Abdominal pain can have many causes, from minor issues like gas pain to more concerning conditions like appendicitis or a bowel obstruction. Determining whether abdominal discomfort is due to gas or something more serious can be challenging. This article provides an overview of the common signs and symptoms of gas pain, how it differs from other types of abdominal pain, and when you should see a doctor.
What causes gas pain?
Gas pain, known medically as flatulence, refers to pains or cramps caused by excess gas in the digestive tract. Gas usually forms when you swallow air while eating or drinking. It can also result from undigested carbohydrates in foods like beans, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. The bacteria in your large intestine help digest and ferment these carbs, releasing gases like hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide as byproducts.
Most gas is eliminated through burping or flatulence. But sometimes it can accumulate and get trapped in pockets within your intestines, putting pressure on your intestinal walls and causing bloating and pain. Conditions that affect digestion and lead to excess gas include:
- Food intolerances like lactose intolerance
- Overeating
- Eating too fast
- Chewing gum
- Smoking
- Drinking through a straw
In most cases, gas pain is temporary and not serious. But excessive gas can cause uncomfortable symptoms like:
- Abdominal bloating
- Belly cramps or sharp pains
- Flatulence
- Burping
- Rumbling or gurgling noises in the intestines
- Feeling that your abdomen is full of gas
Signs your pain is likely gas
Here are some clues that discomfort or pain you’re experiencing is related to gas buildup rather than another medical issue:
- Timing of pain – Gas pain often comes and goes. It may be intense one moment and improve with the passage of gas.
- Location – Gas pain typically centers in the upper or lower abdomen. It can feel spread out or localized in one spot.
- After eating – Gas pain tends to occur during or right after meals, especially after eating gas-producing foods.
- With bowel movements – Passing stool may provide relief from gas pain.
- With flatulence – Passing gas, belching, gurgling noises may lessen the pain.
- Crouching position – Bending forward with knees to chest can sometimes relieve gas pains.
- Over-the-counter medications help – Gas medications like simethicone provide symptom relief.
How to differentiate gas from other abdominal pain
While gas discomfort often has distinct features, some causes of non-gas related belly pain can feel similar. Here’s how to tell the difference:
| Signs suggesting gas pain | Signs more concerning for other conditions |
|---|---|
| Comes and goes, moves around | Constant, worsening pain |
| Associated with eating, relieved by farting/burping | Unrelated to meals or passing gas |
| General abdominal discomfort | Pain concentrated in one area |
| Improves with stretching or lying down | Worsened by movement or palpation |
| No fever, vomiting, diarrhea | Fever, vomiting, diarrhea present |
| Gas-like sensations (bloating, rumbling) | No sensations of gas pressure |
| Over-the-counter medication helps | Not relieved by over-the-counter medication |
For example, pain from appendicitis typically starts around the belly button before moving to the lower right abdomen. It worsens over time, is aggravated by movement, and is not associated with passing gas. Kidney stone pain also gets worse over hours, while gas pain is intermittent.
When to see your doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if:
- The pain is persistent or gets progressively worse
- The pain is severe or not relieved by passing gas or over-the-counter medications
- You have a fever over 100.4°F (38°C)
- You are vomiting, having diarrhea, or see blood in your stool
- Your abdomen is rigid or hard to the touch
- You have symptoms of dehydration like excessive thirst, dry mouth, infrequent urination
While most causes of abdominal discomfort can be managed with at-home care, severe or unexplained symptoms need medical evaluation. Gas pain that lasts longer than 24 hours could indicate an obstruction or ileus – a condition where the intestines stop working properly. Seek emergency care if you have:
- Difficulty breathing
- Rapid heart rate
- Fever with abdominal pain
- Inability to pass stool or gas
- Severe pain that comes in waves
These red flag symptoms could be signs of a medical emergency like a bowel perforation or peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining) requiring surgery.
Diagnosing gas pain
To diagnose gas pain, a doctor will typically:
- Ask about your symptoms – What type of pain is it? Where exactly does it hurt? Did it start suddenly or gradually? What makes it better or worse?
- Review your medical history – Existing digestive conditions like IBS or food intolerances can cause excess gas.
- Examine your abdomen – They will feel for tenderness, swelling, masses or rigidity.
- Listen for bowel sounds – Quiet or high-pitched sounds can indicate a blockage.
- Order tests – Bloodwork, CT scan, or endoscopy if needed to confirm diagnosis.
Based on your symptoms, physical exam, medical history and test results, the doctor will determine if your discomfort is due to gas or another medical problem requiring treatment.
Treatment for gas pain
Mild to moderate gas pain often improves on its own or with these self-care measures at home:
- Pass gas – Moving around and changing positions can help gas pass.
- OTC medications – Antacids like Gas-X contain simethicone to break up gas bubbles.
- Avoid foods that increase gas – Including beans, dairy, broccoli, onions, dried fruit.
- Eat slowly and chew thoroughly – To reduce swallowed air while eating.
- Limit carbonated drinks – Bubbly beverages increase swallowed air.
- Apply heat – Heating pads or hot water bottles can provide relief.
- Exercise regularly – Physical activity stimulates the digestive tract.
- Manage stress – Stress and anxiety can worsen gas.
For persistent, severe, or recurring gas pain, your doctor may recommend:
- Prescription medications – Like rifaximin to reduce bacteria overgrowth, or lubiprostone to improve intestinal motility.
