Excess gas has many symptoms beyond the twin emittances of belching or flatulence. You may describe it as indigestion, pain or tightness in the chest, abdominal pain, or feeling bloated. All of them are symptoms of the build-up of fermented food or excess air in the intestinal tract.
A Readers' Digest survey estimated that 74 percent of Americans have digestive symptoms that include gas. It may very well be that the other 26 percent are either too embarrassed to admit it or didn’t understand the question, for practically everyone who eats or drinks gets gas at some point. Passing gas through the intestinal tract or burping is as normal as breathing.
But gas can range from mild to disturbing, and when it’s accompanied by chest pain or diarrhea, it can indicate a more serious underlying medical condition. For most sufferers, it’s a temporary condition, an annoying blip in the day – or perhaps a brapppp!
The good news is that there are over-the-counter medications and home remedies that can help you control your problems with gas. So the next time you have a board meeting, plan on riding elevators all day or simply want to make a great first impression on your fiancé’s parents, here are a few things to try.
Visit the Drugstore
Most drug stores will carry Beano, an over-the-counter medication that can be added to beans, broccoli and other vegetables and help you cut back on the amount of gas they may produce. You need to take it with your first bite, and it’s only effective for small amounts of gas, not the cabbage soufflé.