causing gas, severe nausea, and vomiting.

• Intestinal Obstruction: A serious medical emergency causing severe pain, bloating, and vomiting.

If bloating and gas do not improve with treatment, or if they are accompanied by symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, or severe abdominal pain, you must consult a physician.