- Dietary changes – A low FODMAP diet helps eliminate gas-causing short-chain carbohydrates.
- Probiotic supplements – To restore healthy intestinal bacteria balance.
- Surgery – Very rarely needed for conditions like recurring small bowel obstructions.
Preventing gas pain
You can take some simple steps to avoid developing bothersome gas pain:
- Eat slowly and chew food thoroughly
- Avoid using straws when drinking
- Quit smoking
- Limit consumption of carbonated drinks
- Reduce intake of gas-producing foods
- Stay hydrated to keep stool soft
- Get regular physical activity
- Treat underlying conditions like IBS, lactose intolerance
- Take probiotics or digestive enzymes
- Manage stress through yoga, meditation, etc.
Making dietary modifications and lifestyle changes can go a long way towards reducing excess gas formation and keeping gas pain at bay.
When gas pain may indicate a serious problem
Occasional gas pain after eating is usually normal and not concerning. But in some cases, chronic gas pain can be a sign of a more serious medical condition requiring prompt treatment, such as:
- Bowel obstruction – When a mass or scar tissue blocks the intestines. Symptoms involve intense cramping, vomiting, constipation.
- Gastroparesis – Delayed emptying of the stomach causes bloating, nausea, abdominal pain.
- Gallstones – Hard deposits blocking the bile ducts, leading to sharp upper abdominal pain, vomiting, fever.
- Ulcers – Open sores in the stomach or intestines cause burning upper abdominal pain.
- Celiac disease – Immune reaction to gluten causes gas, bloating, diarrhea, nutrient malabsorption.
- Crohn’s disease – Chronic intestinal inflammation leads to severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea, weight loss.
- Irritable bowel syndrome – Sensitive intestines cause gas, diarrhea, constipation and belly pain.
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth – Excess bacteria in the intestines produce abundant gas.
If you have ongoing issues with gas and abdominal discomfort, see a gastroenterologist. They can help diagnose and treat any underlying gastrointestinal conditions.
When gas pain is an emergency
While gas pain often subsides on its own, in rare cases it can indicate a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical care if you experience:
- Sudden, severe abdominal pain that worsens quickly
- High fever (over 101°F) with abdominal pain
- Persistent vomiting and inability to keep liquids down
- Signs of shock like rapid heart rate, confusion, fainting
- Intense pain after trauma or injury to the abdomen
- No passage of stool or gas and abdominal swelling
- Bloody or black tarry stools
These red flag symptoms can be caused by:
- Appendicitis – The inflamed appendix may rupture, causing fever and severe worsening pain.
- Bowel perforation – A hole or tear in the intestinal wall allows contents to leak into the abdomen.
- Volvulus or intestinal twist – When a section of the intestines becomes twisted, cutting off blood flow.
- Strangulated hernia – Part of the intestine bulges through a tear and becomes trapped, pinched off.
- Ischemic colitis – Reduced blood supply damages the colon wall, causing pain, bleeding.
- Pancreatitis – Pancreatic inflammation causes intense abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting.
If you are exhibiting signs of a medical emergency along with gas pain, call 911 or have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room right away. Prompt treatment is crucial to prevent life-threatening complications and permanent intestinal damage in these situations.
Gas pain FAQs
Why is my gas painful?
Gas pain occurs when excess gas accumulates in the intestines, putting pressure on the intestinal walls. The buildup of gas stretches the intestines and triggers pain nerves in the GI tract, causing uncomfortable cramps and spasms.
What does gas pain feel like?
The pain of gas can range from mild discomfort to intense, sharp cramps. It may feel localized in one spot or spread out. Gas pain typically comes and goes, moving around the abdomen. It can feel better after passing gas.
Can gas pains be a sign of something serious?
Occasional gas pain is usually not a major concern. But persistent, severe gas pain, especially if accompanied by vomiting, fever or bloody stools, can potentially indicate a serious condition like a bowel obstruction, intestinal infection or appendicitis.
How do you get rid of trapped gas pain?
Ways to relieve trapped intestinal gas include going for a walk, doing crunches or yoga poses, massaging your abdomen, passing gas, applying a heated pad, taking gas-reducing medications and drinking peppermint or ginger tea.
How long do gas pains last?
Isolated gas pain usually subsides within a few hours, though it can last up to 24-48 hours. Gas pain lasting longer than this warrants medical attention, as it may indicate an underlying issue.
Is it gas or something else?
Look for signs like association with eating, improvement with passing gas, localized tenderness, and crampy waves of pain that come and go. Constant, severe pain that started suddenly, fever, vomiting and diarrhea likely indicate a non-gas related problem.
Conclusion
Distinguishing between gas pain and potentially serious abdominal pain can be tricky. Gas pain generally comes and goes, relating to meals and improving with belching, passing gas or stool. It causes bloating, cramps and muscle spasms rather than acute stabbing pains. While gas discomfort is usually harmless, persistent severe symptoms, or those associated with vomiting, fever or bleeding warrant prompt medical evaluation to rule out dangerous conditions like appendicitis, bowel obstructions or ulcers. If in doubt about your symptoms, it’s better to err on the side of caution and get checked out – especially with any red flag symptoms. With the right combination of dietary modifications, lifestyle changes, medications and stress management, gas pain can typically be managed successfully at home.