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Excessive Intestinal Gas and Bloating

The production of excess gas in the intestines and stomach is often caused by bacteria. This is usually a common reason for the intermittent bloating and distension of the abdomen.

There are actually three different ways in which this bacteria is able to produce an excess of gas.

First, each individual produces a varying amount of intestinal bacterial gas. More gas is produced by some individuals than others. This is due to the presence of a more heavily concentrated bacteria within the individual’s intestines or even a better type of gas producing bacterial population. In other words, some types of bacteria are able to produce more gas than their competitors within the gut.

Second, within the small intestine absorption and digestion may be diminished in some way which allows more of the undigested food to reach the bacteria inside the colon. The greater the amount of undigested food that the bacteria have available, the more gas they are able to produce. Lactose intolerance, celiac disease and pancreatic insufficiency are specific examples of this poor digestion and absorption phenomenon.

Third, the small intestine may contain a bacterial overgrowth. The gas producing colonic bacteria, under normal conditions, are limited to the colon. If the conditions are right, the colonic colonies spread into the small intestine. Should this bacterial spread occur, the food may reach the bacteria prior to complete digestion and absorption by the small intestine. When this occurs, the small intestine contains a large quantity of undigested food from which to form gas. When the gas-producing bacteria are moved into the small intestine, the condition is known as “bacterial overgrowth.”

When excessive gas production occurs, the result is usually accompanied by increased flatulence. This is not always the case as some gas may be eliminated in other ways. Typically, those ways include absorption into the body, utilization by other bacteria, or even by elimination at night, when the individual is sleeping.

Obstruction

A physical obstruction of the intestine might occur almost anywhere in the intestine from the stomach to the rectum. Should the blockage be temporary or partial, one of the results can be intermittent abdominal bloating and/or distention. If scarring of the pylorus obstructs the stomach opening into the intestines, the emptying of the stomach is not possible. The stomach,after meals, normally is filled with air that has been swallowed plus food. During the next several hours, acids and fluids are secreted by the stomach. These mix into the food and digestion begins to take place. This results in the stomach’s further distension. If there is an obstruction of some type, the food, air, and fluids back up and eventually cause bloating and distension after they pass into the intestines.

If there is a small bowel obstruction, which may be due to adhesions from a previous surgery, another cause of intermittent abdominal distention may occur. The stomach and intestines are stimulated to secrete more fluids and this makes matters worse by causing additional distension. If there should be severe constipation or fecal impaction, the result will be an obstruction of the flow of the intestinal contents which will again result in distention (and some severe cramping). The bloating and distention is usually constant and progression in this case, but this can be relieved by bowel movements or impacted stool removal.

There is a type of obstruction that is not caused by an actual physical blockage. This type of obstruction is known as a “functional obstruction.” This Functional obstruction is caused by the poor functioning of the muscles that propel the intestinal contents through the stomach or intestines . If these muscles do not work appropriately, an accumulation of intestinal fluids, chyme and gas will cause a distention the abdomen. Some examples of functional obstruction include gastroparesis (paralysis of the stomach) caused by diabetes, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, an unusual condition in which the muscles of the small intestine do not work normally and Hirschprung’s disease, in which the colonic muscles suffer a malfunction in contraction because of certain missing nerves.

Functional Abnormality

More and more scientific evidence is accumulating that suggests that some patients with abdominal bloating and distention may not be able to transport gas from the intestine to be expelled due to a functional abnormality of the intestinal muscles. It seems that their intestinal gas rather accumulates in the intestine. Patients that are known to have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) should understand that bloating is an important symptom for this malady. Their gas tends to accumulate in the small intestine rather than the colon. The gas accumulates during the day and is greatest in the night time causing significant night flatulence or if obstructed in some way, significant cramping.

The mimicking of a functional obstruction occurs with foods that are high in fat. When fat reaches the small intestine this causes the transport of digesting food, gas, and liquid within the intestines to slow down. This action is able to promote the food, gas and liquid accumulation which can, in turn cause bloating and distension.

Fiber

It is also not unusual for dietary fiber or simply “fiber”, that may be used to treat constipation, to cause bloating even without actually increasing the production of gas in the intestine. The bloaring and possible distension of this type is believed to be caused by the fiber’s slowing of the passage of gas through the intestine.

Another cause of excessive intestinal gas is “intestinal hypersensitivity.” There are some people who appear to be very sensitive to intestinal distension even when normal amounts of digesting food, gasses and fluids in their gut may cause them to feel bloated after a meal. If the meal contains substantial amounts of fat, the bloating may be aggravated or even progress to distention.