Did you know, an average person knowingly or unknowingly passes gas at least 23 times a day? They are very common and are considered to be normal bodily functions. Some of the symptoms include bloating, pain in your abdomen, burping, passing gas, and more, which you may experience daily.

The passing of gas is very normal and vital for healthy digestion. But, if it is prevalent and is accompanied by weight loss, constipation, and diarrhoea, you may want to consult with your primary healthcare provider. Your doctor can guide you through the problem and offer suggestions on how to reduce gastric pain.

Some health conditions such as lactose intolerance, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, irritable bowel disease, gastroenteritis, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth cause more gas than usual. Excessive gas can lead to mild pain or discomfort, and understanding the various ways on how to reduce gastric pain can help reduce the discomfort.

How To Get Relief From Gastric Pain?

You must consider many factors when you look for an answer to how to reduce gastric pain! Some of the best solutions to reduce gastric pain include the following.

1. Don’t suppress the passing gas

If you ever wonder how to reduce gastric pain, the simplest way is to not hold in your gas. It’s important to relieve your body from any extra gases. Unnecessary suppressing of gas may lead to abdominal pain and poor digestion. When you release gas, it offers a sense of relief and, in turn, reduces the pain associated with it. 

2. Bowel movements

Please don’t wait for the right time to pass stool as suppressing it can lead to gas problems. Regular bowel movement can help you in two ways:

• The movement of your muscles improves during bowel movements and, in turn, aids in passing the gas out of your system.
• A bowel movement is also useful to empty the rectum. This enables the passage to be free of any trapped intestinal gases.

Bowel movement is one of the most effective ways to free yourself from pain caused by a gas buildup. If you have trouble passing stool, you may want to visit a doctor.

3. Try a cup of tea

Spearmint, ginger, and anise teas are known to have gas-reducing qualities. If you are experiencing fullness due to gas and don’t know how to get relief from gastric pain, you may want to consider drinking any of these teas. However, if you are prone to diarrhoea, anise tea is not a good option as it has a laxative effect.

4. Chew some Fennel Seeds

Fennel seeds reduce intestinal gas when taken in normal quantities. One teaspoon is a safe amount to be consumed for gas-reduction purposes. Nonetheless, sometimes fennel seeds are not the ideal home medication to reduce gas, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

5. Heat Application

One of the most effective solutions to how to reduce gastric pain is heat application.

You may want to consider a heat application if you experience intense pain in your abdomen caused by gas. It helps to relax the muscles and decreases the pain sensations in your body. You can use a hot water bottle or a heating pad. Place the heat source on the affected area to relieve the pain. You may also consider a hot bath.

Remember, heat sources can burn your skin quickly. You must use a layer of clothing over your skin before placing the heat source on the affected area.

6. Increased body movements, staying active

In the case of gas pain, gentle exercises can be of help as well. Walking is the most comfortable physical activity that helps reduce the pain associated with gas. Walking relaxes your muscles and helps relieve the trapped gas out of your body, and the pain reduces drastically. You may also consider Yoga to ease the pain caused by gas buildup. There are Yoga poses that doctors suggest to help patients relieve the pain caused by gas.

7. Try taking some deep breaths

One of the easiest and the most convenient ways to reduce pain caused by gas is to take deep breaths. It is the easiest solution to the widely asked question, ‘how to reduce the pain of gastric?’ You can ease the pain by merely sitting on a chair or a sofa and taking deep breaths. It requires no physical activity, and you can easily practice this breathing technique to reduce gas pain. There are several breathing exercises suggested in Yoga that may be of help as well.

8. Head to the drugstore and get pain-relieving medicines

Despite trying home remedies and other ways to reduce the pain, some people don’t get relief. In such cases, you may want to rush to the medical store and buy medicines. There are many over-the-counter medicines such as simethicone, activated charcoal, and various prescription drugs that reduce pain.

It is ideal to consult with your primary healthcare provider before consuming any medicines to reduce the pain caused by gas. You may be a victim of side effects if you take the wrong medication. In some cases, activated charcoal may result in unwanted symptoms like constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, etc. Women who are pregnant and breastfeeding their babies must avoid these medicines in any case.

9. Prevention is Key

After passing the gas, it’s time to contemplate the factors which led to the problem. Avoiding all the factors can help you reduce the instances of experiencing pain related to gas buildup.

When you swallow too much air, it becomes obvious to have gas buildup problems. The consumption or use of the following leads to excessive swallowing of air into your body.

• Chewing gum
• Consuming soda and fizzy drinks
• Eating or drinking in a haste manner
• Smoking
• Drinking through a straw

If you suffer from the excessive gas flow and are quite embarrassed in public, there are some diet changes which you can follow. These modifications can improve your condition and help you live a healthy life.

High fibre food helps reduce instances of gas buildup. Some of the examples of high-fibre foods include:

• Vegetables, for example, artichoke, beets, broccoli, sprouts, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, etc
• Kidney beans
• Lentils
• Peas
• Whole grain food items like bread, cereal, and more
• Certain fruits like apples, bananas, pears, raspberries, strawberries, peaches, etc

You may want to consult with a doctor at Ujala Cygnus Multi Speciality Hospital if your problem persists even after making lifestyle changes.